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Different Varieties Of Vietnam Coffee Beans You Should Know About
Vietnam's Coffee Market

DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF VIETNAM COFFEE BEANS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

by Thao
written by Thao

When buying coffee, there are a lot of factors to consider, from origin and processing to roast profile and brewing technique. However, the coffee variety, which is the taxonomic rank below coffee subspecies, is sometimes disregarded. Vietnam, the world’s second-largest coffee producer after Brazil, can be counted on to deliver a diverse range of coffee varieties to the market across the world. Let’s discover some of the different varieties of coffee beans produced in Vietnam that you might encounter and their characteristics.

Different Varieties Of Vietnam Coffee Beans You Should Know About

1. What are coffee varieties?

A variety represents a subspecies of a coffee type. Each different variety possesses distinctive physical and sensory characteristics when grown in different locations. Both Arabica and Robusta contain thousands of varieties, which come below “species” in the taxonomic hierarchy. World Coffee Research, a renowned scientific organization in the coffee industry, has over 50 verified varieties in its database.

In general, let’s take a look at the below botanical classification of coffee.

  • Group: Phanerogams ( seeds or flowering plants)
  • Subgroup: Angiosperms (angiosperms)
  • Class: Dicotyledons (Dicotyledons)
  • Subclass: Sympetale (Verwachsen Blumen Blättrige)
  • Family: Rubiaceae (bedstraw family)
  • Genus: Coffea (Coffee)
  • Species: e.g.: Coffea Arabica – Coffea Robusta two of the best known types of coffee
  • Subspecies (varieties):
    • for C. Arabica e.g.: Bourbon, Mocha, Typica,…
    • for C. Canephora (Robusta): Erecta, Nganda,…

Vietnam coffee variety

A high-yield coffee plant in Vietnam Source: Yara International

2. Arabica (Coffea arabica)

Arabica coffee is the world’s most popular coffee, accounting for around 60% or more of all coffee produced. Two of the most important varieties in modern arabica coffee production are Typica and Bourbon. Since the dawn of time, these coffee varieties have existed. However, due to low yield and insect susceptibility, they were difficult to grow and were eventually phased out of coffee farms. They were subsequently supplanted by Catimor, a combination of Caturra and Timor created in Portugal in 1959. Timor is a hybrid of robusta and arabica. This variety is pest resistant, easy to cultivate, and produces a high yield.

Nowadays in Vietnam, Catimor is widely grown in most regions of the coffee land, including Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Quang Tri, Nghe An, and Son La. Arabica Bourbon, commonly known as Moka, is another coffee variety grown in Cau Dat, Xuan Truong, and Da Lat. As this coffee is regarded for being very good and delectable, coffeehouses frequently use it to market their roasted coffee.

2.1 Typica

Typica is one of the oldest varieties of coffee, having existed for millennia and giving rise to a number of hybrid species. In Vietnam, Typica is mostly cultivated in Cau Dat (Da Lat), with an annual yield of around 3 tons of coffee beans.

Arabica Typica coffee plant.

Arabica Typica coffee plants. Source: Worldcoffeeresearch.org

Typica was brought to Vietnam before 1988. It was until 2001 that coffee prices were extremely low. Since then, people began growing high-yielding Catimor varieties instead of Typica. In today’s Vietnam, finding genuine Typica coffee is difficult due to its scarcity.

2.2 Bourbon (Moka)

Arabica Bourbon, commonly known as Moka, is a popular coffee variety not only in Vietnam but also throughout the world. These varieties originated from a French island and were introduced to Vietnam in 1875. Due to its smooth flavour and attractive aroma, Moka was marketed as a top delicious coffee bean for the elite these days. These varieties were also imported to France to cater to the high class. 

Red bourbon coffee plants

Red Arabica Bourbon coffee plants. Source: Worldcoffeeresearch.org

Nowadays, Moka is still cultivated in Xuan Tho and Xuan Truong, Cau Dat district of Dalat Province. Many people have tried to grow this kind in places other than Dalat, but the farmer is unable to produce the same high–quality fruits. Moka is known as the Queen of Coffee because of its deep and unique flavor with a wine scent.

yellow bourbon cf

Yellow Arabica Bourbon coffee plants.

2.3 Catimor

Catimor was brought to Vietnam during the 1980s. Since then, this variety has been widely planted in Vietnam due to its high yield and leaf rust resistance. Catimor currently accounts for most of Arabica coffee production in Vietnam, widely grown in most of the major coffee material areas across the country, namely Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Quang Tri, Nghe An and Son La. As a result, Catimor’s quality has a major influence on the country’s overall coffee quality than any other variety. 

Catimor coffee plants.

2.4 Catuai

Catuai, a hybrid coffee variety, was imported to Vietnam from Cuba in the 1980s. This coffee variety has a high yield but it is susceptible to pests and frost. As a result, Catuai was not developed further. In Vietnam, Catuai is grown mainly in Phu Quy, Nghe An, and Quang Tri. Despite the fact that it is only planted on a few plantations, the proportion of Catimor in the garden is quite high. People harvest and export together with Catimor. 

Catuai coffee plants. Source: Worldcoffeeresearch.org

3. Robusta (Coffea canephora)

The majority of Vietnam coffee beans – around 97% – are the Robusta variety. Main Robusta coffee growing provinces in Vietnam are the Central Highlands, including Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum. There are some geographic indications of the coffee regions (‘Buon Ma Thuot’, ‘Cau Dat – Da Lat’ and ‘Son La’) known for their quality, sweet aroma and strong flavor resulting from the soil characteristics. Since Robusta has fewer growing restrictions and has a generally less desirable flavor, it is usually sold for a lower price than Arabica beans.

In Vietnam, there are two main subspecies of Robusta: Robusta Se, and Robusta Cao San (High-yielding Robusta)

3.1 Robusta Se

This is a purebred Robusta line with higher quality than the high producing varieties. The beans are tiny yet solid and hefty in texture.

Robusta Se with smaller beans

3.2 Robusta Cao San

This high-yielding variety produces a huge yield as well as being pest and disease resistant. However, it does not compare to the Robusta Se in terms of quality. It’s often used to produce instant coffee or to extract chlorogenic acid.

Robusta Cao San

4. Liberica Coffee

Liberica coffee is called “cà phê mít” (as its leaves look like jackfruit’s leaves) in Vietnam. The species consists of two main varieties: Liberica and Exelsa. It has a somewhat strong bitter taste, especially the back-palate flavor – reminding of burnt wood. Hence, it’s usually used to mix with Arabica and Robusta coffee to create different flavors. 

It takes five years for a Liberica plant to begin to bear in Vietnam. This coffee tree is drought tolerant, less water needed, so they are often grown in extensive farming. Due to its drought tolerance and good resistance to pests and diseases, cherry coffee is preferred to use as the rootstock for other popular coffee varieties

Vietnam Liberica coffee

Green Vietnam liberica coffee beans

Liberica coffee, on the other hand, is not as widely produced as Arabica and Robusta in Vietnam nowadays because of its low yield and difficult cultivation and harvesting. Compared to Liberica varieties, Excelsa are grown in small numbers. They can be found in some coffee farms in the Dalat Highlands area. Meanwhile Liberica varieties are grown in numerous regions in Vietnam, including Nghe An, Quang Tri, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Dalat where the environmental and climatic circumstances are ideal for this coffee variety. 

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

At Viego, we know it’s more than just finding the right factory since every step of the supply chain requires proper implementation in order to ensure clients are shipped the quality coffee beans they require. We always try our best to determine the best suppliers, including coffee farms and coffee collectors based on your personal needs as a company. During the process of researching potential suppliers, contacting and visiting the factories, we inspect every single thing from license, capacity, and past orders as well as the equipment and the workers’ competence. This is why we are making sure that you find the best supplier possible at the best competitive price.

In order to provide a deeper insight on Vietnam’s Coffee Market, we’ve created this series along with tips on how to select the best beans from Vietnam for your business. Jump to:

 

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Recruitment

Sourcing Specialist

by Thao
written by Thao

JOB DESCRIPTION

VIEGO GLOBAL is an established Sourcing and Trading company based in Vietnam.

The company supplies all made-in-Vietnam products, with two main categories: Agriculture Products, and Pharmaceutical Products through our carefully selected certified Manufacturers.

We are exporting to 9 countries in the world and we are growing fast.

Position: Sourcing Specialist

Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for developing, sourcing the potential suppliers;
  • Pay on-site visits to verify manufacturers;
  • Contact suppliers to receive quotes and negotiate with suppliers to optimize purchasing costs;
  • Compare and evaluate offers from suppliers;
  • Contract negotiation (Trading terms);
  • Maintaining long terms relationships with suppliers;
  • Coordinate the purchasing order;
  • Other tasks assigned by Director

Requirements:

  • Have a Bachelor Degree;
  • Must have at least 2-year-experience in finding suppliers in the Agriculture industry: coffee, rice, cashews…;
  • Have skill in negotiating, solving working tasks carefully and accurately;
  • Ability to work independently, Team working, have a high sense of responsibility.

Benefits:

  • Salary: 10-15 Mil
  • Deep learning in Import-Export industry;
  • Comprehensive training and mentorship from the beginning;
  • Connecting and young working environment;

Working time: 8.30 am – 6.00 pm Monday to Saturday (2 days off in a month)

Contact: Please send your CV to email hr@viegoglobal.com with title: [VIEGO] Position – Full name or fill in the form below.

APPLICATION FORM

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Recruitment

Social Media Intern

by Thao
written by Thao

JOB DESCRIPTION

VIEGO GLOBAL is an established Sourcing and Trading company based in Vietnam.

The company supplies all made-in-Vietnam products, with two main categories: Agriculture Products, and Pharmaceutical Products through our carefully selected certified Manufacturers.

We are exporting to 9 countries in the world and we are growing fast.

Position: Social Media Intern

Responsibilities:

  • Coming up with ideas and creating informative social content that attracts a qualified audience to our owned properties.
  • Ensuring all content is on-brand and consistent in terms of style, tone of voice and quality.
  • Developing social content plans by week/month
  • Conducting basic desk research on the company’s product
  • Performing other duties as assigned by Leader.

Requirement:

  • Ability to write content based on available or on-demand topics and ideas;
  • Some past experience in writing blog/content preferred
  • Fluent in spoken and written English, with strong writing skill
  • Basic analytical skills and quick learning abilities
  • Full-time preferred
  • For part-time applicant: Being able to work 4 hours/day, 5 days/week.

Benefits:

  • Competitive internship allowance.
  • Documents and verification for the completed internship
  • Training and mentorship.
  • Opportunity to become official staffs after the 2-month internship.

Contact: Please send your CV to email hr@viegoglobal.com with title: [VIEGO] Position – Full name or fill in the form below.

APPLICATION FORM

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Vietnam’s Coconut Products 03 Must-buy Types Of Coconut In Vietnam
Vietnam's Agriculture Market

VIETNAM’S COCONUT PRODUCTS: 03 MUST-BUY TYPES OF COCONUT IN VIETNAM

by Thao
written by Thao

In recent years, coconut-related products have seen a remarkable increase in popularity as the globe moves toward healthier and more organic products. With a vast copra nut area, Vietnam is now one of the ten most productive countries in terms of coconut products. To keep up with the global ever-growing demands, the country has been investing in technology and human resources to step up the export of related products. In this guide, we will walk you through three best types of coconut products to buy in Vietnam. Read on to find out more what you need to know before importing Vietnam Coconut.

Vietnam coconut

1. A glimpse into Vietnam’s coconut kingdom

Located in the south of Vietnam, Ben Tre is renowned as the country’s coconut capital, where local farmers have been subsisting for generations on coconut trees. The province is the center of alluvial soils gathering from the Mekong Delta, thus an ideal place to provide copra nuts in top notch quality and quantity recognized by the world. Ben Tre now boasts the largest coconut-growing area in the country at 74,000 hectares (182,800 acres), of which Giong Trom District hosts more than 17,000 according to MARD.

A coconut grove in Giong Trom District

A coconut grove in Giong Trom District, Ben Tre province. Source: Vnexpress

Compared with other plants, coconut trees in Ben Tre have the highest value. The fruit is used to make everything, from food and drinks to household utensils, fine arts items and to build houses. 

Due to Vietnam’s membership in several new generation free trade agreements in recent years, coconut companies in the country, and in Ben Tre in particular, have had more opportunities to develop not only in the domestic market, but also to expand exports to other countries and territories around the world. Many companies for processing coconut goods (desiccated coconut, virgin oil, charcoal, coir, candy, cleaning soil, handicraft, etc.) have been established in provinces, contributing to the growth of the coconut industry by increasing the product’s value added.

2. Vietnam Desiccated Coconut

Desiccated coconut is made from coconut meat that has had the brown coating removed. According to market demand, the white coconut meat is cleaned and cut into various sizes: fine, medium, flake, or chips. They are also graded by these cutting sizes, for example, fine grade and medium grade where fine grade is smaller particle size than the medium grade.

Many minerals and vitamins can be found in desiccated coconut. It may provide the body with essential nutrients such as glucose, acid amino acids, protein, fatty acids, iron, and phosphorus. Desiccated Coconut is suitable for usage as fillers, toppings, and ingredients in biscuits, snack bars, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods.

fine grade desiccated coconut

Fine grade Vietnam desiccated coconut

Regarding the production, a thousand nuts should provide around 130 kg of desiccated coconut. This is an arduous procedure since the husk, shell, and skin of the coconut are removed manually or semi-automatically, depending on current technology. The processes of desiccated coconut can be summarized as below:

  1. Removal of coconut husk,
  2. Removal of coconut shell,
  3. Removal of thick brown coconut skin,
  4. Washing of white coconut meat to remove foreign material,
  5. Blanching of white coconut meat to reduce the number of microorganism to the safe level fit for human consumption within its shelf life,
  6. Cutting of white coconut meat into the desired size,
  7. Hot air blow drying the grated white coconut meat to reduce the moisture content from 19% to less than 3%,
  8. Cooling of desiccated coconut,
  9. Sieving of desiccated coconut to separate desiccated coconut as according to the desired size
  10. Packing of desiccated coconut.

Desiccated coconut from Vietnam has a delicious and fatty flavor, as well as a pleasant odor and a milky white color. Its quality can fulfill the stringent requirements of markets such as Europe, America, and Japan, among others.

3. Vietnam Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an edible oil made from the kernels of mature coconuts that has become extremely popular in recent years due to its numerous health advantages. Coconut oils are typically available in two varieties – virgin and refined oil. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is produced by cold-pressing the liquid from the coconut meat, later extracting the oil from milk and water and has a milky appearance. 

People prefer using VCO for personal care purposes like hair care and moisturizing skin, lips, eyelashes, makeup, body massage as well as drinking it raw. Because of its creamy and tropical flavor, besides cosmetic use, coconut oil is also used in foods such as vegetable oil (stir-fry, salad dressings, etc.). It is also a good choice if you are adding it to smoothies, coffee, and shakes. 

Virgin Coconut Oil

In Vietnam, many coconut processing companies use a modern VCO production technology that results in high-quality export products. To improve the quality of Vietnam VCO, a project on extracting coconut oil with non-heating technology was implemented as part of the national program on technology renovation many years ago. With a centrifugal method, no high temperatures, and no chemicals used in the production process, Vietnam VCO quality meets high standards of not only the Asia market but also in other strict markets such as Europe, America, and Japan.

4. Vietnam Coconut Milk Powder

These products could be named differently in the market. Coconut milk powder, coconut powder, creamed coconut powder or dried coconut extract are a few samples. Basically, coconut milk powder is a fine, white powder manufactured through the spray drying process of coconut milk concentrate, which is pressed from ripe fresh coconut meat. The product after all has white color and a nice odor of natural coconut. According to different market demands, Vietnam coconut milk powder has different fat content such as 40%, 60% or over 65%.

2000 coconuts would yield about 1 ton of coconut milk powder. The production of coconut milk powder is as follow: 

  1. Breaking the dehusked nuts into halves. The split nuts are deshelled to separate the kernel. 
  2. Comminuting the kernel into small gratings using a hammer mill. 
  3. Pressing the grantings, continuous screw pressing to extract the milk. The coconut milk thus obtained is filtered by passing through a vibrating screen. 
  4. Spray drying the coconut milk into a fine milk powder using a spray dryer. 
  5. Packing the final product in Aluminum foil packets in various sizes as per customer requirement.

