The Vietnam – Bac Lieu Salt Craft Festival 2025: A new vision for the salt craft

Under the theme "Elevating the Value of Vietnamese Salt", the festival celebrates over a century of Vietnam’s salt-making heritage while honoring the dedication of salt farmers across the country. This event not only highlights the uniqueness of Vietnam’s salt products but also fosters discussions among experts, scientists, and enterprises on sustainable development strategies for the salt industry amid the growing challenges of climate change.

A new pathway for Vietnam’s salt industry

The festival's theme, "The Journey of a Hundred Years of Salt Craft – The Journey of Life", emphasizes the cultural and economic significance of salt. The event saw the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Vo Van Dung, Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Committee, Le Tan Toi, Chairman of the Committee on National Defence, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung, alongside leaders from Mekong Delta provinces, international guests from Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and thousands of visitors from Bac Lieu and beyond.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha praised the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Bac Lieu People's Committee for initiating this meaningful festival. He emphasized that salt is not merely an essential product for daily life but a cultural heritage that plays a crucial role in multiple industries, including food processing, healthcare, and chemicals. He further highlighted that each grain of salt encapsulates a story of human resilience, nature's influence, and the evolution of the craft through time.

“This festival is dedicated to honoring the tireless efforts of Vietnamese salt farmers, who pour their sweat and devotion into producing pristine, crystal-clear salt imbued with the taste of the sea. It is also an opportunity to showcase Vietnam’s cultural values to the world, attract investments, and promote sustainable production practices, ultimately elevating Vietnamese salt on the international stage,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.

The event serves as a platform for localities to exchange expertise, apply scientific advancements, and implement new technologies in salt production. This is expected to enhance the quality and value of Vietnamese salt in both domestic and global markets.

Vietnam possesses immense potential for salt production due to its over 3,300 km of coastline and favorable climatic conditions. The country currently has 21 provinces engaged in salt production, spanning approximately 11,400 hectares, with nine large-scale production zones yielding an average annual output of one million tons. Some provinces have successfully established branding and geographical indications for their salt products, leading to exports to international markets.

Despite these strengths, the salt industry continues to face challenges, particularly the recurring issue of "bumper harvests yet low prices." To address this, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha called for stronger collaboration among enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers to establish a value chain from production to processing and distribution, ensuring stable incomes for salt producers.

Additionally, he urged the government to introduce specific financial support policies, including the establishment of a risk fund for salt farmers, investments in irrigation systems, soil restoration, and water purification projects, and the implementation of strategies to enhance resilience against climate change.

The Vietnam – Bac Lieu Salt Craft Festival 2025 is not just about honoring traditions; it is also an opportunity to explore innovative solutions for the salt sector. The event features scientific seminars, exhibitions, and cultural exchange programs, presenting a comprehensive perspective on the salt industry. These activities offer insights into both the hardships faced by salt farmers and the potential pathways for sustainable growth in the future.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued an official decision recognizing outstanding salt products and exemplary community-based salt tourism models. A total of 18 enterprises, cooperatives, business households, and salt farmers received recognition for their contributions to the sector.

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha expressed his hopes that this year’s festival would serve as a crucial bridge connecting producers, processors, and consumers, ultimately elevating the value of Vietnamese salt on the global map. “The Vietnam – Bac Lieu Salt Craft Festival 2025 is set to leave a lasting imprint, not only in the hearts of salt farmers but also among those who cherish and recognize the value of salt – the ‘pearl of the sea,’” he added.

Bac Lieu - the salt hub of Vietnam

During the festival, Chairman of the Bac Lieu People’s Committee Pham Van Thieu delivered an emotional speech, reaffirming Bac Lieu's long-standing status as Vietnam’s salt capital. With over 1,400 hectares of salt fields and an annual output of tens of thousands of tons, Bac Lieu has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s salt industry.

Tracing the craft's history, Chairman Thieu noted that Bac Lieu's salt-making tradition dates back to the early 20th century, when farmers reclaimed virgin coastal lands to establish salt fields. Thanks to favorable natural conditions, a long coastline, abundant sunshine, and strong coastal winds, Bac Lieu became known for producing high-quality salt with a distinct flavor, highly sought after across southern Vietnam and neighboring countries.

In recognition of this heritage, Bac Lieu's salt-making craft was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020, marking a significant milestone for the province. However, Chairman Thieu also acknowledged the pressing challenges faced by salt farmers, including climate change, price fluctuations, and competition from imported salt. To address these issues, the province is implementing support policies to encourage the production of clean, high-quality salt for both industrial use and export.

He expressed confidence that the Vietnam – Bac Lieu Salt Craft Festival 2025 would provide salt farmers, businesses, and industry stakeholders with a broader and more ambitious vision. The festival is not only an opportunity to reflect on the development journey of salt-making but also a moment to chart new directions for the future. Government agencies at all levels are committed to supporting clean production practices, expanding market access, and building Vietnam's salt brand on an international scale.

As part of the festival, the organizing committee honored 20 exemplary households for their contributions to Bac Lieu's salt industry. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment officially recognized 18 enterprises, cooperatives, and business households for their outstanding salt products and community-based salt tourism models in 2025.

The organizing committee also extended its deep gratitude to the event's sponsors, including Bac Lieu Provincial Lottery One-Member Limited Liability Company and Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) as Diamond Sponsors, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development as a Gold Sponsor, as well as Super Wind Energy Cong Ly Bac Lieu Joint Stock Company, Viet Uc Bac Lieu Joint Stock Company, Hoa Binh 1 Wind Power Investment Joint Stock Company, and various enterprises for their generous contributions.