OCOP, ecotourism boost farm incomes in Hanoi

The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, combined with ecotourism experiences, is benefiting Hanoi's farmers and adding value to the capital's agricultural products.

Development potential

Ba Vi District is one of the favorite destinations for local visitors. Photo: Hoang Quan

Hanoi's 331 recognized traditional crafts and villages coupled with a series of starred OCOP programs have helped stabilize incomes and improve market access for agricultural products, according to the Hanoi Coordination Office of New Rural Development Program. 

Among Hanoi's localities, Son Tay Town stands out for its proactive handling of the OCOP program featuring 78 products from 14 cooperatives and enterprises rated three and four stars. Local specialties include peanut and sesame candy from Duong Lam Commune, vermicelli from Co Dong Commune, and honey from Kim Son Commune.

Ba Vi District is home to 20 traditional artisan villages and 108 cooperatives that produce high-quality products. It has developed 155 products for OCOP evaluation, with many rated three stars and above, including fresh milk, hill chicken, and lotus seed pork sausage.

Urban districts like Tay Ho are also capitalizing on traditional crafts and family businesses and linking them to tourism. By early 2024, Tay Ho had over 40 OCOP products recognized by the city.

A fair promoting OCOP agricultural products combined with local tourism attracts visitors to Son Tay town and local consumers. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

Districts such as Son Tay, Ba Vi, and Tay Ho are each pursuing unique strategies with a focus on consumer-centric approaches to ensure that quality OCOP products reach customers.

Tay Ho District is expanding its OCOP offerings to support economic growth and promote craft village tourism while prioritizing the development of OCOP items linked to community tourism and local attractions, branded as "Tay Ho OCOP Tourism Services."

Ba Vi District also supports stakeholders by facilitating the promotion of OCOP products at trade shows and online marketplaces to increase product visibility. The district has conducted regular quality checks on these products to ensure that standards are met.

Meanwhile, Son Tay Town is focusing on integrating OCOP products with tourism by introducing service models at local and night markets. Other initiatives include electric vehicles for tourists, flower growing, costume rentals for photo shoots, bicycle rentals, homestays, and experiences in agriculture, lacquerware, and ceramics.

Currently, Son Tay has more than 50 restaurants catering to tourists and a recognized artisanal village, Phu Nhi, which produces sticky rice. In Duong Lam Commune, more than 150 households are engaged in tourism services and creating products for visitors. The commune is home to 89 OCOP products recognized by the city with ratings of three stars or higher.

Nguyen Xuan Quyen, who runs a beekeeping model in Long Ho Village, said that visitors to Kim Son Commune can enjoy a relaxing vacation with hands-on activities at local beekeeping sites. They can participate in honey extraction, capture their experiences in photographs, and buy the honey they harvest as gifts.

The model helps the local honey granted a trademark by the Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology) and a four-star rating in the OCOP program.

"Delivering quality products directly to consumers, coupled with hands-on production experience, will help stabilize sales and increase product value," Quyeb emphasized.