From December 11th to 14th, 2023, the Viet Nam International Rice Festival 2023 successfully unfolded under the captivating theme “A Thousand-Year Journey of Vietnamese Rice.” This landmark event showcased the immense potential, robust production capacity, and exceptional quality of Vietnam’s rice industry.
Beyond mere exhibition, the festival served as a vital catalyst for promoting innovative practices within the rice sector. It provided crucial support to agricultural businesses, organizations, and farmers in adopting new knowledge and cutting-edge technologies. This, in turn, solidified Vietnam’s position as a leading player in the global, regional, and national rice markets.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in his welcoming message, eloquently stated, “Viet Nam International Rice Festival – Hau Giang 2023 is to promote the image of the country and people as friendly, industrious and hospitable, and also promote Viet Nam’s thousands of years of wet rice civilisation”.
During the four-day event, various showcases, and exhibitions such as Viet Nam Rice Road, One Commune One Product (OCOP) booths and Rice farming technology demonstrations were organised to present strong determination of Viet Nam’s agriculture sector in digital transformation climate action. Besides, to foster insight exchange and capacity building for industrial peers, many conferences and thematic events were held with the active participation of national and international experts, professionals and agricultural actors. For instance, Viet Nam – Africa policy dialogue, South – South cooperation and Food system transformation made new perspective of the multilateral cooperation in the rice trade development, the agricultural product values and the global food security.
Remarkable achievements obtained during the festival included:
- Prime Minister officially launched Sustainable development project of one million hectares specialising in high-quality, low emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in Mekong Delta until 2030.”,
- European Union (EU) agreed to finance the “Smart Agro-ecological Transformation of Farming Systems towards Resilience and Sustainability in Middle and Coastal Zones of the Vietnam Mekong Delta’ (STAR-FARM) project, with a total cost of VND107.6 billion ($4.48 million),
- Representatives of international organisations pledged to continue to support Hau Giang province in finding capital and technical support to develop sustainable agriculture.
Beyond serious discussions and ambitious projects, the festival celebrated the joy and artistry of Vietnamese rice culture with some remarkable achievements:
- A Feast for the Senses: The event broke the record for the “Event on processing and presenting the biggest number of cakes made from rice and sticky rice in Vietnam.” Imagine a vibrant buffet overflowing with hundreds of colorful, delectable rice-based creations, from sweet glutinous treats to savory pancakes!
- A Journey Through Time: The “Rice Road” exhibition earned a Guinness World Record for being the “longest exhibition space, arrangement of the Rice Road, themed ‘Centennial Journey of Vietnamese Rice.'” This immersive walkway took visitors on a fascinating journey through Vietnam’s rice heritage, showcasing traditional tools, diverse rice varieties, and interactive displays that brought the story of rice to life.
- A Mosaic of Flavors: Another record-breaking feat was the “model of the Vietnamese Map composed of the most diverse varieties of specialty rice from provinces and cities.” This intricate mosaic, crafted entirely from different rice grains, beautifully symbolized the rich diversity and regional flavors that characterize Vietnamese rice.
