The Cao Phong orange has emerged as a shining example of sustainable agricultural development in Hoa Binh province, distinguished as the first and only locally produced agricultural product to receive a geographical indication certification. Renowned for its thin skin, juicy flesh, and delicate sweet flavour, the fruit has won the heart of consumers for years. Local farmers have made their efforts to cultivate environmentally friendly and consumer-safe products, creating a stable and sustainable brand identity.
Nguyen Van Truong, a farmer in De hamlet, Bac Phong commune, visits his orange orchard.
Nguyen Van Truong, a farmer from De hamlet in Bac Phong commune, represents the pinnacle of this agricultural ethos. His 17-year-old orange orchard stands as a testament to safe cultivation practices. Truong invested more than 600 million VND (over 23,600 USD) in land improvement, irrigational system, and fertiliser for sustainable plantation practices.
Grown under VietGAP standards, Cao Phong orange boats exceptional taste and ensure absolute consumer safety. Although the method may reduce overall yield as compared to traditional techniques, it is a strategic choice for many farmers who want to maintain, preserve and develop local orange brand.
Agricultural cooperatives have strictly complied with clean orange cultivation over the recent past. Notably, 3TFarm has converted more than 20 hectares of orange plantations to VietGAP standards, committing to supplying the market with environmentally-friendly and safe products.
Cao Phong district is now home to over 715 hectares of oranges. It expects to harvest 20,348 tonnes of the fruit this crop, enjoying an average yield of 302 quintals per hectare.
While only 172 hectares are currently certified under VietGAP, all of the orange plantations are using biological compounds and microbial fertilisers to create safe, high-quality, and ecologically responsible agricultural products.
According to Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee Bui Hoai Nhi, along with improving the fruit’s quality, the district has paid due regard to protecting and developing its orange brand through the careful selection of seedling varieties, management over production process, and establishment of traceability system, among others.
Besides, the locality has invested in concentrated plantation infrastructure and supported local producers to obtain food safety certifications.
Hoa Binh province’s economy posted an impressive Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate of 12.67% in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 12.76% year-on-year increase, the highest rate recorded since the beginning of the current tenure, according to the provincial Statistics Office. This robust growth reflects years of strategic groundwork and sets a strong foundation for the province’s annual growth target of over 10%.
With a focus on cash crop farming with science - technology application and brand building, Lac Thuy district is gradually increasing production value, improving people's life quality, and laying the foundation for sustainable socio-economic development.
In recent years, the economic development model "Hoa Binh Earthworm Farm” run by Mr. Bui Van Dang in Co Giua Hamlet, My Thanh Commune (Lac Son district) has not only brought stable economic value but it is also environmentally friendly, helping to protect and reduce pollution, contributing to the construction of a green and sustainable agriculture.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.