When OCOP products become "cultural ambassadors"

The "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program in Ca Mau is contributing to enhancing the value of local agricultural and seafood specialties through processing, packaging, branding, and achieving 3- to 5-star certifications. This is not only a driving force for rural economic development but also an effective way to promote the image of Ca Mau to domestic and international markets.

Báo Cà Mau•10/10/2025

Two products, refined salt and coarse salt from Bac Lieu, have been recognized as meeting OCOP 5-star standards.
For the first time, Ca Mau has two salt products that have achieved 5-star national OCOP certification.
OCOP producers are busy preparing for the Ca Mau Crab Festival.
Developing OCOP products: A breakthrough for cooperatives.

OCOP - a lever for the rural economy .

Ca Mau is blessed with abundant natural products, rich in the flavors of the homeland, such as U Minh forest honey, salted mud crabs, dried snakehead fish, dried shrimp, shrimp crackers, banana wine, etc. From simple, handcrafted products, the OCOP program has helped each product "transform" and become more professional.

The Dam Doi Crab Cooperative affirms its brand with many OCOP products achieving 3 and 4 stars. (Photo: Mong Thuong)

With the support of the province and specialized departments, many production facilities have been guided to improve product designs, packaging, complete traceability documentation, and ensure food safety and hygiene standards, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of their products in the market.

After more than 7 years of implementation, Ca Mau currently has 343 products recognized under the OCOP program, including: 2 products achieving 5 stars, 75 products achieving 4 stars, and 266 products achieving 3 stars; along with 27 points for introducing and selling OCOP products. 104 products from 35 businesses have been included in supermarket distribution systems both within and outside the province.

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To make OCOP products strong brands.Thanh Hoa is one of the leading localities nationwide in terms of the number of OCOP products, with many products highly appreciated by the market and consumers. However, there are still OCOP products that only receive certification and have not yet met the conditions to become strong brands and gain the full trust of consumers.

In particular, many Ca Mau products have reached international markets such as Australia, South Korea, Japan, the EU, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Canada. These results show that the OCOP program not only unlocks the inherent potential of each rural area but also creates new value chains, re-plans raw material areas, and restores and develops rural industries.

Beyond its economic value, the OCOP program also provides sustainable livelihoods for rural people. Dozens of cooperatives and cooperative groups have been formed around OCOP products, creating jobs for hundreds of local workers.

Ms. Tran Thi Xa, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Dam Doi Crab Cooperative, shared: “The development of OCOP products has greatly contributed to enhancing the value of local products and specialties. The cooperative currently has 6 products recognized as OCOP products, including 1 product with 3 stars and 5 products with 4 stars. When recognized as OCOP products, the products are affirmed in terms of origin and location, and gain more trust from consumers. This helps the products access markets within and outside the province, and even internationally.”

OCOP products are displayed at many fairs and exhibitions, contributing to the promotion of Ca Mau province's products.

Promoting local tourism

The most outstanding and profound aspect of the OCOP program is its ability to connect indigenous knowledge with modern life, transforming traditional values into vibrant cultural products. Many OCOP products, especially traditional crafts recognized as intangible cultural heritage such as salted crab and forest honey, have transcended the role of ordinary goods to become "cultural ambassadors," carrying the story of the land, forests, sea, and people of Ca Mau to friends everywhere.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy, Vice President of the Provincial Women's Union, said: "OCOP products have helped many rural women find jobs, increase their income, and confidently start businesses from traditional crafts, thereby affirming the position and role of women in social life."

Implementing Decision No. 922 dated August 2, 2022, of the Prime Minister on the Program for Rural Tourism Development in the Construction of New Rural Areas giai đoạn 2021-2025, Ca Mau has achieved many outstanding results. A series of community tourism areas and destinations, as well as points for introducing and selling OCOP products, have been established and are operating effectively, contributing to promoting local tourism development.

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According to statistics, excluding the period affected by the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022), tourism in Ca Mau has grown at an average rate of 12.15% per year. Agricultural tourism, ecotourism, and community-based tourism associated with experiencing local culture such as crabbing, mud crab harvesting, clam digging, and traditional boat trips attract a large number of domestic and international tourists. Community-based ecotourism models not only create livelihoods but also contribute to forest protection, environmental preservation, green economic development, and sustainable poverty reduction.

It can be affirmed that agricultural and rural tourism is becoming a suitable and effective direction in Ca Mau. This is also a solution to promote on-site export of agricultural products and handicrafts, while stimulating production and consumption in many other sectors.

Ca Mau province is actively promoting community-based tourism development linked with OCOP (One Commune One Product) products, viewing this as a strategic direction to retain tourists and increase on-site spending, while simultaneously raising income and improving the lives of rural people. Simultaneously, the province is actively organizing Ca Mau Specialty Weeks in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and establishing OCOP booths at tourist destinations to promote the brand and expand its market.

From the rustic specialties of the U Minh forest to the rich flavors of the sea, Ca Mau's OCOP products are increasingly asserting their position in the market, becoming a bright spot in rural economic development. More than just economic value, each product, from mud crabs, dried crabs and shrimp to salt, carries within it the story of the land, the forest, and the sea, of the hardworking and creative people who are daily helping Ca Mau reach new heights, integrate sustainably, and maintain its rich cultural identity.

Ha Giang

Source: https://baocamau.vn/khi-san-pham-ocop-lam-dai-su-van-hoa--a122969.html