Coconut milk powder is packed in bulk bag for export

Coconut Milk Powder is a delicious and nutritious non-dairy creamer. The creaminess and naturally occuring sweetness make it a superstar in the kitchen. There are so many delicious uses for coconut milk powder. It is an excellent ingredient for dry applications, confectionery items, or any recipe that calls for coconut milk, such as creamy soups, smoothies, baked goods, iced drinks, yogurt, sauces, and beverages.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

At Viego, we know it’s more than just finding the right factory since every step of the supply chain requires proper implementation in order to ensure clients are shipped the quality products they require. We always try our best to determine the best suppliers based on your personal needs as a company. During the process of researching potential suppliers, contacting and visiting the factories, we inspect every single thing from license, capacity, and past orders as well as the equipment and the workers’ competence. This is why we are making sure that you find the best supplier possible at the best competitive price.

Apart from Coconut Products, we also provide insights on other Agricultural products from Vietnam. Jump to: Vietnam’s Coffee Market, Vietnam’s Pepper Market, Vietnam’s Cashew Market , Vietnam’s Rice Market and also check many other tips for sourcing from Vietnam.

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Vietnam's Coffee Market

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VIETNAM LIBERICA COFFEE

by Thao
written by Thao

When it comes to coffee beans, the two most common commercial species, Arabica and Robusta, are two familiar names. But there is a lot more to coffee variations and genetics than that. One of the lesser known species is Liberica which accounts for less than 2% of all commercial coffee worldwide. As one of the world’s rarest coffee, Liberica is only cultivated in some Southeast Asian countries and limited areas in Western and Central Africa. Vietnam takes pride in being one of the few countries that produces an amount of quality Liberica. Read this essential guide to have an overview of Vietnam Liberica Coffee when sourcing coffee in Vietnam. 

Vietnam Liberica Coffee

1. Vietnam Liberica Coffee and its history

In Vietnam, there are 3 types of coffee grown: Arabica, Robusta and Liberica. We have been talking a lot about Vietnam Robusta and Vietnam Arabica in our previous coffee series blogs, which you can check out here. For Vietnam Liberica, it provides low yielding compared to the other two. Liberica coffee is called “cà phê mít” (as its leaves look like jackfruit’s leaves) in Vietnam. The Liberica species consists of two main varieties: Liberica and Exelsa. It has a somewhat strong bitter taste, especially the back-palate flavor – reminding of burnt wood. Hence, it’s usually used to mix with Arabica and Robusta coffee to create different flavors. 

It takes five years for a Liberica plant to begin to bear in Vietnam. This coffee tree is drought tolerant, less water needed, so they are often grown in extensive farming. Due to its drought tolerance and good resistance to pests and diseases, liberica coffee is preferred to use as the rootstock for other popular coffee varieties.

Vietnam Liberica Coffee leavesLiberica leaves are noticeably larger than other species. Source: CATIE Collection

In the 1890s, the Liberica species was brought to Indonesia and the Philippines to replace the Arabica plants that had died in large numbers due to coffee rust disease. Coffee was first introduced to Vietnam by an obviously coffee-crazed French priest from 1857. Dissatisfied with the yields of coffea Arabica, these French colonists introduced the Robusta and Liberica varieties in 1908. Liberica then proved to be more resistant to diseases and pests, adaptable to hotter climates and lower altitudes, and drought resistant. Liberica, on the other hand, is not as widely produced as Arabica and Robusta in Vietnam nowadays because of its low yield and difficult cultivation and harvesting.

2. Where in Vietnam is Liberica coffee grown?

Liberica coffee is grown in numerous regions in Vietnam, including Nghe An, Quang Tri, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Dalat where the environmental and climatic circumstances are ideal for this coffee varietal.

Liberica tree

Mature Vietnam liberica coffee plants

In the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Liberica coffee is frequently harvested late in the 12th lunar month due to its growth condition. The rainwater enables its blossoms to bloom. Cherry coffee will thus begin to grow after other types of coffee have been harvested. 

Cherries are mostly harvested by hand, either stripping both unripe and overripe cherries from the tree, or by selectively picking only ripe cherries from the tree and leaving behind unripe, green cherries to be harvested at a later time. The most common processing method applied in Vietnam is the dry method after cherries have been harvested. By this method, cherries are dried under the sunlight or in mechanical driers. 

Meanwhile, large-scale coffee producers mainly use wet processing technology. This is the most advanced processing technology today, and is applied in many other countries in the world.

Farmer harvest liberica coffee

A farmer in Quang Tri province harvests the ripe liberica coffee beans

3. What does Vietnam Liberica Coffee taste like?

Liberica coffee has a distinctive tart, fruity, dark and mysterious taste. The 1% caffeine content puts Liberica way behind Robusta (2.6%) and Arabica (1.6%).

In blends, it enhances the middle and back palate and lingering finish of the coffee, giving the cup more substance and power. Brewed on its own, it is a compelling and unique coffee experience. Liberica coffee has the potential to be very sweet, with lingering citrus notes.  

Vietnam Liberica coffee

Green Vietnam liberica coffee beans

It is used in Vietnam as a blending coffee, where it’s mixed in with other coffees to create complexity and depth. With its distinct sour flavor, liberica coffee is commonly used in European instant coffee as it is well-suited to European tastes.

4. Main categories of Liberica Coffee to buy in Vietnam

Vietnam offers a wide range of good-quality coffee at a cheaper rate. These are main types of Liberica coffee to buy in Vietnam that you should take into consideration:

  1. Whole green/roasted beans
  • Liberica coffee washed/unwashed grade 1 on screen No. 18
  • Liberica coffee washed/unwashed grade 1 on screen No. 16
  • Liberica coffee washed/unwashed grade 2 on screen No. 13
  1. Processed coffee
  • Drip coffee bag (Liberica mixed)
  • Whole ground bean (Liberica mixed)
  • Instant Coffee (Liberica ingredient)

Coffee beans to buy in Vietnam on screen no. 16 and no.18 are the main raw materials for making roasted coffee and ground coffee. Smaller coffee beans such as screen no.13 are often used as mixing materials to reduce prices.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

At Viego, we know it’s more than just finding the right factory since every step of the supply chain requires proper implementation in order to ensure clients are shipped the quality coffee beans they require. We always try our best to determine the best suppliers based on your personal needs as a company. During the process of researching potential suppliers, contacting and visiting the factories, we inspect every single thing from license, capacity, and past orders as well as the equipment and the workers’ competence. This is why we are making sure that you find the best supplier possible at the best competitive price.

In order to provide a deeper insight on Vietnam’s Coffee Market, we’ve created this series along with tips on how to select the best beans from Vietnam for your business. Jump to:

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The In-Depth Guide To Vietnam Rice Market
Vietnam's Agriculture Market

THE IN-DEPTH GUIDE TO VIETNAM RICE MARKET

by Thao
written by Thao

Rice has always been a traditional strong export of Vietnam. As a rice production hub of the world, the country is set to remain the world’s second largest rice exporter in 2021 with 6.4 million tons, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Up to now, Vietnamese rice has been eaten in over 150 countries and territories in the world, meeting the buyers in quantity, quality, packaging and delivery time. This ultimate guide will cover all aspects of the rice market in Vietnam. Read it to learn more about how to source and import Vietnamese rice.

Vietnamese rice

1. Vietnam’s rice market at a glance

Rice production plays a vital role in the agricultural and rural development of Vietnam. It is the country’s main crop, accounting for more than 90% of total cereal production according to the General Statistics Office. The two major rice production regions of Vietnam are Red River Delta and Mekong Delta. These delta regions occupy about 66% of the total rice production area and provide up to 70% of the total material paddy yield of the whole country. 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Mekong Delta is still the largest “Rice Bowl” of Vietnam with ​​nearly 4 million hectares by 2019. This delta annually produces over 50% of total national rice production as well as over 90% of rice commodity for export.

Vietnam Area, Yield and Paddy Production, 1993-2020.  Source: GSO

According to GSO, the total paddy area and production in 2020 trend down due to urbanization, crop alteration, drought, and salinity intrusion impacts. However, rice production yields keep increasing for the past four years. In recent years, Vietnam has made a great effort in growing high productivity rice varieties and improving intensive cultivation competence of its farmers. As a result, Vietnamese paddy productivity remains stable and steadily increases every year. 

2. How does Vietnam produce and process its rice? 

Rice has been grown in the country for thousands of years. There are three main crops in Vietnam, including winter-spring crops, summer-autumn crops and summer crops. Have a look at the below table to know more about the timeline of each crop: 

Vietnamese rice production season

Vietnamese rice production seasons

Most rice grown in Vietnam is wet-rice, meaning that it is grown in flooded fields rather than dry land as it needs a constant supply of water. Seedlings are raised in nursery beds and transplanted after 25-50 days to flooded fields. The paddy stem is submerged in two to six inches of water and the seedlings placed in rows approximately a foot apart. Farmers will then constantly check to make sure the availability of certain water levels till harvesting time. 

planting vietnamese rice

Transplant process

When the leaves of the rice stalks begin to turn yellow, farmers will drain and dry the paddies to prepare for the harvest. They then harvest rice by cutting the stalks with sickles. After that, they tie the stalks together and dry them.

harvest

Farmers harvest rice with their sickles

Threshing separates the grain from the rest of the plant. This phase has already been highly mechanicalized. Rice threshers and husking machines have relatively met farmers’ demands. After threshing, the grains are dried by exposing to the sun to be ready for storage. In recent years, the application of rice drier has been getting more and more popular. Vietnamese rice drier

Vietnamese rice drier system

The husk is removed from the kernel during milling. The bran layer, which contains the majority of the nutrients, is sometimes stripped away throughout the process. The bran coat on brown rice is still intact.

Milling machine

Milling machines system in a Vietnamese rice processing company

After going through these processes, rice can be selected identical. In recent times, the quality control process has been highly improved and achieved high effectiveness. The rate of unbroken rice grains is high and rice surface quality is good. Dust and noise are treated instantly inside the machines so environmental pollution can be avoided.

3. Vietnam’s rice classification

Vietnam produces two major kinds of rice including sticky rice and ordinary rice of high and normal quality. The following are the classifications of Vietnamese ordinary rice varieties based on their structures, shapes, and colors. 

  • According to structures and shapes: There are long grain rice, middle grain rice and short grain rice.
  • According to colors: There are brown rice, white rice, red rice and black rice.

Regarding Vietnamese high quality rice, there are two kinds including special quality rice and fragrant rice. 

Especially for exporting, Vietnam exports the following kinds of rice: 5% broken rice polished one time, 5% broken rice polished twice, 10%, 15%, 25% and 100% broken rice. Besides, Vietnam also exports glutinous and sticky rice, ordinary rice, rice parboiling and fragrant rice.

In the current export structure, white rice still predominates. Vietnamese white rice is a competitor of Thai average and high quality rice. Regarding export categories, in 2020, the export value of white rice accounted for 32.5% of the total turnover; jasmine rice and fragrant rice accounted for 32.9%; sticky rice accounted for 29.6%; japonica rice and Japanese rice varieties accounted for 4.8% according to the MARD.

Vietnamese broken rice

Vietnamese broken rice

4. Was Vietnam’s rice export volume affected by COVID-19 pandemic?

While several agricultural commodities had major drops in 2020, the rice business saw tremendous growth. Rice is the agricultural product with the highest growth value, according to statistics from the Agency of Foreign Trade. Vietnam earned over US$3 billion from exporting rice in 2020, as stated by Vietnam Food Association (VFA), a year-on-year increase of more than 10%.

