Connecting consumption of local specialty products

Not only a major industrial hub of the Southern region, Dong Nai province is also known for many distinctive products. The diversity of specialty goods is opening up new pathways for economic development in remote, mountainous and border areas of the province.

Member of the Provincial Party Committee (PPC) and Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Vu Ngoc Long (left) and delegates visit a sales point featuring specialty products from mountainous, remote and border areas in the province. Photo: Ngoc Thuan

With support from functional agencies in trade promotion, products with local strengths are not only serving the provincial market but are also gradually reaching farther markets, helping affirm the brands of local products.

Connecting markets, enhancing product value

Hoang Anh Cooperative in Binh Phuoc ward is one of the units producing cashew wine and cashew-based fish sauce in Dong Nai province. To obtain quality bottles of cashew wine, every processing stage requires meticulous care. Although still modest in scale, this model has helped increase the value of cashew fruit, generate additional income for farmers, and open up new development directions for local cashew trees.

In December 2025, products made from cashew fruit by this unit were among those selected by the provincial industry and trade sector for support and placement at a sales point for specialty products from mountainous, remote and border areas of the province, located at the S'tieng Ethnic Culture Preservation Area in Bom Bo hamlet, giving the products more opportunities to reach consumers.

Pham Van Hieu of Hoang Anh Cooperative shared: “Members of the cooperative have devoted a great deal of time and effort to processing local specialty products from cashew fruit. Therefore, when the Dong Nai Department of Industry and Trade (DoIT) supported the placement of our products on the shelves at the sales point, we were very happy. This helps bring the cooperative’s products, as well as farmers’ products, closer to customers.”

In addition to cashew wine and cashew fish sauce, many agricultural and handicraft products from enterprises and production facilities such as pepper, salted roasted cashews, honey, and other forest-based specialties are also being connected to consumption through trade channels and retail points for specialty products from mountainous, remote and border areas in Dong Nai province. Notably, these products are subject to quality control and have clear traceability, thereby building consumer trust.

Bui Thi Thuy, Director of Thuy Thang Import Export Services One-Member Co., Ltd. in Bom Bo commune, said: “Agricultural products and traditional specialties that are selected, controlled in terms of quality and displayed at fixed sales points will help enhance the value and branding of local goods, especially cashew kernels. Thanks to trade connections, our products can go farther and get closer to consumers as well as tourists.”

Dong Nai has many agricultural and processed products that reflect strong local identity such as pomelo, salted roasted cashews, cocoa and pepper. After being connected through trade promotion activities, many specialty products of the province have gradually expanded to out-of-province markets and are moving toward export. Households have also become more proactive in linking production through cooperative groups and cooperatives, applying science and technology, and focusing on packaging and traceability to enhance product value.

“Today’s consumers tend to prefer products regarded as local specialties, especially OCOP products. Therefore, when farmers’ and producers’ products are connected to trade channels, customers will have more choices,” said Truong Thanh Tam, Deputy Head of Phuoc An commune’s Economic Division.

Opening pathways for local product consumption

Strengthening the connection between production and markets for specialties, OCOP products and typical rural industrial products of the province not only promotes value-chain linkages and enhances competitiveness for producers, contributing to higher value for agricultural products in mountainous, remote and border areas, but also serves as a measure of the effectiveness of production support and trade promotion policies.

“The establishment of sales points aims to promote local specialty products, boost consumption, enhance product value and branding, and at the same time expand consumer markets,” said Dang Tran Nhat Thoai, Deputy Head of the DoIT’s Trade Management Division.

The DoIT’s selection of the S'tieng Ethnic Culture Preservation Area in Bom Bo hamlet, Bom Bo commune as a sales point for specialty products from mountainous, remote and border areas has helped link trade development with the preservation of traditional culture, enhance product value, and continue connecting consumption channels for local people.

Pham Anh Tuan, Director of the Integrated Service Center of Bom Bo commune, said: “Previously, local products had limited opportunities to reach tourists. With the establishment of this sales point, visitors can easily access local products, thereby helping boost consumption of residents’ products.”

“One of the priorities of the industry and trade sector is to develop commerce in mountainous, remote and border areas, thereby helping local products get closer to consumers. Trade promotion programs not only help enterprises, cooperatives and residents sell their products, but more importantly, they change production mindsets, from producing by habit to producing according to market demand; from raw products to standardized products with traceability and clear branding. This contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of local products and enabling OCOP products to develop more strongly.”

Member of the PPC and Director of DoIT Vu Ngoc Long

According to leaders of the DoIT, promoting trade development in remote areas is not merely about bringing products to the market, but also about supporting local people in standardizing production processes, ensuring quality, food safety, and product traceability. This is an important foundation for local products to stand firm and achieve long-term development.

By Anh Ngoc – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha