Strengthening Value Chain Linkages in the Ocop Products: A Case Study of Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

This paper examines the current state of value chain collaboration among entities participating in the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program in Thanh Hoa province. Utilizing secondary data from 2019 to 2025 and a survey of 252 OCOP entities, the study reveals significant improvements in both the quantity and quality of OCOP products, contributing to employment generation and income enhancement in rural communities. Although economic linkages have been institutionalized through contractual arrangements, several structural limitations remain. These include limited awareness of value chain dynamics among stakeholders, weak and unstable input–output coordination, the marginal involvement of enterprises and intermediary organizations, the absence of effective coordination mechanisms, and uneven development across product categories. The paper proposes strategic solutions to enhance the effectiveness of value chain partnerships, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the OCOP program in Thanh Hoa and, more broadly, across Vietnam.