According to experts, agricultural produce from the Mekong Delta faces an increasingly challenging path into China as this market progressively enforces exacting standards and moves away from unofficial cross-border trade.

On September 18, the 2026 Vietnam–China Trade, Investment, and Tourism Promotion Forum—themed "Promoting the Central Role of the Mekong Delta in Smart Supply Chain Linkages, Fostering Green Trade, and Creating New Growth Drivers"—took place in Can Tho City, gathering numerous delegates and businesses from both nations.

The event was co-organized by the Can Tho Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Vietnam–Asia Net Zero Association (VANZA) and partner agencies.

Speaking at the forum, Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, noted that China remains the premier consumption market for Vietnamese produce, absorbing 60–70% of the industry's total export turnover. However, the Chinese market is no longer lenient or hospitable to border-trade channels as in previous years. The country has instituted four stringent standard "filters" that Mekong Delta produce must clear.

The first is legal and phytosanitary standardization enforced through orders issued by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Exporting enterprises must register processing facility codes and growing area codes with absolute accuracy. Any violation regarding pests or quarantine organisms carries the imminent risk of import suspensions or the revocation of designated codes.

Furthermore, China maintains exceptionally strict controls over chemical residues and food safety. Regulations governing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, heavy metals, and preservatives are increasingly converging with—and in some metrics matching the rigor of—standards established across Europe, the United States, and Japan.

Additionally, the neighboring market is undergoing an aggressive pivot toward green, safe consumption with clear provenance. Across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, consumers are increasingly prioritizing organic and ecological produce certified under GlobalGAP or VietGAP schemes, backed by QR codes offering traceability down to harvesting and packing stages.

Lastly, the Net Zero transition is gaining significant traction in China. The country’s sustainable development strategy is driving green border policies. Major importers have begun favoring supply chains integrated with green logistics, reduced carbon footprints, and eco-friendly packaging.

Confronted with this reality, the Mekong Delta must establish a "green production blueprint," structuring a smart agricultural value chain anchored by three pillars: restructuring and zoning specialized cultivation belts based on market signals; steering farming practices toward low emissions and ecological safety; and standardizing harvesting and packaging protocols directly at the source.

According to Nguyen, relevant ministries must accelerate negotiations to secure official market access for high-potential Mekong Delta fruits into China, notably pineapple, sugar apple, Java apple, and star apple. In tandem, authorities must maintain rigorous surveillance and post-inspection audits of growing area codes and packing facilities, while strictly penalizing infractions to safeguard the broader brand equity of Vietnamese agricultural produce.

Nguyen emphasized that the Chinese market’s shift toward green consumption and elevated quality standards serves not merely as a barrier, but as a potent catalyst for Mekong Delta agriculture to undergo a comprehensive overhaul, lift value addition, and assert a sustainable competitive standing going forward.

Source: Bao Thanh Nien