Southeast Region: A key market for agricultural produce

The Southeast Region, as Vietnam’s economic locomotive, boasts major industrial hubs, large seaports, and a dense population. Besides strong agricultural production, the Southeast Region is also the most promising domestic market for consuming agricultural products from both within the region and across the country.

Provinces in the Southeast Region such as Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau have developed supply centers, processing facilities, and dedicated logistics chains to ensure smooth, efficient distribution. Additionally, agricultural products are increasingly sold on e-commerce platforms to reach wider markets, including export channels.

A facility in Long Thanh district packages the specialty black termite mushroom for the HCM City market.

Dong Nai, known as the country’s livestock capital, leads in raw material production for industry and fruit cultivation. Alongside industrial growth and a large workforce, the Southeast Region is among Vietnam’s top domestic consumer markets for agricultural goods. Experts recognize the region as a key socio-economic growth pole in southern Vietnam, producing staple commodities like fruits, livestock products, and processed foods, while also hosting well-established distribution chains—especially in Ho Chi Minh City, where wholesale markets, supermarkets, and convenience stores thrive.

According to Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Industry and Trade, the city’s three wholesale markets handle over 60% fresh produce, supported by major retail chains and supermarkets investing heavily in agricultural goods. Notably, Ho Chi Minh City consumes about 10,000 pigs daily, underscoring the scale of demand.

Local producers in Dong Nai emphasize producing high-quality, safe agricultural products and expanding access to supermarkets and institutional buyers, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City. Companies also seek support for quality control and traceability programs to meet stringent standards and enter sustainable supply chains.

Dong Nai has established 50 safe food chains and 331 points of sale for safe agricultural produce, averaging nearly 16,000 tons monthly. Livestock products constitute a large share, including nearly 13,900 tons of meat and around 10 million eggs per month.

Cooperation within the Southeast Region has strengthened market linkage. Ho Chi Minh City remains a primary consumption hub for Dong Nai’s livestock and other products. Collaborative initiatives between Dong Nai’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Industry and Trade focus on traceability, quality control, and developing safe supply chains.

These efforts culminated in a recent conference connecting producers, supermarkets, retailers, and cooperatives from both localities, facilitating information exchange and strengthening market access. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong highlights that Dong Nai producers are professional and integrated into industrial supply chains, with many already trading with Ho Chi Minh City’s distributors. Future plans include expanding cooperation across Southeast Region provinces and nationwide to enhance quality management.

Vietnam Farm Company, based in Ho Chi Minh City with organic fertilizer production and high-tech clean fruit and vegetable farming in Xuan Loc district, aims to deepen market connections. The company calls for regular trade facilitation to confidently scale up quality agricultural production.

Deputy Director Tran Lam Sinh of Dong Nai’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development affirms the province’s long-standing reputation for supplying Ho Chi Minh City’s markets. The signed agreements demonstrate Dong Nai’s commitment to meeting high standards and ensuring strict input control, guaranteeing top-quality products for the city’s vast market.

Reported by B.N