The monitoring period includes the sowing of the 10th month rice and the harvesting of winter and spring rice; most rice is cultivated in the Red River Delta (north) and in the Mekong Delta in the south. Generally, compared with the average of the past five years and the average of the same period last year, the crop condition in Vietnam was significantly lower, except in May and June. The initial NDVI value was close to the average, but was affected by large fluctuations after May. CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show reduced precipitation (-18%), average temperature (0.6°C), but with enough RADPAR (+7%), high CALF (97%) and VCIx (0.95), the BIOMSS (+8%) showed a marked increase. Overall crop condition in the country is average or above.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, several agro-ecological zones (AEZ) can be distinguished for Vietnam, among which three are most relevant for crops cultivation: Northern zone with Red river Delta, the Central coastal areas from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa and Southern zone with the Mekong Delta.

The Northern zone with Red river Delta recorded below average  - but still largely sufficient rainfall - (RAIN -22%) while sunshine increased (RADPAR +3%). With high temperature (TEMP +0.9°C anomaly)，CALF at 99% and VCIx at 0.95, the BIOMSS increased 6% compared to the average. The NDVI development graph showed an unstable trend with all values  below the 5 years average. Based on the agro-climatic indicators and NDVI development graph, output is likely to be average or below.

The situation and expected impact on crop production in the Central coastal areas from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa is conditioned by low precipitation (RAIN -22%), high temperature (TEMP +1.1°C) and abundant sunshine (RADPAR +12%). BIOMSS is up 12% and VCIx (0.94) and CALF (+1.2%) describe fair to good condition. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI was below the 5 years average and close to 2018 values. Output is likely to be about average.

The Southern zone with the Mekong Delta recorded low RAIN (-12%) and  above average RADPAR (+8%) and TEMP (+0.1°C). As a result BIOMSS increased by 8% compared with averages. VCIx was high (0.96) with CALF up 2% above the average. The crop condition development graph of NDVI also indicates mostly below average crop condition but above the value of 2018 in July. CropWatch expects about average production. 

With crop condition in over 30.4% of the croplands about the average, crop prospects are expect to be close to average.

Figure3.33. Vietnam crop condition, April-July 2019

Figure3.33a. Vietnam phenology of major crops 

Figure3.33b. Vietnam national level crop condition development graph based on NDVI,comparing the April-July 2019 period to the previous season and the five-yearaverage (5YA) and maximum

Figure3.33c. Vietnam maximum VCI for April-July 2019 by pixel

Figure3.33d. Vietnam spatial NDVI patterns up to July 2019 according to localcropping patterns and compared to 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles(right)

Figure3.33e. Northern Vietnam (Vietnam) crop condition development graph based onNDVI

Figure3.33f. Central Vietnam (Vietnam) crop condition development graph based on NDVI

Figure3.33g. Southern Vietnam (Vietnam) crop condition development graph based onNDVI

Table3.87  Vietnam agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, currentseason values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2019

Table 3.88 Vietnam agronomic indicators by sub-national regions , currentseason values and departure from 5YA/15YA, April-July 2018