Vietnam
Country information
GenebankDong Go Experimental Center |
ContactDr Vo Van Long |
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Vietnam is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest and Cambodia to the southwest, and South China Sea to the east. With a population of over 86 million inhabitants, Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the world.
Coconut is considered the most important perennial oil crop in Vietnam, with an estimated total cultivated land area of 250,000 ha. Coconuts provide the primary source of income to the thousands of farmers, especially those living in the Mekong River Delta in the south and along the coastal areas in the Central region where coconut planting started several years back. An average coconut holding in Vietnam is relatively small: 0.2 – 0.3 ha. Coconut yields, as well as nut prices, are also quite low. Little attention is given to coconut as most of the coconut farmers prefer intensive farming involving other commodities (i.e. fish, shrimps, swine, fruit crops, etc.) (Long 1994). Coconut is widely used for culinary purposes and some of it is converted into copra and oil for industrial use while the rest is exported.
Coconut research activities in Vietnam were officially initiated in 1980 (Carpio et al. 2005) with the establishment of the Institute for Research on Oils and Oil Plants, now known as the Oil Plants Institute of Vietnam (OPI). Coconut germplasm were planted in OPI’s Dong Go Station, in Ben Tre Province and in Trang Bang Station in Tay Ninh Province. The field genebank in Trang Bang Station was closed in 1994 due to budgetary constraints. Coconut germplasm collecting is a continuous activity of OPI as it aims to collect all possible types of coconut. Wide genetic diversity can be observed in the country. The Tall types consist of Ta, Dau, Giay and Bi or Bung varieties while the Dwarf types include Ea, Xiem and Tam Quan. Cultivars with special characters were also classified according to their distinct feature (Long 2005) such as Sap (Makapuno), Ngot (sweet) Dua (aromatic) and Soc (stripe).
More info: 
Conserved coconut germplasm from Vietnam (1.5MB)
Collaborative Activities between BIOVERSITY/COGENT and Vietnam
1. Capacity Building
a) Technical assistance/expert advice
From 1994 to 2000, seven specialists visited Vietnam on five technical assistance missions, including assessing the country’s coconut R&D capability and assisting the national programme in identifying common problems and opportunities for network collaboration, identifying marketable alternative coconut products and the suitable varieties for them, evaluating COGENT’s collecting and conservation strategies, assisting in setting up a laboratory and embryo culture experiments and conducting studies to enhance income and reduce poverty in the coconut growing communities of the country.
b) Training and human resources development
One training course was hosted by the Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam in 2003. The training course was participated by 23 local researchers.
From 1997 to 2007, a total of 25 local staff from different collaborating research institutions in the country have undergone COGENT-sponsored staff development training in other countries on topics such as coconut collecting and conservation, technical/ proposal writing and seminar presentation, coconut data analysis, embryo culture techniques, standardized coconut breeding research techniques (STANTECH), M Sc and Ph D PGR, poverty reduction in coconut growing communities and Communication, Documentation, Public Awareness and Facilitation Skills Development; Socioeconomics and Participatory Approaches to Reduce Poverty in Coconut Growing Communities; and Markets and Market Development.
c) COGENT meetings/workshops
From 1999 to 2004, Vietnam has been host to five COGENT meetings, including the 8th COGENT Steering Committee Meeting; the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project Inception and Stakeholders’ Meeting; and the final ADB-funded PRCGC project meeting.
2. Research Projects
A total of 15 research projects have been carried out in the country, with the Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam (OPI) as the implementing agency.
3. Financial Support and Funding
Donor funding support for projects in Vietnam amounts to US$ 183,696 mostly from ADB, APCC, DFID and IFAD; while national government counterpart financing amounts to US$ 109,104.
