During this monitoring period, Spring-Winter rice planting took place in July, followed by its harvest in September in the Mekong River Delta and South East. In the North, rainy season rice was planted in July and harvested in October. The summer rice in Central Vietnam was harvested In July, followed by the planting of rainy season rice in August and September, which will be harvested in November.

The proportion of irrigated cropland in Vietnam is 32%. As a result, precipitation has a significant impact on crop production. CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show slightly decreased rain (ΔRAIN -1%) and increased temperature (ΔTEMP +0.8°C) compared to the 15-year average. Despite of the decreased precipitation, the BIOMSS was the same as the 15YA due to the increase in RADPAR (ΔRADPAR +1%) and TEMP. The VCIx was 0.94 and the CALF was at 5YA. The crop production index in this monitoring period was 1.00, which represented a normal crop production situation. 

Based on the NDVI development graph, the crop conditions were above the 5-year average throughout the whole monitoring period except for August. During the whole monitoring period, precipitation was generally below the 15YA but surpassed the average in mid-July, early September and mid-September. The temperature was above the 15-year average. As to the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles, the crop conditions in most of the country were slightly below average during the whole monitoring period. The sharp drops in NDVI are most likely caused by cloud cover in the satellite images. The peaks in all clusters were close to the average. Therefore, crop conditions can be assessed as normal.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, Vietnam can be divided into several agro-ecological zones (AEZ): Central Highlands (213), Mekong River Delta (214), North Central Coast (215), North East (216), North West (217), Red River Delta (218), South Central Coast (219) and South East (220).

Central Highlands: Although the TEMP (ΔTEMP +0.5°C) and the RADPAR (ΔRADPAR +3%) was above the average, the BIOMSS still had a slight decrease (ΔBIOMSS -1%), which may have been caused by the RAIN deficit by 15%. CALF was 100% and VCIx was 0.94. According to the crop condition development graph, the NDVI was generally above the average. The CPI was 0.97. The crop conditions were average. 

In the Mekong River Delta, the TEMP (ΔTEMP +0.6°C) was above the average and the RADPAR (ΔRADPAR 0%) was the same as the average. But the RAIN (ΔRAIN -11%) was below the 15YA, resulting in a decline in BIOMASS (ΔBIOMSS -1%). VCIx was 0.90. CALF was 91% and above average by 1%. According to the NDVI‐based development graph, the NDVI was above or close to  the average during most of the time, except for mid-July and mid-September to early October. The CPI was 1.03. Crop conditions were expected to be favorable.

In the North Central Coast, due to the decreased RAIN (ΔRAIN -4%), increased TEMP (ΔTEMP +0.7°C) and RADPAR (ΔRADPAR +2%), the BIOMSS showed a decrease compared to the 15YA (ΔBIOMSS -1%). VCIx was 0.95 and CALF was 99%. According to the NDVI-based development graph, the crop conditions were above or close to the average except for August. The CPI was 1.00. Crop conditions were expected to be normal.

In the North East, TEMP, RADPAR and RAIN were above the average (ΔTEMP +1.0°C; ΔRADPAR +1%; ΔRAIN +21%), BIOMSS (ΔBIOMSS +4%) was above average level. CALF was 100% and VCIx was 0.96. According to the NDVI-based development graph, the NDVI was above the 5YA from July to early September, then below average. The CPI was 0.99. Overall, the crop conditions were close to average.

In the North West, the TEMP (ΔTEMP +0.8°C) was above the average. Although the RADPAR (ΔRADPAR -1%) decreased by -1%, the BIOMSS (ΔBIOMSS +5%) was above average, which may have been caused by the increase of RAIN (ΔRAIN +22%). CALF was 100% and VCIx was 0.97. According to the agroclimatic indicators, NDVI was generally above the 5YA in most of the monitoring period but dropped in August. The CPI was 0.99. The crop conditions were close to average.

In the Red River Delta, increased TEMP (ΔTEMP +0.6°C), RAIN (ΔRAIN +11%), and RADPAR (ΔRADPAR +1%) resulted in a slight decrease in BIOMSS (ΔBIOMSS -1%). The CALF was 96% and the VCIx was 0.90. According to the crop condition development graph, NDVI was close to or below the 5YA in the monitoring period. The CPI was 0.98. The crop conditions were estimated to be slightly below average.

In the South Central Coast, TEMP was above average (ΔTEMP +1.2°C) and the RADPAR (ΔRADPAR +4%) exceeded the average. But the RAIN (ΔRAIN -26%) decreased by -26%, reducing the BIOMSS by -7%. CALF was 97% and VCIx was 0.94. According to the crop condition development graph, NDVI was generally above the 5YA during the whole monitoring period except for mid-August to early September. The CPI was 1.03. Crop conditions were expected to be favorable.

In the South East, the RAIN (ΔRAIN -9%) was lower than the 15YA. But with the temperature (ΔTEMP +0.7°C) close to the average and the solar radiation (ΔRADPAR +3%) increased by 3%, the resulting BIOMASS (ΔBIOMSS 0%) was the same as average. CALF was 96% and VCIx was 0.93. According to the crop condition development graph, NDVI was generally above average except for late August. In late August, the NDVI was far below average because of the influence of the clouds in the satellite images. The CPI was 1.02. Crop production in this region was estimated to be above average.

Figure 3.45 Vietnam's crop conditions, July 2024 – October 2024

（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) National CPI time series

(g) Rainfall profiles

(h) Temperature profiles

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

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

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

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

Table 3.80 Vietnam's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, July 2024 – October 2024

Table 3.81 Vietnam's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, July 2024 – October 2024