Dong Nai builds agricultural brands for export

At present, Vietnam’s agricultural, forestry and fishery products have reached nearly 200 countries and territories worldwide. Many Vietnamese agricultural exports rank among the world’s leading products, including rice, cashew nuts, coffee and fruits. Vietnam has become an important link in global agricultural supply chains, ranking among the world’s top 20 food-exporting countries and one of the 15 largest agricultural exporters globally. Along with Vietnam’s participation in a wide range of free trade agreements (FTAs), export market potential for agricultural products remains substantial.

Packaging vegetables for export at an enterprise in Long Thanh commune. Photo: B. Nguyen

Dong Nai province is not only a major livestock hub but also ranks among the country’s leading localities in terms of industrial crops and key fruit crops for export. In recent years, the province has implemented a series of trade promotion and support programmes to boost agricultural exports. Accordingly, local enterprises and cooperatives have not only focused on traditional markets but also actively explored niche markets with significant untapped potential. At the same time, they have shifted from raw exports to deep-processed products, closely linked with brand building based on reputation and quality.

Large raw material zones for export markets

The province currently has nearly 4.2 million pigs and around 36 million poultry. Several enterprises have invested in high-tech processing to export chicken meat to demanding markets. To further promote exports of livestock products, breeding farms have stepped up the application of advanced scientific and technological solutions, particularly biosafety practices. For the two main livestock products, pigs and chickens, farm-based production now accounts for about 90% of the total herd.

In addition, other livestock species still have an ample room for growth, contributing to the overall expansion of the livestock industry. Notably, Dong Nai is home to around 3,000 swiftlet houses, ranking first in the Southeastern region in terms of scale and output. This model is currently among the most economically efficient. The province also leads the nation in quail farming, with approximately 8 million birds. Quail farms are gradually shifting toward modern, industrial-scale production, while several local enterprises have invested in processing ready-to-eat quail egg products for export to many countries worldwide.

Ngo Minh Tuyen, Director of VINAEGG Production and Trading Co., Ltd. (Tan Phu commune, Dong Nai province), has invested in a factory processing pasteurised and sterilised ready-to-eat quail eggs. The company’s production line is almost fully automated, applying state-of-the-art technology with large capacity, processing about 600,000 eggs per day. Its products have been exported to demanding markets such as Japan, Europe and the United States. The enterprise also partners with quail farms to organise industrial-scale raw material sources that meet stringent export standards.

Following administrative mergers, Dong Nai province now has more than 609,000 hectares of industrial crops and fruit trees. Several key industrial crops, including rubber, cashew and pepper trees, rank among the largest in terns if growing areas nationwide. These crops have formed extensive specialised production zones.

Opportunities in niche markets

Thanks to its advantages in specialised farming areas and large raw material zones, Dong Nai has, from an early stage, attracted many corporations and enterprises to invest in preservation, preliminary processing and deep processing linked with raw material areas. As a result, the province’s export turnover of industrial crops and fruit products ranks among the highest nationwide.

Cashew processing for export in Cam My commune. Photo: B. Nguyen

Dong Nai boasts the largest cashew-growing area in the country, covering more than 180,000 hectares, and is also among the leading localities in attracting enterprises engaged in cashew processing and export.

According to Nguyen Hoang Dat, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Cashew Association, Vietnam currently ranks first in the world in cashew exports. On average, Vietnam exports 3–4 million tonnes of cashew nuts annually, with total export turnover exceeding USD 4 billion, of which Dong Nai accounts for more than 50%. The province currently has over 1,400 cashew-processing enterprises, including many large corporations investing in deep processing, thereby increasing added value for export products.

Dong Nai also holds advantages in developing high-value fruit crops and has taken the lead in implementing export-oriented planting area codes. The province has established 194 planting area codes for export to markets such as China, the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. To date, 11 high-tech agricultural production zones have been formed in the whole province, covering nearly 7,000 hectares, while 59 packing facilities have been granted codes to serve export markets.

According to a representative of Olam Vietnam Co., Ltd.’s branch (Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park), the company exports around 40,000 tonnes of cashew nuts annually, reaching demanding markets such as Europe and the United States. Export potential for this product remains significant, prompting the enterprise to prioritise links with large-scale cashew-growing areas. The company has introduced various policies to support farmers in developing safe and organic cashew production zones, as export market standards continue to become more stringent.

Beyond policies supporting specialised farming zones and attracting investment in processing, Dong Nai also places strong emphasis on trade promotion and market connectivity to help enterprises expand exports, particularly into niche markets with high growth potential. In 2025, the Provincial Department of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, organised numerous trade promotion programmes to support enterprises in expanding agricultural exports to international markets.

Nguyen Thanh Duy, Deputy Director of the Middle East–Africa Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the Halal is an emerging market with substantial potential, given that the global Muslim population has reached around 2 billion people, accounting for 25% of the world’s population. The global Halal food market was valued at nearly USD 5 trillion in 2024 and is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. A key advantage for Vietnamese agricultural exporters is the strong demand for Vietnamese products in Muslim countries and the stable trade relations between these countries and Vietnam. The Government, ministries and localities are paying increasing attention to supporting enterprises in accessing the Halal market. As this is a new market with ample room for expansion, early and proactive engagement is expected to offer enterprises significant advantages in the future.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha