These products now possess a “passport” to enter much larger markets. The OCOP “ticket” not only drives economic development but also spreads the image of Điện Biên’s specialties to various regions across the country.

From the early, hesitant steps, the OCOP program in Điện Biên has gradually spread and made a clear mark on rural economic development. By the end of March 2026, the entire province had 147 OCOP products, including 142 3-star products and 5 4-star products. This figure has far exceeded the initial goal of 90 to 100 products, reflecting the synchronized and determined involvement of all levels and sectors alongside the active response from the grassroots. The 92 participants in OCOP, including cooperatives, enterprises, and production facilities, have contributed to a colorful rural agricultural landscape. Each subject acts as an important link in the journey to elevate local products through organized production, improved designs, brand building, and market expansion.

The Hồng Phước Cooperative currently has two products recognized with 3-star OCOP standards: canna vermicelli and macadamia. By focusing on investing in product quality, perfecting designs and packaging, and building a distribution system, the cooperative’s products are now consumed in many provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Hải Phòng, Sơn La, and Bắc Ninh.

Lò Văn Pâng, Director of the Hồng Phước Cooperative, shared that to reach further and affirm their position, the cooperative invested in upgrading production workshops and innovating processing procedures in a professional and synchronized manner. They also actively engage in advertising and trade promotion to bring products closer to consumers.

Similarly, the dried buffalo meat of the Phìn Hồ Agricultural Cooperative is a newly recognized 3-star OCOP product. Lò Thị Nhung, Director of the cooperative, noted that this recognition has helped more people learn about their product, increasing its value to an average price of VND 800,000 per kilogram. She hopes that in the future, the cooperative’s products will be known by even more consumers to improve the income of its members.

Consumer feedback has been equally positive. Tòng Thị Hà, a resident of Tuần Giáo, expressed her impression of Điện Biên’s OCOP agricultural products due to their natural quality, characteristic flavors, and clear origins. She noted that product packaging has also improved, becoming more convenient and attractive. She hopes these products will be distributed even more widely for easier access.

Another high-potential direction that the province is particularly interested in promoting is linking OCOP development with tourism. With its rich cultural heritage and majestic natural landscapes, Điện Biên is focusing on elevating OCOP products to become a “bridge” that brings stories of the border land and its people to tourists. The province has issued various mechanisms and policies to encourage, support, and prioritize individuals and collectives in developing OCOP products within the tourism service group. This is gradually forming destinations linked to indigenous cultural experiences where tourists can explore, enjoy, and purchase products that carry the distinct mark of Điện Biên.

Currently, the province has two recognized OCOP products in the tourism service group: the Mường Then eco-tourism resort in Thanh Nưa and the Pha Đin Cooperative in Quài Tở. These models have opened new paths for integration. With a scientific approach and spaces designed to be close to nature while harmonizing with traditional local architecture, the Pha Đin Cooperative is becoming an attractive stop. Since the beginning of the year, it has welcomed over 15,000 visitors. Trần Thị Mỹ Linh, the Director of the Pha Đin Cooperative, shared that the OCOP recognition has enhanced their prestige and attracted more tourists, opening a sustainable development path where tourism is linked to agriculture. Nguyễn Thị Phương Anh, a tourist from Hanoi, was impressed by the traditional cultural feel and the highland market within the cooperative, where she purchased macadamia and dried meat as meaningful gifts.

During the 2021-2025 period, Điện Biên province actively implemented trade promotion activities to expand the market for agricultural products. The province organized business delegations to participate in trade exhibitions across the country and national-scale promotion events to connect supply and demand. Currently, 28,998 agricultural households have been trained to use e-commerce platforms, 3,871 have received digital skills training, and 1,194 have online stores. There are now 493 provincial agricultural products introduced and promoted on e-commerce platforms. The OCOP program has shifted the production mindset of businesses and cooperatives from quantity to quality and from raw production to deep processing, meeting higher standards of food safety and traceability.

Each recognized OCOP product serves as a “ticket” that allows Điện Biên’s specialties to soar, contributing to the sustainable development of the province’s agriculture and rural areas.