The harvesting period of summer and autumn rice has been completed, while the 10th month rice was still growing in mid-October. The crop condition from July to October was lower than the recent five-year average. For the period under consideration, most CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators show conditions near the average (RADPAR, 0%; TEMP, +0.3°C; and BIOMSS, +1%) or above (RAIN, +12.5%).

Spatial NDVI profiles show that the crop condition was lower than average in the country as a whole. Generally, areas in the north fare better than central and southern locations. According to spatial NDVI patterns, about 11.4% of the croplands recorded consistently low NDVI, especially in the center of the country (Gia Lai and Binh Dinh), the north (Nghe An), the Red river basin and delta (Hanoi, Yen Bai), and especially the south (Ho Chi Minh, Long Anh and Tien Giang and, south of the delta, Bac Lieu). These conditions are confirmed by VCIx values between 0.5 and 0.8.

NDVI profiles show that crop condition was above average in nearly 50% of the major rice plantation area, mainly (as already mentioned) the north (Lao Cai and Lang Son), with VCIx ranging between 0.8 and 1. Based on CropWatch indicators, the crop situation in Vietnam is considered to be close to but below average.

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI   

(b) Maximum VCI

(c) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA and the coresponding NDVI departure profiles