Despite the challenges provided by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rice exporters swiftly adjusted their strategies and actively sought new markets, fully utilizing the benefits of FTAs. As said by Vice Chairman of the VFA, Do Ha Nam, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has created a significant potential for Vietnamese rice to enter European markets and then expand into other competitive areas. 

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

At Viego, we know it’s more than just finding the right factory since every step of the supply chain requires proper implementation in order to ensure clients are shipped the quality products they require. We always try our best to determine the best suppliers based on your personal needs as a company. During the process of researching potential suppliers, contacting and visiting the factories, we inspect every single thing from license, capacity, and past orders as well as the equipment and the workers’ competence. This is why we are making sure that you find the best supplier possible at the best competitive price.

Apart from Rice, we also provide insights on other Agricultural products from Vietnam. Jump to: Vietnam’s Coffee Market, Vietnam’s Pepper Market, Vietnam’s Cashew Market and also check many other tips for sourcing from Vietnam.

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VIEGO GLOBAL GOT FEATURED IN INTHEBLACK, AUSTRALIA’S MOST-WIDELY CIRCULATING MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE
News

VIEGO GLOBAL GOT FEATURED IN INTHEBLACK, AUSTRALIA’S MOST-WIDELY CIRCULATING MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

by Thao
written by Thao

We are delighted to be approached by INTHEBLACK to talk about our company’s progress over the last year and how we are coping with the Covid pandemic! INTHEBLACK is CPA Australia’s monthly business magazine released in 100 countries. It features interviews with strategic business leaders from Australia and around the world, as well as in-depth practical analysis of contemporary issues, commentary and opinion.

Read an excerpt of the article to find out more:

As many trading companies battle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ho Chi Minh City-based entrepreneur Jewel Nguyen is being rushed off her feet with orders.

In the past year, her business Viego Global has been in negotiations with hundreds of distributors, resellers and brokers for supplies of products such as coffee, coconuts, textiles and pharmaceuticals. She’s fielded inquiries from markets including the US, Saudi Arabia, Iran, South Korea and the Caribbean region. Not bad for a start-up.

“One hundred per cent of the customers are new, and we didn’t know them before,” says Jewel, the company’s founder and CEO, who attributes the company’s success, in part, to taking advantage of digital marketing to acquire new customers.

The quick commercial success of Viego Global’s team reflects business confidence in Vietnam, which has seen the South-East Asian nation outperform most countries during the pandemic.

The Vietnamese economy grew by 2.9 per cent in 2020, beating even China, on the back of its growing manufacturing base and strong domestic demand. The Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, has crunched data to rank the pandemic response of almost 100 markets, placing New Zealand in top spot, with Vietnam and Taiwan a close second and third.

Jewel says such positives are also encouraging highly trained graduates, professionals and other Việt Kiều – the term for Vietnamese living outside the country – to return home.

“They previously studied abroad and stayed to work,” she says. “Now a new wave will return to Vietnam and contribute to the country.”

Check out the full article “Will Vietnam’s economy remain strong?” here.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Are you going to source from Vietnam, an Asia sourcing hub with great potential? Are you faced with any problems when sourcing from Vietnam? With professional experience and presence at factory location, Viego thoroughly understands and has the capability to help you break through all the barriers as well as successfully do business in this country. Just leave your comment below or click HERE for further support!

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VIEGO GLOBAL GOT FEATURED IN NIKKEI ASIA, A JAPAN'S LEADING BUSINESS PUBLICATION
News

VIEGO GLOBAL GOT FEATURED IN NIKKEI ASIA, A JAPAN’S LEADING BUSINESS PUBLICATION

by Thao
written by Thao

We are honored to be featured in Nikkei Asia in their January Issue. Nikkei Asia is an English-language newsmagazine, which is published by Nikkei INC, one of the biggest business publication in Japan. Nikkei Asia brings customers news and insights on the region’s most influential companies, and comprehensive coverage of politics, economy, markets and trends – all from a uniquely Asian perspective.

Here’s an excerpt of what they said about our business and what Jewel Nguyen, our founder and CEO shared in the discussion:

This has boosted the fortunes of businesses like Viego Global, a sourcing company based in Ho Chi Minh City. Clients ordered garments and personal protective equipment because supply chain disruptions were making it harder to buy from India and China, says founder Jewel Nguyen.

“For a new company like us, it’s a good opportunity,” she said. “This is a time for companies to search out new, efficient supply chains.”

She is taking coffee orders, too. Vietnam is the world’s biggest exporter of robusta, commonly used for instant coffee. Cafes tend to serve the more-expensive arabica, but as consumers stay home, they are turning to the cheaper bean.

“People are being locked down everywhere. They need to use instant coffee,” Nguyen said.

Read the full article “Asia’s Covid Recovery: Vietnam’s Breakout Moment” HERE.

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

Are you going to source from Vietnam, an Asia sourcing hub with great potential? Are you faced with any problems when sourcing from Vietnam? With professional experience and presence at factory location, Viego thoroughly understands and has the capability to help you break through all the barriers as well as successfully do business in this country. Just leave your comment below or click HERE for further support!

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Vietnam's Coffee Market

A GUIDE TO THE BEST ARABICA IN VIETNAM: HIGHLAND CAU DAT ARABICA COFFEE

by Thao
written by Thao

Vietnam has long made its name on the global coffee market with Robusta Coffee. Although Vietnam produces primarily Robusta, the country also has Arabica coffee varieties that are often regarded as the world’s most excellent. And as Arabica is grown only in the region with high altitude, climate and soil suitable, only a few regions in Vietnam can meet this requirement. The Cau Dat area of Da Lat, Lam Dong is one of a few lands growing coffee that is acknowledged as a paradise for the most delicious Arabica in Vietnam. Read on to find out more about high quality Cau Dat Arabica.

