Innovation to enhance the value of OCOP products.

Hanoi 's major advantage

By the end of 2024, 30 districts and towns in Hanoi had evaluated and classified 606 OCOP products from 239 businesses, achieving 3 stars or higher. According to the evaluation results of the district-level People's Committees, out of the 606 products, 488 met the criteria for 3-star OCOP; 111 products had the potential for 4-star OCOP; and 7 products had the potential for 5-star OCOP at the national level.

The products of Van Ha woodcraft village are very diverse. Photo: Do Phong

This is truly one of Hanoi's great potentials, if we know how to exploit and develop these advantages to promote and introduce OCOP products for socio -economic development in rural areas.

Bat Trang commune (Gia Lam district) is one of the typical craft villages of Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general that is being preserved and developed very successfully. It is also a pottery village that contributes many OCOP products to the city.

Currently, Bat Trang commune has about 50 OCOP products that have been evaluated and classified; among them, some products have been ranked 5 stars - the highest ranking in the current OCOP evaluation scale. Thanks to participation in the OCOP Program, the most unique and distinctive products of the craft village have been highly appreciated by consumers both domestically and internationally.

Ms. Ha Thi Vinh, Director of Quang Vinh Ceramic Joint Stock Company, said that the company has had four products participating in the OCOP program: "Red Lotus Ceramic Dinnerware Set," "Swallow and Lotus Ceramic Dinnerware Set," "Dragon and Phoenix Ceramic Dinnerware Set," and "Swallow and Lotus Ceramic Teapot and Cup Set," all of which received 5-star ratings. Currently, the company's ceramic products are exported to many countries around the world .

According to Nguyen Van Trung, a distinguished artisan and Chairman of the Phu Vinh Bamboo and Rattan Weaving Association in Phu Nghia commune, Chuong My district, the commune has the highest number of OCOP-certified products in the district with 54 products. Of these, his family alone has 23 certified products.

In 2024, the Phu Vinh Bamboo and Rattan Weaving Association, with only 35 members, exported goods worth over 100 billion VND. "Production development not only contributes to maintaining, preserving, and developing the craft village, but also promotes brand building, expands the consumer market; and at the same time creates jobs and increases income for people in the region," Mr. Trung shared.

Van Ha is a famous wood-producing village in Dong Anh district and the northern provinces. In recent years, this village has undergone a significant transformation, with products selling well in the domestic market and being exported. The wood-making industry has become a key economic sector of the locality.

Currently, 60% of households in Van Ha commune are engaged in the production, business, and craft of wood carving. These production facilities are distributed across five villages in the commune. Notably, the commune boasts 14 artisans recognized by the Hanoi People's Committee; and 48 members representing households and businesses producing wooden furniture in the area. Participating in the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, Van Ha has 31 wood handicraft products recognized as 3-4 star OCOP products.

Van Ha's wooden products are diverse in type, ranging from furniture (cabinets, altars, tables and chairs) to statues and relief paintings. These items are highly favored by customers both domestically and internationally. Some products have won high awards in handicraft design competitions and have been selected as typical rural industrial products at the city and regional levels. Every year, the wood handicrafts produced here generate significant income and create jobs for many people.

Innovation to enhance the value of OCOP products.

Me Linh District is renowned as one of the capital's largest "flower hubs," with a total cultivated area of up to 2,000 hectares. On average, the district supplies millions of flower stems of various types to Hanoi and surrounding areas each year, but the most well-known and branded varieties are roses, lilies, and chrysanthemums. Me Linh flowers are famous for their vibrant colors, large blooms, and longer-lasting freshness compared to other places. Flower cultivation has become a primary and stable source of income for people in villages such as Dai Bai (Dai Thinh commune), Ha Loi (Me Linh commune), and Van Quan (Van Khe commune).

Tourists choose everlasting fresh flowers as gifts at the Me Linh Dried Flower Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative.

However, after witnessing the flowers being discarded after just a few days, Mr. Dinh Van Tuan, 43 years old, Director of Nhu Tam Everlasting Fresh Flowers Joint Stock Company (Khe Ngoai 1 village, Van Khe commune, Me Linh district), pondered and sought ways to preserve the eternal beauty of the flowers.

Anh Tuan sought knowledge about flower preservation techniques, traveling to Thailand, Japan, and India—countries renowned for their fresh flower preservation technology—to learn from their experience.

After three years of learning and research (from 2019 to 2022), Mr. Tuan discovered his own secret to preserving "immortal flowers" with a lifespan that can reach decades. Since 2022, he has officially started his own business and shared his knowledge and experience with the people of Me Linh. His company, Nhu Tam Immortal Flower Joint Stock Company, currently employs 10 workers continuously, with an average salary of 6-12 million VND per person per month.

Among them are 5 individual households with 20 workers currently belonging to the Me Linh Dried Flower Agricultural Production and Service Cooperative (Dong Cao village, Trang Viet commune). On average, the cooperative produces hundreds of flower arrangements of various sizes each month, generating revenue of 200-300 million VND/month.

Highly appreciating the development potential of the "immortal flower" making craft, Nguyen Tien Hung, Deputy Head of the Economic Department (Me Linh District People's Committee), said that "immortal flowers" is one of the district's 3-star OCOP products. This product still has much room for development and could become a distinctive product bearing the Me Linh brand.

At the Central OCOP product evaluation and ranking conference held on January 16, 2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam stated that to enhance the value of OCOP products, businesses need to continue improving product quality and origin information, linking products to the advantages, values, and identity of their localities. Businesses also need to focus on environmental protection and fully comply with environmental regulations in their production and business activities.

The Deputy Minister suggested that businesses and production facilities should focus on product traceability, ensuring transparency and credibility with consumers. At the same time, they should prioritize the use of safe, environmentally friendly raw materials to create sustainable export opportunities and enhance the value of OCOP products in the international market.

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