Enhancing Institutional Governance Capacity for the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program in Vietnam: From International Perspectives to Policy-Oriented Solutions

Abstract

The “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) initiative
stands as a cornerstone policy aimed at driving growth
and modernization within Vietnam's rural economy, while
simultaneously enhancing the value and brand
recognition of local specialties. Practical outcomes over
years of implementation demonstrate significant
advancements in scaling up commercial production,
optimizing local human resources, and raising the actual
income of rural populations nationwide. However,
integrating the OCOP policy into the economic fabric has
exposed major bottlenecks across three main
dimensions: (1) the design of the legal framework, (2) the
governance capacity of specialized management bodies,
and (3) the level of synergy among stakeholders within
the value chain. To dissect and identify these regulatory
hurdles in Vietnam's OCOP framework, this paper
adopts a qualitative approach utilizing legal document
reviews, policy system evaluations, and comparative
model analyses. By benchmarking against the policy
regulation experiences of Japan and Thailand, the study
aims to formulate recommendations to strengthen the
legal foundation and boost the efficacy of the OCOP
strategy amid the waves of the digital era and global
integration.