Cau-Dat-Farm-that-grow-Cau-Dat-Arabica

1. Brief history of Cau Dat Arabica from Dalat, Lam Dong

There are three main types of Arabica coffee grown in Dalat, Lam Dong: Bourbon, Typica, and Catimor. The most well-known Bourbon descendent variety is Arabica Bourbon, often known as Moka. It is well-known not only in Vietnam, but also around the world for its high quality. During the colonial period, French missionaries brought Moka to Vietnam in 1875. Following that, they developed some Moka-cultivation farms. Nowadays, Moka is still cultivated in Cau Dat district of Dalat Province. Many people have tried to grow this kind in places other than Dalat, but the farmer is unable to produce the same high–quality fruits. Moka is known as the Queen of Coffee because of its deep and unique flavor with a wine scent.

Each year, 2.5 to 3 tons of Arabica Typica are produced in the Cau Dat district, which includes Tram Hanh and Xuan Truong. Only Typica and Bourbon were available in this area prior to 1988. Many coffee experts considered Typica to be the queen of coffee during this time period. Its sweet flavor, silky mouthfeel, and luxurious aroma are well-known characteristics of its cup profile. Typica was increasingly displaced by high-yielding Arabica Catimor, which yields coffee more than 2–3 times as much as Typica, until the 1990s. Despite the fact that significant effort has been made to bring Typica back, its characteristics have rendered it an extremely rare and limited production variety.

Vietnam Coffee Growing Region. Source: caudatfarm

2. Why is Cau Dat Arabica considered Vietnam’s best Arabica? 

Golden geographic advantages that Cau Dat – Da Lat owns

The Cau Dat, which is situated about 24km from Da Lat city in Lam Dong Province, part of the famous Central Highland is a naturally gifted place. The quality of Arabica increases as the altitude increases, and the temperature drops. With an altitude of over 1,500m above sea level, along with a cold climate and foggy weather most of the year, Cau Dat is a paradise for Arabica coffee plants. Located at this high altitude, Cau Dat is surrounded by gorgeous mountains and vast pine trees. This area has several characteristics of a temperate zone region with two distinctive seasons: rainy and dry. The temperature amplitude of the year here ranges from 5 degrees coldest and the highest does not exceed 33 degrees. With the average precipitation of 1562 mm, Cau Dat is often hazy and has high humidity (80%). Combined with soil  which is fertile basalt soil, Cau Dat – Da Lat has 3 golden conditions to be the perfect land for the Arabica coffee trees to grow, which produces very high quality and rich in flavor. 

Cau Dat Farm Coffee in the fog

Local’s experience in growing and processing Arabica coffee

Along with its geographic advantages is the meticulously picking and pruning process. Farmers manually harvest each coffee bean after the growth and development process when the minimum mature fruit rate reaches 95% before taking it home to be processed. Before processing, the beans are cleaned, plucked, and contaminants are eliminated from the beans, which are then hand-picked and sorted into 100 percent ripe coffee. Most common processing methods applied in Cau Dat are Natural processing, honey processing, wet processing in greenhouses or baskets exposed to natural sunlight. Before being sent to the roastery, post-processed coffee beans are carefully stored in plastic bags in a cold atmosphere, avoiding direct sunlight. 

The producing experience over the time of the locals here contribute to the exceptional quality of Cau Dat Arabica. Arabica coffee from Cau Dat has a unique combination of elegant acidity and mild bitterness. It has a rich coffee aroma together with honey and sweet taste. Cau Dat coffee has been described as having the immaculate flavor of a Sunday morning, and consumers who have had it will never forget it. The coffee here is on par with some of the top coffees on the planet. Since 2016, Starbucks has started selling Arabica originating from Cau Dat, Dalat in more than 21,500 stores in 56 countries worldwide.

Mr. Khanh, one of the prominent coffee farmers in Cau Dat. Source: CDIVietnam

3. Protected geographical indication for Cau Dat- Da Lat coffee

The registered certification “Cau Dat Da Lat Coffee” trademark was issued by the Department of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology) on October 4th, 2017. This is the legal basis for protection on investment development, in order to enhance the prestige of Da Lat coffee-tea products which are produced and processed exclusively at the altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. 

With the general direction about developing “Cau Dat Da Lat Coffee” trademark, the government of Da Lat city has set out 5 missions focusing on deploying synchronize in next time. Such as: complete the intensive farming models of high quality Arabica coffee to transfer widely to producers; strengthen promoting agriculture, training for rural labor; build the chain of linking value product; improve the percentage of wet processed Arabica coffee to 100%; find and expand the consumer product market.

TIPC Lam Dong

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

At Viego, we know it’s more than just finding the right factory since every step of the supply chain requires proper implementation in order to ensure clients are shipped the quality coffee beans they require. We always try our best to determine the best suppliers based on your personal needs as a company. During the process of researching potential suppliers, contacting and visiting the factories, we inspect every single thing from license, capacity, and past orders as well as the equipment and the workers’ competence. This is why we are making sure that you find the best supplier possible at the best competitive price.

In order to provide a deeper insight on Vietnam’s Coffee Market, we’ve created this series along with tips on how to select the best beans from Vietnam for your business. Jump to:

 

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Vietnam's Agriculture Market

VIETNAM CASHEW NUTS: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CASHEW MARKET IN VIETNAM

by Thao
written by Thao

Outdoing many Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is currently the leading giant in cashew nuts exports in the global market for the last 17 years.  According to the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas), Vietnam has maintained its position as the world’s largest producer and exporter of cashew nuts in 2020, exporting an estimated 450,000 tonnes of cashew kernels worth 3.2 billion USD. Being the top producer and exporter, the country has been active in improving product quality and the value of the products. To facilitate your sourcing process, this blog article will provide you with useful information about the Vietnam Cashew market.

