This monitoring period covers the harvest of the rainy season rice in the North and in Central Vietnam, as well as the planting of winter and winter-spring rice. The winter-spring rice in the Mekong Delta and Southeast Vietnam will be harvested in February.

The agro-climatic condition showed that TEMP (19.5°C) was close to the 15YA and the RADPAR was below average (-2%), but rainfall was above average RAIN (+21%). The resulting estimate for BIOMSS  showed an increase by 2% compared to the 15YA. The VCIx (0.95) was high, and the CALF (97%, +1%) was above the 5YA.

Based on the NDVI development graph, the crop conditions were below the 5YA during the whole monitoring period, especially in October, November and January. According to the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles, crop conditions on about 58.7% of the country were slightly below the average, mainly distributed over South Vietnam, Nghe An Province, Thai Binh Province and Thanh Hoa Province. Crop conditions on another 6.8% of the area were significantly below average in early October and early January, mainly distributed over Ha Giang Province and Lao Cai Province.  However, these strong negative departures are most likely due to cloud cover in the satellite images. Overall, the crop conditions are expected to be below average.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, several agro-ecological zones (AEZ) can be distinguished for Vietnam: Central Highlands, Mekong River Delta, North Central Coast, North East, North West, Red River Delta, South Central Coast, and South East.

In the Central Highlands, TEMP (20.8°C, -0.1°C) was slightly below the average, and RAIN (786 mm, +34%) was significantly above the average. Although the RADPAR (912 MJ/m2, -1%) decreased, the BIOMSS increased by 6%. CALF was 99% and VCIx was 0.96. The crop condition development graph showed that NDVI was near the 5YA, except in early October, late November and early December. The crop conditions are expected to be near average.

In the Mekong River Delta region, TEMP (25.8°C, -0.1°C) and RADPAR (1109 MJ/m2, +1%) were close to the 15YA, while RAIN (812 mm, +11%) was significantly above. CALF was 93% and VCIx was 0.92. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions were slightly below the 5YA except in December. Overall, the crop conditions were slightly below average.

In the North Central Coast, RAIN was higher than the 15YA (711 mm, +6%), and TEMP (18.0°C, +0.1°C) was near average. RADPAR was 675 MJ/m2 with a slight decrease by 1% and BIOMSS decreased slightly (-1%). CALF was above the 5YA and VCIx was 0.94. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions were below the 5YA. They are estimated to be below average.

In the North East region, RAIN (483 mm, +27%) increased significantly. TEMP was the same as the 15YA (15.9°C, +0°C) and RADPAR (630 MJ/m2, -6%) was lower. The BIOMSS increased by 4%. CALF was 100% and VCIx was 0.98. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions fluctuated greatly. The crop conditions were mixed, but close to average.

In the North West region, TEMP (15.5°C, +0°C) was the same as the 15YA, while RAIN (377 mm, +29%) had increased significantly. RADPAR (765 MJ/m2, -1%) was close to the average, and the BIOMSS increased 7% compared to the 15YA. CALF was 100% and VCIx was 0.97. According to the NDVI development graph, crop conditions fluctuated greatly. In late November and early December the NDVI  approached the 5-year-maximum. Overall, the crop conditions are expected to be favorable.

In the region of the Red River Delta, RAIN (558 mm, +23%) increased significantly and TEMP (18.8°C, -0.2°C) was below the 15YA.  Due to the decreased RADPAR (612 MJ/m2, -7%),  the BIOMSS (-4%) was below the average. CALF was 92% and VCIx was 0.89. According to the crop condition development graph, NDVI was below the 5YA especially in January. Overall, the crop conditions in this region were below average.

In the South Central Coast, RADPAR (696 MJ/m2, -2%) was below the 15YA, TEMP (20.0°C, +0.1%) and RAIN (1454 mm, +34%) were both above the 15YA. The BIOMSS increased by 4%. CALF was 96% and VCIx was 0.92. According to the crop condition development graph, the NDVI was below the 5YA except in late January showing a high value exceeding the 5YA. Thus, crop conditions in this region were about average.

In the South East region, TEMP (24.3°C, -0.1°C) was slightly below the average, and RAIN (792 mm, +18%) was above the 15YA.  BIOMSS (+1%) was above the 15YA. CALF was 96% and VCIx was 0.93. As shown by the crop condition development graph, except at the beginning of this monitoring period, the NDVI was close to the 5YA. According to the agroclimatic indicators, crop conditions in this region are expected to be near average.

Figure 3.44 Vietnam's crop condition, October 2021-January 2022

(a). Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                            (c)  Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                        (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Rainfall profiles                                                            (g) Temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI Central Highlands Vietnam (left), and Mekong River Delta (right).

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI North West Vietnam (left), and Red River Delta (right).

(j) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI South Central Coast Vietnam (left), and South East Vietnam (right).

(k) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI North Central Coast Vietnam (left), and North East Vietnam (right).

(l) Proportion of NDVI anomaly categories compared with 5YA

Table 3.79 Vietnam's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, October 2021 - January 2022

Table 3.80 Vietnam's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, October 2021 - January 2022