Beekeeping in localities across Cao Bằng Province is gradually transforming toward a more professional and sustainable direction. Rather than focusing solely on selling raw products, many beekeepers and cooperatives have placed greater emphasis on brand development, quality improvement, and creating a unique identity for local honey. These efforts are helping Cao Bằng honey gradually strengthen its position in the market, expand distribution channels, and enhance the value of the province’s specialty products.
According to Báo Cao Bằng, in recent years, beekeeping has not only contributed to the effective exploitation of local natural resources but has also become a stable source of income for many households. The province currently has more than 300 beekeeping households, each managing between 20 and 300 colonies. Annual honey production exceeds 900,000 liters.
Honey production does not require high feed costs because bees mainly obtain nutrients from natural flowers in forests and fruit-growing areas. Although the business does not require significant capital investment, beekeeping demands careful attention, diligence, and experience. These include colony management, weather monitoring, and selecting suitable flowering seasons. During each blooming season, beekeepers often move their colonies to areas with forests and abundant flower sources. This helps ensure honey quality and production output.
The main honey harvest season takes place from March to June each year. This is also the period when forests and vegetation develop strongly, providing abundant natural nectar sources for bees. The diverse local ecosystem has created the distinctive flavor of Cao Bằng honey — a gentle fragrance, golden color, and naturally mild sweetness. In addition to economic benefits, beekeeping also contributes to natural pollination, improves agricultural productivity, preserves ecosystems, and supports biodiversity conservation in the region.
From small-scale production, many beekeepers and cooperatives have shifted toward cooperative production models. They are focusing on packaging, traceability labels, and product safety standards. In recent years, the province has promoted support programs for cooperatives and beekeeping households to participate in the OCOP program, apply science and technology in production, develop brands, and promote local products. These efforts have gradually increased product value and created a sustainable development pathway for beekeeping based on the province’s ecological advantages.
In the journey of building the Cao Bằng honey brand, OCOP certification has become an important “passport” helping local products improve competitiveness and gain consumer trust. More than just a quality certification, OCOP reflects a transformation in the production mindset of beekeeping establishments. It represents a shift from small-scale operations toward professionalism, with greater attention to standards, traceability, and product image. By focusing on improving product quality, developing brands, and expanding distribution channels, Cao Bằng honey is gradually strengthening its position in the market. At the same time, enhanced promotion activities and connections with businesses, stores, supermarkets, and e-commerce platforms have helped these products reach a wider range of consumers.
Lý Văn Thư, Director of Hoàng Tung Natural Forest Honey Cooperative, said that with environmentally friendly beekeeping methods closely connected to natural forests, the cooperative’s honey products have a distinctive flavor, golden appearance, and high nutritional value. The cooperative focuses on natural bee care practices and selects areas with clean flower sources to ensure stable honey quality. Honey is harvested and preserved according to safe production processes, helping continuously improve both output and quality. As a result, the products have become increasingly recognized and trusted by consumers. This has contributed to higher local honey value and provided stable incomes for cooperative members.
These efforts have helped bring bottles of Cao Bằng’s forest honey closer to consumers and leave a positive impression on visitors. Đỗ Vân Trang, a tourist from Phú Thọ Province, shared that Cao Bằng forest honey is a local specialty with strong potential for brand development. She said the honey has good quality, a mild flavor, and is easy to consume. More importantly, the product is natural and closely associated with the local ecosystem and cultural identity. This creates a unique advantage compared with many other honey products on the market today.
“What impressed me most is that many honey products have now achieved OCOP certification. When choosing products like these, I feel much more confident and am willing to buy them as gifts because they carry the distinctive identity of Cao Bằng’s specialties,” Vân Trang added.
Vietnamese source: https://thuonghieusanpham.vn/phat-trien-thuong-hieu-mat-ong-rung-cao-bang-theo-huong-chuyen-nghiep-va-ben-vung
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