Lotus silk products made a strong impression during Viet Nam Business Mission 2026
As part of the Vietnam Business Mission 2026 and in celebration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence Day, on 14 April 2026, the US-ASEAN Business Council convened a high-level networking and dialogue event between businesses and government. The event brought together four former U.S. Ambassadors to Viet Nam and nearly 300 delegates, including CEOs and senior representatives of domestic and international businesses.
Photo: A delegate at the event seeing displayed lotus silk scarfs © Hanh Silk
Photo: Mr. Jake Brunner - Head of IUCN LMS (third from right) joined a panel discussion on Global Standards and Business Transformation © IUCN Viet Nam
Photo: Hanh Silk CEO introducing lotus silk products to participants at the event
Photo: A lotus silk scarf displayed at Viet Nam Business Mission 2026 © IUCN Viet Nam
Photo: Delegates seeing the live demonstration from two artisans to extract and spin lotus fiber © IUCN Viet Nam
At the event, IUCN introduced the project “Developing a sustainable value chain of products from lotus silk to support the flood storage strategy for the Mekong Delta, Vietnam” funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation in 2024-2026. The project aims to promote flood-based livelihoods using lotus cultivation to restore the Mekong’s floodplain and as a sustainable occupation for local people. It was showcased through a panel discussion on “Sustainability in Business” and a live demonstration of lotus silk extraction.
Government Resolution 120, promulgated in 2017, recognized the adverse consequences of the third rice crop and provides the legal foundation for transitioning to flood-based agriculture (FbA) models. During the panel discussion, Mr. Jake Brunner, Head of IUCN’s Lower Mekong Subregion presented FbA models, including lotus farming systems such as lotus-rice, lotus-fish, and lotus-ecotourism. These models help reduce intensive triple rice cropping, restore the water retention functions, enhance the local livelihoods and ensure long-term environmental sustainability in the Mekong Delta, namely:
Works with natural floods: Adopts a “living with floods” approach, encouraging farmers to retain seasonal floodwaters rather than block them with high dikes.
Protects wetland ecosystems: Floodwaters restore natural sediment and nutrient flows, improving soil health and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
Supports flood‑based agriculture: Lotus integrates well with rice, fish systems or crop rotation, enhancing climate resilience and farm diversification.
Multiple income streams: Lotus provides fiber (for silk), seeds, stems, and flowers, reducing farmer dependence on a single product.
Higher‑value production: Lotus silk is a premium, niche product that increases income per unit of raw materials.
Inclusive livelihoods: Production is suitable for women and elderly workers, supporting household‑level income stability.
Year‑round employment: Fiber extraction, spinning, and weaving create off‑farm jobs, especially during non‑harvest seasons.
Long‑term sustainability: The model simultaneously strengthens ecosystems, sustains agriculture, and improves livelihoods in the Mekong Delta.
-
Mr. Jake Brunner - Head of IUCN LMS (third from right) presented lotus farming systems to restore water storage in the MKD © IUCN Viet Nam
In partnership with Hanhsilk, IUCN demonstrated lotus fiber extraction at a booth that attracted significant attention from delegates. Two artisans performed live demonstrations extracting and spinning lotus silk fibers—a meticulous and skilful process. Beyond showcasing the production techniques, the activity told a broader story of reviving traditional craft villages, opening new pathways for the development of a unique natural materials that offers both economic value and environmental benefits.
Despite having multiple benefits, lotus silk production faces challenges. The suitable raw material for fiber extraction primarily comes from naturally or semi-naturally grown lotus, which is limited in scale. Currently, commercial lotus farming areas (for seedpods, shoots, or roots) offer low and low-quality fiber yield. Additionally, labor shortage, high raw material costs, limited market access, and low branding awareness are major constraints that hinder the scaling up of lotus farming models for lotus silk production.
The project adopts a dual approach to sustain the lotus silk value chain. It promotes high-value product segmentation by targeting slow fashion and cultural handicraft markets, while also expanding into mass markets through support for design innovation, intellectual property protection, and digital distribution—areas that remain underdeveloped within the lotus value chain.
In parallel, IUCN continues to support the establishment of production groups for local women to help secure a stable supply of raw materials. Efforts also focus on improving production and processing techniques to enhance both quality and yield, through advanced technical training and the introduction of semi-mechanized tools. The project also strengthens business capacities among local women, enabling them to access markets more effectively and diversify lotus-based products.
Project interventions are limited to pilot or experimental models. In the long run, growing the lotus silk value chain will require a strategy with a broader institutional, financial, technical, and market dimensions. This may include establishing a Mekong Delta lotus product development center as a hub for market intelligence, financing, technical support, and market access; developing nature-based and specialized lotus raw material zones; establishing cooperatives connecting social enterprises, designers, artisans, and e-commerce; and expanding raw material zones based on market demand with green certification.
In the context of ecosystem degradation caused by intensive agriculture, FbA models such as lotus cultivation are considered nature-based solutions (NbS), aiming to replace the third rice crop with more climate resilient farming systems. This approach not only supports flood retention strategies in the Mekong Delta but also creates new economic opportunities – especially for women – through handicraft industry. It offers a sustainable pathway for the Mekong Delta, a region that plays a vital role in Viet Nam’s agriculture sector.
The conservation and sustainable livelihood initiatives of Model Forests from around the world…
Gland, Switzerland, 21 January 2026 (IUCN) – The International Union for Conservation of Nature (…