4. Summary of Activities and Accomplishments, Vietnam
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1. Capacity building a) Technical assistance provided by COGENT experts to Vietnam |
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Expert |
Dates |
Purpose |
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P Batugal |
July 1994 |
Assess R & D capability, assist national programme identify common problems, opportunities and projects for network collaboration |
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TKG Ranasinghe |
Oct – Nov 1998 |
To identify marketable alternative products of the coconut (apart from copra and coconut oil) and to identify suitable varieties suitable for processing into identified marketable products |
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CIRAD (L. Baudouin, R.Bourdeix, J. Ollivier) |
Feb – Apr 1999 |
To evaluate COGENT’s collecting strategies, identify gaps in germplasm collecting and recommend ways to improve conservation effort |
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Erlinda Rillo |
18 – 25 October 2000 |
To assist the laboratory set-up and embryo culture experiments in Vietnam and Thailand |
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Vo Van Long |
20 Sep – 31 Dec 2000 |
Identifying researchable constraints and opportunities to enhance income and reduce poverty in coconut growing communities in Vietnam |
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b) In-country training courses conducted with Vietnam research participants |
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Schedule |
Course/Training Activities |
Venue/Host |
No. Trainees/ Countries |
Funding Agency |
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13 – 15 March 2003 |
Training Course on Communication. Documentation, Public Awareness and Facilitation Skills Development |
Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam |
23/1 |
ADB |
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c) Local researchers trained |
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Name |
Dates, Country |
Training Course |
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Vo Van Long |
19 – 28 Jun 1995, Indonesia |
STANTECH Trainers' Course |
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Huynh Viet Chau Phuong |
1 – 12 Sep 1997, Philippines |
Coconut Collecting and Conservation Course |
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Vo Van Long |
16 – 20 Mar 1998, Philippines |
Farmer Participatory Research on Coconut Diversity (Asia) |
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Vo Van Long |
30 Aug – 3 Sep 1999, Philippines |
Technical Writing/Seminar Presentation and Proposal Writing Course |
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Vo Van Long |
6 – 10 Sep 1999, Philippines |
Coconut Data Analysis Training Course |
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Vu Thi My Lien |
9 – 14 Oct 2000, Philippines |
Hands-On Embryo Culture Training Course |
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Nguyen Thi Le Thuy |
Oct 2000 – Oct 2001, Philippines |
M Sc PGR Scholarship |
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Nguyen Thi Le Thuy |
2 – 7 Apr 2001, Philippines |
Coconut STANTECH Training Course |
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Vo Van Long |
5-14 December 2002, Philippines |
Training Course on Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities |
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Vo Van Long |
December 2002 – December 2004 |
Ph D PGR Scholarship |
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Nguyen Thi Bich Hong |
13 – 15 March 2003 |
Training Course on Communication. Documentation, Public Awareness and Facilitation Skills Development |
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Pham Thi Lan |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Ha Van Han |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Ngo Thi Kieu Duong |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Luu Quoc Thang |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Thi Le Thuy |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Van Trai |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Thi Thuy |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Vo Van Long |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Huynh Dinh Thach |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Tran Yen Thao |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Tran Thi Ngoc Thao |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Bui Thanh Binh |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Thi Lien Hoa |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Van Minh |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Ta Hung |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Thi Hoai Tram |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Thai Nguyen Quynh Thu |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Ta Quoc Tuan |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Dao Quang Hung |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Ho Mong Hai |
Ditto |
Ditto |
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Vo Van Long |
12 – 14 June, 2006, Bogor, Indonesia |
Training Course on Technical Writing, Seminar Presentation, Public Awareness and Proposal Preparation |
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Nguyen Thi Le Thuy |
15 – 17 June, 2006, Bogor, Indonesia |
Training Course on Socioeconomics and Participatory Approaches to Reduce Poverty in Coconut Growing Communities |
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Vo Van Long |
12 – 14 June, 2006, Bogor, Indonesia |
Training Course on Technical Writing, Seminar Presentation, Public Awareness and Proposal Preparation |
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Nguyen Thi Le Thuy |
15 – 17 June, 2006, Bogor, Indonesia |
Training Course on Socioeconomics and Participatory Approaches to Reduce Poverty in Coconut Growing Communities |
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Vo Van Long |
2-3 July 2007, Hainan, China |
Training course on Markets and Market Development for the project on Overcoming Poverty in Coconut Growing Communities |
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Nguyen Thi Le Thuy |
