20 June 2026, Vietnam: On 02-03 March 2026, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub in cooperation with the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP), UNESCAP, and the Regional Networking Group on Food Systems and several other agencies convened two days of high‑level dialogue at the 4th Asia Pacific Food Systems Transformation Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting aimed to i) Enable peer-to-peer learning through shared post-UNFSS+4 regional insights and priorities; ii) Strengthen collaboration among countries and partners to advance national food systems pathways; iii) Promote scalable solutions through Hub flagship initiatives and the Ecosystem of Support; and iv) Catalyze country-level implementation and investment aligned with national pathways and the SDGs. It also provided a regional space to review progress, align priorities, and strengthen coordinated support for food systems transformation toward 2030.
The meeting brought together more than 100 experts from 20 countries, including National Convenors, their teams, United Nations country and regional staff, and a wide range of stakeholders, who participated both in person and virtually. Regional and sub-regional progress in food systems transformation was highlighted in the meeting. It is reported that countries across the region operate in diverse food systems contexts but are increasingly aligning around delivery. Across all 25 participating countries, a clear signal emerged: the phase of pathway design has shifted decisively to implementation. National Convenors emphasized the need to convert commitments into funded programmes, enacted policies, and measurable results. Delivery is now the central priority1.
Alongside domestic actions, Vietnam has actively engaged on the international stage by sharing experiences at regional and global forums. The submission of the second national report and participation in the UNFSS+4 Stocktake in Ethiopia (July 2025) demonstrated transparency in fulfilling commitments. Notably, as a member of the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation (ACF), and through the successful organization of the Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Scaling Climate Solutions in Agrifood Systems in Hanoi (October 2025), Vietnam is emerging as a leading example in advancing climate-resilient and food systems transformation solutions.
During the meeting, Dr. Dao The Anh, UNFSS National Convenor – Viet Nam and Director of Vietnam Rural Development Sciences Association (PHANO) took the opportunity to emphasize that healthy diets, nutrition, and environmental impact are key objectives of the National Action Plan on Food Systems Transformation toward Sustainability, Responsibility, and Transparency by 2030 (FST-NAP), which was issued in 2023. Upon invitation by the national team, Ms. Huynh – Country Coordinator of Better Diets and Nutrition | CGIAR System in Vietnam joined the progress review meeting in Bangkok. During the meeting, the Viet Nam delegation provided an update on food systems activities that are in progress across the country. Some main activities include:
Establishing a food systems partnership for fostering the implementation of the FST-NAP.
Integrating nutrition-sensitive agri-food systems under the National Action Plan of Zero Hunger into activities under the National Target Programs on Poverty Reduction in remote areas.
Supporting localities to implement FST-NAP including i. Establishment of provincial-level technical working groups; ii. Training and capacity building on FST; iii. Building food system profile; iv. Identify priority food system issues, activities, and resources; v. Developing a provincial implementing FST; vi. Develop a plan to mobilize resources to implement the plan with integrating FST into existing programs (National Front Program on Poverty Reduction, Local Socio-Economic Development)
Developing an M&E system for the FST-NAP.
Capacity building and communication on food systems.
Viet Nam is one of the three target countries of the Better Diets and Nutrition | CGIAR System. UNFSS National Convenors in Vietnam are from BDN’s Strategic Partners in Viet Nam. As BDN’s Country Coordinator in Viet Nam, Tuyen Huynh from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, works with BDN’s partners including National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment, and others to facilitate BDN’s support to the food systems transformation process. Recently this has included capacity building activities, like the sub-national Training of Trainers (ToT) program and technical support for support localities to implement FST-NAP, which were mentioned by the Viet Nam delegation during the progress review.
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