On December 27, 2025, the Centre for Rural Development in Central Vietnam (CRD), affiliated with the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, solemnly organized the 30th Anniversary Celebration of its establishment (1995–2025).
The ceremony offered an opportunity for generations of leaders, staff, partners, and communities to look back on the Centre’s 30-year journey of formation and development. It was also an occasion to express deep gratitude for the valuable contributions of government management agencies, international organizations, development partners, and local communities who have accompanied CRD throughout the past three decades.
After 30 years of persistent commitment to local communities, CRD continues to affirm its role as a bridge between scientific knowledge and rural development practices, moving towards an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable countryside. Key achievements include:
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Implementation of over 200 projects across approximately 250 communes in the Central and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam.
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Mobilization of nearly 300 billion VND for programs focused on livelihood development, community capacity building, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, climate change response, and gender equality promotion.
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Organization of around 2,500 training courses for more than 100,000 participants (including farmers and local officials at all levels).
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Support for livelihood development and income enhancement through hundreds of agriculture–forestry–fisheries models, processing development, branding, and market linkages (e.g., A Luoi bananas, Nam Giang smoked pork, herbal products, etc.).
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Support for the allocation and management of over 1,000 hectares of community forests, under-canopy livelihood development, community nurseries, and preparation for forest carbon finance access.
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Enhancement of climate change response capacity and disaster risk management, along with the building and replication of adaptive production models.
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Assistance to approximately 70,000 households in recovering from natural disasters, maintaining an average relief fund of around 1 billion VND per year.
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Effective integration of gender equality, child protection, and indigenous culture conservation into programs and projects.
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Active contributions to scientific research, publication, and policy advocacy closely tied to rural development realities.
Dr. Truong Quang Hoang, Director of the Centre for Rural Development in Central Vietnam, emphasized that throughout its 30-year journey, CRD has continuously innovated its approach: transitioning from technical transfer to co-creating solutions with communities; and shifting from isolated production support to a multidisciplinary approach that connects livelihoods with resource management, markets, and value chains. He affirmed that alongside technical results and development impacts, the greatest value the Centre has built is a dedicated, cohesive, and affectionate team of staff, as well as the deep trust forged with communities, partners, and local people over the years.
Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Duc, Principal of the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, affirmed that CRD is an exemplary unit in community service, acting as an effective bridge between education, research, and development practice.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Hoa, former leader of the Centre, highly appreciated CRD’s persistent efforts over the past 30 years to step-by-step grow, build its own identity, reputation, and brand. He emphasized that the core values shaping the Centre’s identity are solidarity, affection, responsibility, and unity among generations of staff and colleagues—values that need to be further promoted in the Centre’s next development stage.
On this occasion, CRD was honored to receive Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Education and Training, the People’s Committee of Hue City, and Hue University for its outstanding contributions to agriculture and rural development.
The 30th Anniversary Ceremony of the Centre for Rural Development in Central Vietnam marks a major milestone, affirming the journey traversed and opening a new phase of development driven by responsibility, cooperation, and long-term commitment to communities for the sustainable development of rural Vietnam.
HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES
Speech of Dr. Truong Quang Hoang, Director of the Centre for Rural Development in Central Vietnam
Speech of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Duc, Principal of the Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry in the ceremony