2-3 July 2007, Hainan, China |
Training course on Markets and Market Development for the project on Overcoming Poverty in Coconut Growing Communities |
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d) BIOVERSITY-COGENT meetings/workshops held in Vietnam |
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Date |
Activity |
Location |
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13-15 September 1999 |
IFAD-funded project meeting |
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
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16-17 September 1999 |
ADB Phase 2 project meeting |
-do- |
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20-22 September 1999 |
8th COGENT Steering Committee meeting |
-do- |
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25 Feb - 1 Mar 2002 |
Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project Inception and Stakeholders’ Meeting |
-do- |
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27 – 30 Sep 2004 |
Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities (PRCGC) – The Final ADB-funded Project Meeting |
-do- |
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2. BIOVERSITY-COGENT projects in Vietnam |
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Project Title |
Host Institute
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Budget/ Funding Agency (US$) |
Budget/ National Funding (US$) |
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a) Coconut germplasm collecting and strengthening of the coconut genebank in Vietnam |
Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam (OPI) |
13,800/ADB |
5,454 |
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b) Extension of coconut germplasm collection and conservation activities for effective utilization |
-do- |
13,000/ADB |
10,000 |
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c) Supply of Computer, Printer, Softwares and Peripherals |
-do- |
3,304/ADB |
- |
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d) Village-level processing of coconut products and survey of varietal preferences |
-do- |
30,000/IFAD |
30,000 |
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e) Assessment of performance of coconut hybrids and farmers’ varietal preferences |
-do- |
2,000/APCC |
1,000 |
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f) Feasibility study of Vietnam and purchase and shipment of equipment |
-do- |
11,252/IFAD |
5,000 |
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g) Catalogue of Conserved Coconut Germplasm |
-do- |
500/ADB |
250 |
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h) Establishing a framework and selecting project sites for a nationwide deployment of coconut-based poverty reduction interventions in coconut growing communities using COGENT’s 3-pronged strategy in Vietnam |
-do- |
1,500/DFID |
750 |
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i) Validating the COGENT Upgraded Coconut Embryo Culture Protocol using Vietnam coconut varieties |
-do- |
1,500/DFID |
750 |
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j) Developing Sustainable Coconut Based Income Generating Technologies in Poor Rural Communities in Vietnam (Year 1) |
-do- |
15,250/ADB |
6,000 |
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k) Farmer Participatory Characterization of Coconut Varieties in 3 Poverty Reduction Project Sites in Vietnam |
-do- |
1,000/DFID |
500 |
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l) Developing Sustainable Coconut Based Income Generating Technologies in Poor Rural Communities in Vietnam (Year 2) |
-do- |
19,750/ADB |
12,200 |
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m) Developing Sustainable Coconut-Based Income Generating Technologies in Poor Rural Communities in Vietnam (Year 3) |
ditto |
16,750/ADB |
8,700 |
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n) Identification and characterization of drought- and Brontispa-tolerant coconut varieties and initial Brontispa IPM trial in Vietnam |
Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam (OPI) |
5,000/DFID |
2,500 |
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o) Case study and documentation of achievements and resource enhancement of Hung Phong Community-based Organization: “Best coconut community within country (Vietnam)” |
Hung Phong Community-based Organization |
1,000/ADB |
- |
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p) Documentation of best coconut community achievements and success stories: Hung Phong Community-based Organization |
Mrs. Pham Thi Lan Community Coordinator Hung Phong Community-based Organization |
500/ADB |
- |
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q) Case study and documentation of best global group in production of high value coconut-based products |
Tam Quan Nam Community-based Organization |
500/ADB |
- |
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r) Documentation of success story for production of high value coconut-based products (Vietnam) |
Mrs Nguyen Thi Nhe Hung Phong Community-based Organization |
250/ADB |
- |
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s) Documentation of success story: Intercropping (Vietnam) |
Mr Do Thanh Thuong Hung Phong Community-based Organization |
250/ADB |
- |
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t) Documentation of success story: Livestock production (Vietnam) |
Mr Thanh Ca Tam Quan Nam Community-based Organization |
250/ADB |
- |
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u) Overcoming Poverty in Coconut-Growing Communities: Coconut Genetic Resources for Sustainable Livelihoods in Vietnam (2005-2006) |
OPI |
22,670 |
11,335 |
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v) Enhancing Food Security, Nutrition and Microcredit Systems in Coconut-Growing Communities in Vietnam |
OPI |
6,000 |
3,000 |
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w) u) Overcoming Poverty in Coconut-Growing Communities: Coconut Genetic Resources for Sustainable Livelihoods in Vietnam (2006- 2007) |
Ditto |
17,670/ BIOVERSITY |
11,000 |
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Total |
183,696 |
109,104 |
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| As of November 2009 |
Prepared by:
Yeow Giap Seng, COGENT Programme Assistant