Efforts to Expand 5-Star OCOP Products

However, the greater goal that the city is persistently pursuing is to support stakeholders in upgrading and perfecting quality, design, and production processes to have more products meet 5-star standards - the highest level in the ranking system - thereby expanding export opportunities.

According to the Hanoi Coordination Office of the New Rural Development Program, the city currently has 3,317 OCOP products evaluated, making up 21.3% of the national total. Among them, 6 products have reached the 5-star ranking - the highest level, 1,571 products have been rated 4-star, and 1,718 products 3-star.

Bao Minh Confectionery JSC is a company with more than 20 OCOP products certified by Hanoi, including 6 products rated 4-star with 5-star potential. General Director Ngo Thi Tinh said that from a small family-run production base, Bao Minh has now developed two modern factories with dozens of signature product lines, such as banh pia, banh com, banh cha, mooncakes, and various traditional jams and candies. Participation in the OCOP Program affirms quality and represents the company’s commitment to building products with regional identity, yet meeting modern standards suitable for both domestic and international markets.

Meanwhile, from familiar vegetables and fruits, the Song Hong Agricultural Service Cooperative (Thien Loc commune) has produced drinking straws recognized by the Hanoi People’s Committee as a potential 5-star OCOP product.

Director of Song Hong Agricultural Service Cooperative Le Van Tam explained that vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, radishes, and leafy greens in green, yellow, and purple colors are combined with ground rice flour to create edible straws free of heavy metals, pesticides, or growth stimulants. This is a practical product, safe for consumers, and a solution to replace plastic straws, thereby addressing the widespread problem of single-use plastic waste in Vietnam.

Producing vegetable-based straws for export at Song Hong Agricultural Cooperative

According to Ngo Van Ngon, Deputy Chief of the Hanoi Coordination Office of the New Rural Development Program, among Hanoi’s OCOP products, those of Bao Minh Confectionery JSC and Song Hong Agricultural Service Cooperative are not only available in nationwide distribution systems but also present in many export markets, helping to elevate Hanoi’s OCOP brand internationally. The development of OCOP products also brings significant economic benefits to households, cooperatives, and enterprises, while creating many jobs for workers.

However, with a population of about 12 million, local supply only meets 35-45% of food consumption demand, with the rest sourced from other provinces and abroad. Therefore, Hanoi has strengthened production-consumption linkages with 43 provinces and cities nationwide, forming more than 1,500 safe agricultural and food supply chains and 172 production-consumption linkages within the city. According to Ngon, the development of 5-star OCOP products still faces challenges, especially regarding export criteria. Enterprises capable of meeting export standards often cannot produce sufficient volumes for both domestic and international markets. Thus, the city has requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and other relevant ministries to support evaluation and ranking of 5-star products tied to local advantages, while strengthening trade promotion and supply-demand connections.

According to the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, from now until the end of 2025, the department will continue advising the city to evaluate and select exemplary products for national-level assessment (5-star OCOP). From the best OCOP products, Hanoi will create a collection of signature products of the capital to support trade promotion and external affairs.

Hanoi has also regularly maintained OCOP product weeks and fairs at wards and communes. This model not only helps boost local sales but also creates a ripple effect, helping OCOP products gradually secure a solid position in the market. According to  Ngon, when OCOP stakeholders are effectively connected to trade, they gain motivation to improve quality, innovate designs, and apply technology in processing and preservation to meet stricter standards. This not only brings products closer to the 5-star standard but also lays the foundation for export.

To achieve sustainable development goals, Hanoi continues to invest in commercial infrastructure, support communication, and build branding for OCOP products, while expanding modern distribution channels such as e-commerce platforms, supermarket chains, and convenience stores. Trade promotion at domestic and international fairs will also be emphasized to expand export markets, bringing Hanoi’s OCOP products to the global stage. At the same time, Hanoi focuses on applying science and technology and encourages production under VietGAP, GlobalGAP, and organic standards. This is the foundation to ensure food safety and meet the strict requirements of international markets.

With government support and orientation, along with the creativity and effort of stakeholders, Hanoi expects to have more OCOP products achieving 5-star standards, becoming the pride of the capital’s agriculture and craft villages, and contributing to the further development of rural economy.

By: Hanoitimes