Connecting OCOP products with tourism activities
In Ninh Binh, the OCOP program is becoming an important highlight to help raise local product standards, support livelihoods and create more development opportunities for rural people.
After the merger, Ninh Binh province has a population of more than 4.4 million people, an area of nearly 4,000km2 with a developing economy. This is a favorable foundation for the province to implement the OCOP program systematically and widely. In addition to economic advantages, Ninh Binh also has a unique cultural richness with the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Trang An - World Cultural and Natural Heritage, along with a treasure trove of traditional craft villages such as Tong Xa bronze casting, Cat Dang lacquer, Thanh Ha rattan embroidery or Nha Xa silk... All of which create a rich source of resources to help OCOP develop strongly.
According to the report of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, in the period of 2021 - 2025, the OCOP program has recorded many outstanding results. The whole province currently has 980 OCOP products with 3 stars or more, of which 3 products have 5 stars, 153 products have 4 stars and 824 products have 3 stars. This figure reflects the widespread participation of entities and shows the strong spread of the OCOP movement throughout the province.
The product ecosystem is created by 516 entities, including 139 enterprises (26.9%), 128 cooperatives (24.8%) and 249 cooperatives and business households (48.3%). The structure of products is diverse, in which the food group accounts for about 80%, followed by beverages accounting for 9.3% and the rest belongs to medicinal herbs, cosmetics, handicrafts and services.
Ninh Binh, a land converging heritage, culture and landscape, is making a strong impression in implementing the "Each commune, one product" (OCOP) Program associated with developing rural tourism. From the advantage of Trang An - Hoa Lu heritage, the worship of the old Nam Dinh Mother to the Dong Son culture of the old Ha Nam, Ninh Binh after the merger has become an "open heritage" with nearly 5,000 relics, dozens of famous craft villages and a modern inter-regional transportation system.
Notably, Ninh Binh is one of the first two localities in the country to have a 5-star OCOP product for rural tourism. In particular, the Eco host Hai Hau model opens a new development direction when OCOP products are linked to community tourism and cultural heritage.
Creating sustainable livelihoods for rural people
Thanks to the application of digital transformation in management and communication, OCOP products are traced their origin, promoted through QR codes, participated in fairs, e-commerce platforms and became popular tourist gifts. From small-scale production, many entities have now confidently participated in the value chain, expanded the market, and created stable jobs for rural workers.
Mr. Tran Song Tung - Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee said that one of the factors that made Ninh Binh successful in building OCOP products associated with rural tourism was the close cooperation between the government and the people.
"Instead of only issuing policies, all levels and sectors in the province have directly guided and supported production facilities from the stage of completing processes, packaging design, labeling to brand building... The thinking of " proactive officers coming to the people" has truly penetrated the local way of doing things, helping people be more confident in product development and business management" - Mr. Tung shared.
The success of the National Target Program on New Rural Development in Ninh Binh is a launching pad for rural tourism development. The transition from pure agricultural production to developing a multi-value rural economy has formed livable rural areas, both preserving cultural identity and creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods for people.
Ninh Binh province identifies rural tourism as an important direction, associated with the goal of improving the quality of model new rural areas. Many typical models have been formed, becoming outstanding destinations in the Red River Delta.
Typically, the Ecohost Hai Hau model, 5-star OCOP product has become a symbol of coastal community tourism, where visitors can immerse themselves in the clean and beautiful green countryside space, experience traditional crafts and coastal culture.
Or the high-tech agricultural tourism model in Duy Tien, Binh Luc, Trac Van, where tourists visit grape, melon, and organic vegetable farms, and learn about the clean agricultural production process. Nha Xa silk village is preserved and developed into a cultural destination, where visitors can woven traditional silk panels by hand...
Building OCOP products for tourism
According to Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Tran Song Tung, in the period of 2026 - 2030, Ninh Binh province aims to complete the mechanism of unifying the whole province, developing products with raw material areas and cultural identity. Encourage the development of OCOP products for tourism. At the same time, promote digital transformation, train marketing skills, market management and governance for entities.
The standardization of product data, enhanced promotion, and quality control after recognition will be implemented in parallel, to ensure the reputation, brand and sustainable value of local OCOP products.
From that practice, Ninh Binh has formed its own development formula: taking new rural areas as infrastructure foundation, taking OCOP as a tool to improve product quality, and taking culture and ecology as the soul of tourism. This approach helps rural tourism become an economic driving force, increasing heritage value, preserving craft villages and increasing income for people.
"In the period of 2026 - 2030, the province will continue to consider rural tourism as a strategic direction. The focus is on developing products associated with the heritage of Trang An, the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Tran Temple, the worship of the Three Governmentes and traditional festivals. At the same time, support the construction of "one-day as an artisan" experience tours in famous craft villages such as Tong Xa, Van Lam, Cat Dang, Nha Xa, Ngoc Dong... Focus on building a model community tourism model in the countryside that is bright - green - clean - beautiful and developing high-tech agricultural products associated with tourist experiences" - Mr. Tung emphasized.
In addition, digital transformation is identified as a key direction. Rural tourism destinations and OCOP products will be integrated on a digital map, introduced via QR codes and e-commerce platforms. Human resource training has been enhanced, helping people grasp service, management and communication skills, becoming the subject in tourism development.
The regional connection between Ninh Binh and the provinces of the Red River Delta will open up opportunities for sustainable development, forming a tourism chain of "heritage - livable countryside". This is also a concrete step to realize the goal of making Ninh Binh a center for cultural and ecological tourism in the Northern region.
With the achieved results, Ninh Binh is gradually affirming its valuable experience in developing rural tourism associated with building new rural areas. At the same time, promoting heritage values, arousing the creativity of the community, harmoniously linking conservation and development.
Today's fertile, green and cultural countryside is the foundation for Ninh Binh to firmly step on the journey to become a bright spot in Vietnam's rural economy in the era of national growth.
