Going Global: The Ambition of Dong Thap’s Agricultural Sector

(DTO) The inaugural Dong Thap Fruit Festival 2026 (the Festival) will take place from June 5 to 8, featuring a wide range of vibrant, high-profile activities. 

Far more than a provincial cultural and trade event, the festival is expected to drive market expansion, solidify the position of the fruit industry, and elevate Dong Thap's global profile.

THE INAUGURAL FRUIT FESTIVAL

Fruit farming is one of Dong Thap Province’s core strengths following its administrative merger. The province currently boasts around 135,000 hectares of fruit orchards with highly diverse varieties, including numerous specialties that have established strong brands.

Against the backdrop of agriculture shifting strongly toward modern, green, and sustainable production, Dong Thap’s organization of its first fruit festival demonstrates the locality’s determination to build signature agricultural brands. 

The event aims to bridge farmers, businesses, scientists, and the market, while simultaneously driving agricultural economics coupled with experiential tourism.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, the first Dong Thap Fruit Festival 2026, themed “Dong Thap – Land of Sweet Fruits,” will be held at Hung Vuong Square (Dao Thanh Ward). 

The theme not only evokes the fertility of the local alluvial land but also reflects the ambition to propel Dong Thap’s specialty fruits further into domestic and international markets.

The festival will feature a variety of vibrant main activities. The centerpiece will be the opening ceremony, scheduled from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on June 5 at Hung Vuong Square, which will gather around 800 delegates and be broadcast live.  The closing ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. on June 8.

Another highlight is the exhibition space showcasing the value chain of Dong Thap’s fruit industry. 

Here, the province will showcase fruit models, plant seedlings, fresh fruits, value-added processed fruit products, safe cultivation processes, and the overall achievements of Dong Thap’s fruit sector. 

This space is expected to provide locals, businesses, and visitors with a comprehensive insight into the province's fruit production potential in the new era.

ROBUST TRADE PROMOTION INITIATIVES

In addition, the festival will host a fruit trade fair and exhibition, showcasing regional specialties, fruit-based products, and OCOP (One Commune One Product) goods from the Mekong Delta.

The fair will feature approximately 120 booths representing communes, wards, businesses, and cooperatives from Dong Thap and neighboring provinces. It offers a prime platform for participants to showcase products, forge partnerships, expand market reach, and boost trade ties.

Beyond product promotion, the festival aims to drive value-added growth for the sector through targeted seminars, including: “Farmers 4.0 and Organized Sourcing Zones,” “Developing Value Chains for Key Provincial Fruit Products,” and “Brand Building for Key Agricultural Products.” 

These sessions will explore the role of farmers in the digital era, supply chain linkages, and the structured management of raw material areas.

These expert-led panels are expected to yield strategic solutions for sustainable sourcing, smart agriculture, value chain enhancement, and agricultural branding. Such steps are vital for the province's fruit industry to align with shifting market demands.

Additionally, the festival will feature a dedicated space to showcase Dong Thap’s tourism products. As a core event of the festival, this pavilion seeks to market the province’s tourism appeal to a wide audience of domestic and international visitors. 

Meanwhile, the spectacular musical fountain, laser light show, and artistic projection mapping performance titled “Tales of the River” promises to deliver a captivating cultural experience for locals and tourists alike.

Alongside the main events, a series of sidelined activities will be organized, including: the photo exhibition “Beauty of the Riverine Countryside”; the “Tree Age Labeling” initiative honoring long-standing orchards; the fruit arrangement contest themed “Dong Thap – Sweet Alluvial Flavors, Deep Earthly Love”; a culinary competition and showcase featuring Dong Thap fruit delicacies titled “Flavors of the Pink Lotus Land”; the “Mekong Orchard Charms” pageant; the “Dong Thap Youth – Spreading the Value of Homegrown Sweet Fruits” festival; specialty fruit promotion weeks across modern retail networks and e-commerce platforms nationwide; the “Mekong Delicacies” food zone; celebratory events at the commune and ward levels; livestream sales events promoting regional fruits; green and agricultural fam trips; and the “Fruit Run” community race, where participants will sport fruit-themed costumes.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, the festival aims to celebrate specialty fruits from Dong Thap, the Mekong Delta, and across Vietnam. The event provides a strategic window for the province to ramp up marketing, promote, and drive sales of these delicacies in both domestic and overseas markets. 

The festival is also poised to elevate the picturesque image of Dong Thap, the Mekong Delta, and Vietnam as a whole, thereby catalyzing trade, investment, and tourism.

Dong Thap is committed to delivering a well-curated, high-impact, and cost-effective event that leaves a lasting impression on the public and the business community. 

Therefore, all activities are tailored to highlight the diversity of Vietnamese fruits, with a sharp focus on high-value, high-potential mainstay varieties. 

In parallel, the festival will showcase pioneering production models, post-harvest technology—notably value-added deep processing—circular economy practices, and digital transformation within the fruit value chain.

Ultimately, this seamless fusion of commerce, culture, tourism, and digital transformation signals a paradigm shift in how Dong Thap markets its agricultural treasures. 

Moving beyond conventional product showcases, the locality is set to weave a compelling narrative about its land, its people, its rich orchard heritage, and the dedicated journey behind its world-class fruits.

By ANH THU
Translated by X.QUANG