Take a look at our main points in this article:

1. The cashew market in Vietnam at a glance.

Located in the humid tropics and blessed with large amounts of fertile red soil, Vietnam is favourable for planting and producing cashew nuts. Cashew nut planted areas in Vietnam have mostly been allocated in the South, especially in the Southeast of Vietnam: Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dak Nong. Vietnam’s “cashew capital”, southern province of Binh Phuoc, is home to around 170,000 ha of cashew trees, accounting for half of the country’s total planting area. This province has granted its cashew as geographical indication registration to build national brand for the cashew nut.

Cashew Farming Regions in Vietnam

Cashew Farming Regions in Vietnam by Proportion of Area. Source: Department of Plantation, MARD

Since the early 1980s, Vietnam has been producing cashews throughout the country. Data by Vinacas shows that Vietnam began to ship cashew kernels abroad in 1990 after the association was founded. Nowadays, Vietnam had increased its presence to over 90 countries. It is currently the largest cashew supplier of the United States, China, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

In recent years, there has an effort of the Government for restructuring the industry, maintaining 300 thousand hectares of cashew trees and speeding up solutions to double productivity, even triple. The Government of Vietnam and Vinacas are trying to improve and upgrade the existing processing system, especial introduce new mechanization system in order to save on labor, and bring consistency and cost competitivenessFurthermore, to boost the industry’s growth, Vinacas signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU’s) with Cashew Council and many other trading countries to support trading between the countries.

2. How are Vietnamese Cashew nuts processed?

Cashew harvesting seasons in Vietnam usually starts from January to April, or February to May, sometimes lasting until June depending on the yearly weather. The start of fruiting season is February while April can be considered as the end of the season. Usually, people only harvest once in a year, then the seeds are dried and stored in the warehouse.

Cashews are actually seeds that grow at the base of cashew apples. The cashew kernel comes in a very hard shell that cannot be cracked by hand. Therefore, to soften the outer layer for removal, and to remove the irritant oil, cashews in their shells are boiled or steamed and later sun-dried. They are then cracked one at a time, which is highly labour intensive as it is done manually or without a particular machine. Farmers often use a simple mechanical hand cracker to ensure the cashew kernel remains intact. By doing this, they help reduce production costs, making the processing price of cashew lower than it was there before. Finally, the outer skin of the raw cashew is removed leaving the creamy white nut we are all familiar with. When dry or oil roasted, the cashew turns a golden yellow color. It’s also possible to buy dry roasted cashews with the skin still on. All cashew nuts are then stored by specific sizes and quality. Most kernels can be scorched or unescorted, wholes, or in pieces.

To preserve the products well, it should be packed into PE and vacuumed bags. Processing factory will use CO2 to draw the air out of the tank and replace it with nitrogen or CO2 to avoid mold and harmful microorganisms. This process is optional, depending on customer requirements. The finished products are often packed into 10-kg tin cans.

Cashew kernels from Vietnam

3. Quality certificates and documents required

For exporting to market with strict safety standard, in terms of cashew cultivation technology for sustainable development, various Vietnamese cashew farmers have been applying advanced agricultural production technology to obtain national and international certifications. Below is the list of key quality certificates:

  • Certificate of product compliance with ISO 9001 management system and environmental standards such as ISO 14001
  • Certificate in accordance with ISO 22000 / HACCP
  • FSSC 22000: Food safety certificate
  • VietGAP certificate
  • HALAL certificate (For Muslim-majority countries)

4. Vietnam cashew classifications

Vietnamese cashew nuts are classified into a number of grades according to the AFI 2012 standard: classify based on sizes and colors. Below is some features Of Vietnamese Origin Cashew Nuts Kernel:

  • Size: Medium and small (w240, w320,w450,w500…)
  • Shape: Kidney shape with the big round at the beginning and smaller to the ending.
  • Color: Dark skin inner and nice pale ivory color.
  • Flavor: Cashews have a rich nutty flavor, similar to almonds or peanuts. When pureed, it may be hard to distinguish cashew butter from other nut butter like peanut or almond.

The following are some symbols of types of cashew nuts:

  • W: Wholes
  • S: Splits
  • B: Butts
  • P: Pieces
  • LWP: Large White Pieces
  • SWP: Small White Pieces
  • BB: Baby Bits

In the classification system, the high-quality nuts are usually big, whole-grain, and white nuts. Varieties of cashew plants grown in Vietnam mostly produce small and medium raw nut size. Therefore, W240 might be considered as the best cashew nut of Vietnamese origin. The kernels have medium size, beautiful, pale ivory, whole-grain cashew that has between 220 and 240 nuts/pound (395 – 465 beans/kg).

Viego Global – Your trusted sourcing partner in Vietnam

At Viego, we know it’s more than just finding the right factory since every step of the supply chain requires proper implementation in order to ensure clients are shipped the quality products they require. We always try our best to determine the best suppliers based on your personal needs as a company. During the process of researching potential suppliers, contacting and visiting the factories, we inspect every single thing from license, capacity, and past orders as well as the equipment and the workers’ competence. This is why we are making sure that you find the best supplier possible at the best competitive price.

Apart from Cashew, we also provide insights on other Agricultural products from Vietnam. Jump to: Vietnam’s Coffee Market, Vietnam’s Pepper Market, Vietnam’s Rice Market and also check many other tips for sourcing from Vietnam.

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