Vietnam’s Experience in Agricultural Development

As part of the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) hosted the International Training and Exposure Visit Program on Microfinance and Agriculture Development in Vietnam from 15 to 22 July, 2025. VBSP welcomed a delegation from Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), led by Mr. Mahesh Chandra Acharya - Director of the NAFHA Project (Nuts and Fruits in Hilly Areas).

The NAFHA delegation took a commemorative photo at VBSP’s Headquarters

VBSP, a government-owned policy bank, operates on a non-profit basis and is Vietnam’s largest provider of inclusive finance for the poor and policy beneficiaries. VBSP now operates a nationwide network with 34 provincial branches, 648 transaction offices, nearly 10,000 mobile transaction points, approximately 200,000 Savings and Credit Groups and around 10,000 staff. As of June 30, 2025, the total policy credit funding reached over VND 415 trillion (approximately USD 16 billion), with total outstanding loans exceeding VND 394 trillion (about USD 15.2 billion), serving more than 6.9 million clients.

VBSP’s credit programs have played an important role in poverty alleviation, agricultural restructuring, rural economic transformation, environmental protection and socio-economic development. About 70% of VBSP’s loan portfolio supports production, business activities and job creation - especially for poor, near-poor, and post-poor households, as well as ethnic minorities and disadvantaged communities. These funds have enabled millions of households to develop production, apply technical advancements and improve their income.

On July 16 in Hanoi, VBSP held an official meeting with the NAFHA delegation, represented by Mr. Vuong Van Minh - Deputy General Director and officials from various departments at its headquarters. At the meeting, Mr. Mahesh Chandra Acharya - Director of the NAFHA Project thanked VBSP for the warm welcome and congratulated VBSP on its achievements. He shared that since December 2022, with financial support from the Asian Development Bank, Nepal has been implementing the NAFHA project in 5 provinces, 34 districts and 100 local areas to improve rural households' livelihoods through climate-resilient horticulture. Mr. Acharya hoped that this visit would offer valuable insights into Vietnam’s agricultural value chains and rural credit policies, which could be applied to the NAFHA project in Nepal.

During the visit, the NAFHA delegation also conducted field trips to explore social policy credit and agricultural value chains in Hanoi, Lang Son, Ho Chi Minh City.

Pomelo cultivation model in Hanoi

Macadamia nut processing workshop in Lang Son

Avocado cultivation model in Ho Chi Minh City