On the morning of April 25, Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee organized the opening ceremony of the Mekong Delta Delicious Rice Contest for the first time in 2026, with the participation of many localities, businesses and cooperatives in the region. The event is expected to contribute to raising the brand of Vietnamese rice by quality, added value and green production.
This is the first time a specialized rice quality contest of the entire Mekong Delta region has been organized, in the context that the rice industry is facing a strong shift from increasing output to increasing value.
The organizers said they have received 28 rice samples from 28 registered units. Ca Mau province alone has 13 participating units, including 10 cooperatives and 3 businesses. The products will go through two rounds of judging, including sensory evaluation and dipping rice after cooking. In addition, the participating unit also presents explanations and stories about their rice products.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee Le Van Su emphasized that the Mekong Delta is currently a key rice production region of the country, contributing more than 50% of Vietnam's rice output and over 90% of Vietnam's rice exports.
According to Mr. Su, rice is not only a key agricultural product but also a livelihood for millions of farmers, a national brand and Vietnam's image in the international market.
However, the rice industry is facing a series of challenges such as increasingly severe climate change, saltwater intrusion, increased drought, strong fluctuations in input costs, while the export market demands increasingly high quality, traceability and sustainable development standards.
The current market not only needs us to grow rice well, but also to produce high-value rice grains. Not only to ensure output, but also to conquer consumers with quality and brand," Mr. Su said.
With the message of raising the level of Mekong Delta rice grains towards high quality, green, sustainable and international integration, the contest is expected to become a forum connecting farmers, cooperatives and businesses in the rice value chain.
Through this playground, the organizers wish to discover and select typical rice varieties and rice products; and at the same time spread advanced production models, reduce emissions, and adapt to climate change.
For many years, Vietnamese rice has continuously affirmed its position in the world market when many rice varieties won international awards, and export prices remained high. However, to maintain long-term competitive advantage, building a brand of raw material area, improving quality standards and developing specialty rice lines is still an urgent requirement.
Ca Mau's hosting of the first delicious rice contest is considered a noteworthy step in the local agricultural product promotion strategy, while creating more motivation for businesses and cooperatives to invest in deep processing and brand building.
From this contest, Mekong Delta rice grains are not only evaluated by fragrance, stickiness or deliciousness, but also by the story of clean production, environmental responsibility and the ability to conquer demanding markets. This is also the path to increase income for farmers and increase sustainable value for Vietnam's rice industry.
