OCOP Products: When Local Essence Becomes a Development Driver

In the new rural economic development strategy, the province identifies the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program not merely as a production reorganization solution but as a sustainable path to preserve, awaken, and spread local quintessence. By continuously enhancing product quality—with a focus on standards, packaging, design, and trade promotion—Phu Tho is step-by-step bringing its homeland specialties beyond village borders to assert their position in the market and become a driver for sustainable growth.

Phu Tho’s OCOP products have become exquisite gifts

Once a specialty offered to kings, Suu pomelo from Chi Dam commune remained quiet in local gardens for a long time. The turning point only came when this ancient pomelo variety was restored, branded, and recognized as an OCOP product.

Mr. Do Quoc Doan, who has been attached to the Suu pomelo tree in Chi area for many years, shared: "Suu pomelo is famous for its characteristic aroma, refreshing sweetness, and juicy segments.“Since being identified as a key crop with support for raw material areas and standardized production, the Suu pomelo has not only”revived" but has also become a signature product found in major supermarkets and shopping malls nationwide.

The story of the Sửu pomelo is a microcosm of Phu Tho’s journey to elevate OCOP products. By the end of 2025, the province had 698 OCOP products rated 3 stars or higher, including 6 five-star products. These figures reflect a fundamental shift from small-scale production to value chain development, aiming for standardization and sustainability.

From a traditional craft village, Hung Lo rice noodles have become the pride of the Ancestral Land.

Today’s 5-star OCOP products in Phu Tho are the crystallization of local knowledge, diligent labor, and innovative thinking. Hung Lo rice noodles are a vivid testament. From a century-old village, the production process has been standardized with closed-loop drying systems and modern packaging with traceability tags to meet strict market requirements.

Similarly, Premium Dinh Tea by Hoai Trung Tea Co., Ltd., and Purple Bud Tea by UT Tea Investment and Development Co., Ltd., are described as the "essence of the midland earth and people." The harmony between endemic tea varieties, rigorous care, and modern processing technology has helped these products conquer consumers through both quality and their underlying cultural narratives.

Trung Khe sticky rice from Mien Doi Agricultural Cooperative was elevated upon achieving 3-star OCOP status.

Moving beyond traditional agricultural products, many enterprises have innovatively increased added value for local specialties. Ready-to-cook dried bamboo shoots by Kim Boi Joint Stock Company or the “Con Cui Gift Set” by Lita Foods Joint Stock Company demonstrate creative directions, turning familiar forest products into convenient goods for modern life. Notably, four potential 5-star OCOP products from Tam Dao Bee Joint Stock Company are currently being evaluated by the Central OCOP Council, showing the vast potential for local elite products when invested in professionally.

At the grassroots level, cooperatives and production households are the “pillars” of traditional values. Yen Tri Agricultural Cooperative, with its herbal extracts, has proven that traditional medicinal plants, when integrated with technology and branding, can create modern healthcare products while retaining the “soul” of the ancient craft.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huy Nhuan – Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the highlight of Phu Tho’s OCOP development is a sustainable and inclusive approach, linking production with New Rural Development and social welfare. The province now has 1,148 agricultural cooperatives and 20 traditional craft villages, providing stable livelihoods for rural residents.

The OCOP program has contributed significantly to poverty reduction and improving lives. Phu Tho’s poverty rate is estimated to have dropped to 2.71%, and the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing has been completed with 10,800 units. At OCOP showrooms, each item is not just a commodity but a “homeland story”—from a pack of noodles to a bottle of honey, all carry village memories and cultural value.

In the coming time, Phu Tho will continue to identify OCOP as a pillar of the rural economy. Accelerating digital transformation, strengthening quality control, and linking OCOP with eco-tourism and cultural experiences are strategic steps. Each OCOP product will then be not only a market commodity but a symbol of local essence, pride, and the aspiration of the people of Phu Tho.

Manh Hung