From food rationing to global Vietnamese rice brand

Nearly four decades ago, in the summer of 1989, at Saigon Port, the first white sacks of rice were loaded onto ships bound for overseas markets. It was an ordinary scene, yet it marked an extraordinary moment in the history of Viet Nam’s agriculture.

For the first time, a country that had long suffered from chronic food shortages became a food exporter. Those grains of rice, imbued with the sweat of millions of farmers and the spirit of national renewal, opened a new chapter for Viet Nam’s transforming economy.

Not long before that, in the early 1980s, rice or more broadly, food was still a haunting concern for Vietnamese people. The image of long queues to buy a few kilograms of rice with ration coupons remains an unforgettable memory for an entire generation. In the North, the fields were exhausted, cooperatives produced under rigid quotas, and people worked hard but still went hungry.

In the South, after the war, irrigation systems were damaged, supplies were scarce, and rice prices were miserably low. The whole country had to import more than one million tons of food every year to relieve hunger. The phrase “some days full, some days hungry” was not just an expression in documents. It was a stark reality in every rural village.

Change began when institutional reforms were introduced. In 1981, the Government issued Directive 100 “Contracting production to groups and individual workers” followed in 1988 by Resolution 10, known as the “Khoán 10.” These two policies marked a major turning point in Vietnamese agriculture. For the first time, farmers were given stable land-use rights, the autonomy to manage their own production, and the right to retain surplus beyond what was owed to the State. From being mere laborers for cooperatives, they became true owners of their fields.

When income was directly tied to output, farmers’ motivation and diligence flourished. In the Red River Delta, many families invested their own money to rent plowing machines, buy quality seeds, and improve cultivation techniques. In the Mekong Delta, communities revived irrigation canals, reinforced dikes, and made full use of freshwater resources. After just a few seasons, rice yields soared in many places, there was not only enough to eat but even a surplus. A question began to echo in meetings: “Could Viet Nam export rice?”

The answer came in 1989, when national rice output reached over 19 million tons, which was the highest since the war. After meeting domestic demand and reserves, the State decided to export 1.4 million tons of rice.

On the day the first railcars carrying Vietnamese rice arrived at Saigon Port for shipment abroad, many officials in the food sector were overcome with emotion. Perhaps, from that moment on, Viet Nam would not only be able to feed itself but also help feed others. That was a symbolic moment that marked the success of Đổi mới (Renovation) and affirmed the vitality of Viet Nam’s agriculture.

From that milestone, the Vietnamese grain of rice has traveled a long journey. In 1992, rice exports reached more than 1.5 million tons; by 1998, they surpassed 4 million tons; and in 2024, Viet Nam exported 8.3 million tons, earning USD 4.6 billion, ranking third in the world after India and Thailand. More than just a staple commodity, Vietnamese rice has become a symbol of inner strength, demonstrating the nation’s determination to conquer global markets through its own efforts.

Alongside political will, this success was deeply rooted in science. During the war years, agricultural engineers in southern Viet Nam successfully crossbred the Ba Thac-Japan rice strain (a pure Japonica variety imported from Japan and later refined by the Institute of Agricultural Genetics). This was the origin of short-term, pest-resistant, high-yield rice varieties, paving the way for two-crop cultivation each year.

Today, more than 260 rice varieties are cultivated nationwide, of which 80% were developed by domestic institutes and universities. Names like ST24, ST25, OM5451, Đài Thơm 8, and RVT have become familiar brands in demanding markets such as the EU, Japan, and South Korea. Mastering seed selection has not only increased productivity but also ensured national food security once a haunting concern for half a century.

From the grain that saved it from hunger in 1945, Viet Nam has advanced to become a national brand. In 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade officially launched the “Viet Nam Rice” emblem, carrying the message “Essence from fertile soil.”

That emblem serves both as a mark of identity and as a commitment to quality, reflecting a modern, safe, and environmentally friendly approach to agriculture. By 2024, Vietnamese rice had reached 190 countries and territories, accounting for 15% of the global market share. Beyond traditional white rice, premium varieties such as fragrant, organic, and low-emission rice are steadily conquering high-end markets.

From the Ba Thac fields of forty years ago to today’s smart rice paddies, the journey of the Vietnamese grain is one of transformation not only in production thinking but also in management, research, and global integration. It is a continuing story of hardworking farmers, dedicated scientists developing new varieties, businesses striving to build brands, and policymakers courageous enough to pave the way for innovation.

If 1989 was the turning point that introduced Viet Nam to the world as a rice-exporting nation, today that same grain carries a greater mission: affirming the position of a green, smart, and responsible agriculture. From the once-poor fields of the past, Viet Nam has traveled a long road so that today, a single grain of rice stands as a symbol of resilience, knowledge, and a sustainable future.