- The Department of Cooperative Economics and Rural Development is working with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on preparations for the 2025 Salt Festival.
- Meeting of the Logistics, Protocol, and Security Subcommittee for the Vietnam Salt Festival - Bac Lieu 2025
- Food safety inspection for the Vietnam Salt Craft Festival - Bac Lieu 2025
- Summary of the Project on Preserving Traditional Salt Production in conjunction with Coastal Tourism Development
Deeply attached to the salt of my homeland.
Born and raised in the sunny and windy coastal town of Tan Thuan, Tien Y Nguyen (from Dam Doi commune) understood the hardships of his salt-making community better than anyone else. Years passed, and he left his hometown to attend university, but his love for the salt-making profession never faded.
" I can never forget the bustling atmosphere of the salt-making seasons in my hometown. Salt workers have to endure the stifling heat of the hot days to make a living. The sunnier it is, the happier the salt farmers are, even though the sun burns my father's back, soaks my mother's shirt with sweat, and darkens the skin of the young women... It is these things that motivated me to return to Tan Thuan to 'give a new look' to the salt of my hometown," Mr. Nguyen shared.
In 2020, Mr. Nguyen started his salt-making business. His first step was purchasing salt from local salt farmers. Initially, he only produced refined salt, but realizing the product was monotonous and the market was small, he rallied like-minded individuals to establish the Ca Mau Salt Cooperative. Once the cooperative was formed, his ideas gradually materialized. From refined salt, Mr. Nguyen combined it with shrimp and various spices to create five product lines: shrimp salt, chili salt, green chili salt, red chili salt, and puffed salt.
Salt harvesting in Vinh Hau commune. (Photo: Huu Tho)
Mr. Nguyen's dream is becoming a reality as, by the end of 2024, all five salt products of the cooperative were recognized as achieving OCOP 3-star standards. Mr. Nguyen shared: “The Tan Thuan salt fields are assessed by experts as having a moderate salinity and rich in nutrients due to their location at the eastern estuary – an area with abundant alluvial deposits. Along with these existing advantages, we have now invested in modern equipment, ready to produce in large quantities. During the production process, we say no to additives. The main ingredients are salt and shrimp, combined with garlic, chili, sugar, and roasted and dried according to a formula, creating a product with a distinctive flavor.”
Bringing salt to even greater heights.
Currently, the Ca Mau Salt Cooperative sells hundreds of different types of salt products to the market each month. The success of the cooperative not only helps salt farmers stabilize the output of their raw salt but also creates jobs for local workers. These positive signs motivate Mr. Nguyen to continue pursuing his aspiration to elevate the quality of his hometown's salt in the future.
The salt products of the Ca Mau Salt Cooperative have been recognized as meeting OCOP 3-star standards, helping Mr. Nguyen realize his aspiration to elevate the status of his hometown's salt.
"The cooperative's goal is to upgrade its salt products to OCOP 4-star and 5-star ratings, develop the Tan Thuan salt brand throughout the country, and target international markets. We want the salt harvests to no longer be bitter, but sweet and flavorful, reflecting the deep and heartfelt affection and loyalty of the people of Ca Mau," Mr. Nguyen hoped.
Speaking about salt production in Tan Thuan commune, Mr. Tran Hoan Bach, Vice Chairman of the Tan Thuan Commune People's Committee, proudly stated : "In the last 5 years, salt production in the commune has developed strongly, with over 135 hectares of salt production, yielding 75-80 tons/hectare/season/year, creating a stable income for salt farmers. In the new term, the commune is determined to continue preserving and developing the traditional salt production, calling for investment in the development of local specialties, and encouraging the establishment of new cooperatives to jointly process and connect the consumption of local agricultural products."
After the merger, Ca Mau province is not only the shrimp capital and home to one of the largest and most beautiful wind farms in Vietnam, but it is also known as the country's largest salt producing area, with over 3,000 hectares. Now, the salt fields of Ca Mau are becoming increasingly prosperous with notable locations such as Tan Thuan salt, Long Dien salt, and Vinh Thinh salt...
Last July, during the first national OCOP product evaluation and ranking round of 2025, the Central OCOP Council announced 47 new products that achieved 5-star OCOP status. Among them, Ca Mau province had two products ranked first: Bac Lieu refined salt and Bac Lieu granulated salt from Bac Lieu Salt Joint Stock Company. For salt farmers in the Ca Mau salt fields, this event is a significant milestone in their journey of preserving and developing the salt industry, affirming the rising status of their local salt. |
Hong Nghi - Tien Luan
Source: https://baocamau.vn/nang-tam-hat-muoi-que-huong-a123229.html
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