Success stories from the local industry

Honey made from mangrove flowers by Bao Son Food Co., Ltd. is one of Ninh Binh's most renowned products. With its distinctive raw materials sourced from the Kim Dong mangrove forest, the product has earned consumer trust and was recognized as one of the Northern Region's Outstanding Rural Industrial Products in 2024. With consistent quality and diverse packaging, the company sells between 7,000 to 8,000 units annually, generating approximately VND 1.8 billion in revenue. Its two main products, honey and jiaogulan tea, have both earned 4-star OCOP ratings.

Similarly, the artwork Khong Tuoc Song Toan (Perfect Peacock Pair) has contributed to the growing reputation of Bo De Tay Phuong Co., Ltd. and the preservation of traditional local crafts. Each handcrafted piece carries deep cultural value and is sold for tens of millions of dong, making it a meaningful gift for both domestic and international customers. Being recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Rural Industrial Product in the Northern Region has encouraged the company to invest more boldly in research and market expansion.

These are not isolated examples. In 2023, Ninh Binh recognized 35 Outstanding Rural Industrial Products, including 10 particularly exceptional items such as hand-embroidered lotus lampshades, Com chay Co Do (traditional crispy rice), ruoc ca ro Tong Truong (crispy snakehead fish floss), Gia Thuy pottery, and spirulina. Each product carries a story of traditional craft and culture, while also reflecting the market responsiveness of local businesses.

The increasing presence of Ninh Binh’s rural industrial products in the market is not solely the result of enterprise efforts. Cooperatives have also benefited from significant support by the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, particularly through industrial promotion programs.

According to the Ninh Binh Department of Industry and Trade, between 2021 and 2025, approximately VND 3.367 billion has been allocated for the development of outstanding rural industrial products. Specifically, national-level industrial promotion supported one project to participate in a domestic trade fair with 250 booths, and funded 92 rural industrial facilities to showcase their products at the Ninh Binh trade fair, with a total cost of VND 1.398 billion.

Local-level promotion implemented 18 projects with a total cost of VND 1.969 billion, including 5 projects supporting businesses to join trade fairs (VND 1.069 billion), 10 projects establishing exhibition zones (VND 450 million), and 3 projects to recognize and award 105 Outstanding Rural Industrial Products.

Support was not limited to booth rental or graphic design. It served as a “passport” enabling Ninh Binh products to access larger markets and integrate into wider value chains. In fact, supported businesses have expanded production, improved competitiveness, and effectively promoted their products, while also generating stable jobs and income for thousands of local workers.

Adapting to new challenges

Despite these achievements, representatives from the Department of Industry and Trade acknowledge several ongoing challenges in promoting Outstanding Rural Industrial Products.

Many rural industrial facilities are small or micro-sized enterprises or household businesses that lack capital to invest in modern equipment. Le Ngoc Trinh, Director of Yen Son Medicinal Herb Production and Consumption Cooperative, noted that “the biggest bottlenecks are insufficient capital and a lack of stable markets. Although products have been certified and honored, scaling up quality and packaging still requires more resources.”

Moreover, linkages among producers remain limited. Many outstanding products are still produced in small quantities and sold through fragmented channels, with no well-established distribution networks. This underscores the need for more comprehensive policies—not just promotional support but also long-term brand development and integration into supermarket chains and retail networks.

To address these issues and align with market trends, Ninh Binh has outlined a clear strategy for the 2026–2030 period. According to the Department of Industry and Trade, the new industrial promotion program will allocate VND 9.8 billion to support Outstanding Rural Industrial Products, with more than 70% coming from state budgets.

Key activities will include identifying and selecting promising products for development at the provincial, regional, and even national levels; organizing three rounds of provincial-level product selection and five regional trade fair showcases.

The province will also support approximately 450 participation opportunities in trade fairs and exhibitions, both domestic and international. In addition, funding will be allocated to help eight rural industrial facilities build permanent showrooms, and at least 10 products will receive support for brand registration. Three learning tours will also be organized to help enterprises gain experience in brand building, packaging design, and product development.

Notably, the next phase will emphasize stronger integration between industrial promotion, preferential credit policies, and trade promotion. This holistic approach will empower businesses not only with communications and branding but also with financial resources for technological upgrades, enabling them to meet the increasingly demanding requirements of the market.

During the 2021–2025 period, Ninh Binh strongly promoted its Outstanding Rural Industrial Products, scaling them from household-level production to market-level presence. With the strategic direction for 2026–2030, the province aims to further build product brands and integrate rural industry into the broader economic landscape.