Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong - former Deputy Director of Vietnam National University of Agriculture (Vietnam National University of Agriculture Trade Union, under Vietnam National Union of Agriculture and Environment) - said that from the actual requirements for quality raw materials for processing vermicelli, cakes and rice noodles, in 2010, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong and his colleagues began researching and selecting new rice varieties.
The DCG66 variety is created from a hybrid combination between IR24 and Asominori. The selection process goes through many generations, with strict evaluation and testing steps. Promising rice varieties continue to be tested for author, VCU, DUS and evaluated in many different ecological regions.
After more than 10 years of research, in 2021, DCG66 was officially recognized for circulation.
This rice variety has a short growing time, wide adaptability, cold resistance, strong plants and good lodging resistance. Yield is 8-13% higher than Khang Dan 18 variety. Notably, DCG66 has amylose content from 30.5-31.5%, suitable for processing rice noodles, vermicelli and cakes.
For Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong, scientific research is only truly meaningful when the results are put into actual production.
After DCG66 was recognized for circulation, he and his colleagues continued to coordinate with businesses, cooperatives and localities to introduce rice varieties into production.
From an initial area of about 60ha, DCG66 has gradually been expanded to 150-180ha per year.
At Thuy Huong Agricultural Production - Business - Service Cooperative, Hai Phong, this rice variety has been put into production since the 2025 Summer crop with an area of 50ha per crop. Through practical cultivation, people positively evaluate the yield and quality of the variety.
In the period 2025-2026 alone, the initiative related to putting DCG66 into production created a profit value of 1.3045 billion VND.
Not only bringing economic efficiency, DCG66 also has good resistance, helping to reduce care and use agricultural materials more rationally. Thereby, rice varieties contribute to improving production efficiency and towards sustainable agriculture.
In 2026, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong was honored to be awarded the Creative Labor Medal by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor for the third time, after being honored twice in 2021 and 2023.
Three times being awarded the Creative Labor Medal are noteworthy milestones in his scientific research journey. Behind that is more than a decade of persistent selection, testing and bringing a new rice variety from research into practice.
During his work, Prof. Dr. Pham Van Cuong has been awarded the title of Emulation Soldier for many years; received Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister, Certificates of Merit from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, and the title of Typical Scientist of Farmers and Meritorious Teacher.
