A farmer harvests coconuts in Vinh Long Province, southern Vietnam, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

VINH LONG, Vietnam, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- With the rumble of coconut processing machinery echoing across Vietnam's southern countryside, coconut farmers and exporters in Vinh Long province are celebrating a long-awaited economic breakthrough as fresh coconuts have been officially exported to China.

In August 2024, China and Vietnam signed a protocol for exporting fresh Vietnamese coconuts to China, marking the first time the fresh fruit has been officially licensed to enter the Chinese market.

Among the local farmers in Vinh Long province, Nguyen Cong Tuan sees the growing coconut export channel to China significantly reshaping his daily life.

"Before exporting coconuts to China, I used to harvest about 1,000 to 1,500 coconuts a day and sometimes rested the whole day after," said Tuan, adding that he now cuts 3,000 to 4,000 coconuts daily and works every single day.

The increase in work means that his income is also higher.

"My income has increased by 300,000 to 400,000 Vietnamese dong (about 11 to 15 U.S. dollars) per day," Tuan said, noting that his earnings can now reach 1 million dong (about 38 dollars) per day.

Before exports to China opened officially, his coconuts were mainly shipped north to Hanoi and other domestic markets, but leftover coconuts often dried up and went to waste.

"Now, I can harvest continuously. It's much more convenient for my business," he said.

Le Minh Duc Khoa, chairman of KK Premium, a coconut processing and exporting company that started operations earlier this year, emphasized the central role the Chinese market plays in the company's strategy, with 99 percent of its coconut exports going to China.

For the Hung Thinh Phat Agricultural Cooperative, an economic model linking farmers and businesses, the official export of coconuts to China marks a major milestone.

"Since partnering with KK Premium for export to China, having access to official trade channels has stabilized incomes for our farmers," said Nguyen Trung Quy, director of the cooperative.

According to statistics from Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the country has over 200,000 hectares of coconut cultivation, with an annual yield of approximately 2.28 million tons.

With stable protocols and streamlined logistics, especially via rail and cross-border agreements, Vietnamese farmers and exporters are now optimistic about exporting coconuts to the Chinese market.

"When I can export coconuts, the garden owners are happy too because they sell out their crop at good prices," said Tuan, smiling under the shade of a coconut palm. ■

Farmers harvest coconuts in Vinh Long Province, southern Vietnam, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Jiali)

Workers process coconuts at a processing facility in Vinh Long Province, southern Vietnam, Sept. 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)