VICOPRO and SAFEGRO join hands for community health
On an early autumn morning in Hanoi, the Sen Vang meeting room at the Women’s Development Support Center on Thuy Khue Street was filled with cheerful voices. More than 80 participants, mostly middle aged women, group leaders, and deputy leaders of the Thang Long Consumer Club, attended two training sessions organized by the Vietnam Consumer Protection Association (VICOPRO) under the SAFEGRO project.
Unlike formal and theoretical workshops, these classes began with a simple, familiar question: “Every day, how do we shop, cook, and store food to ensure our family meals are both delicious and safe?” From that moment, the room became lively and open. Everyone was eager to share their own experiences, concerns, and stories about food safety in daily life.
Learning to Understand, Learning to Change
According to VICOPRO’s initial survey, nearly 70 percent of consumers still confuse “clean food” with “safe food,” and most rely on habit or intuition when shopping. For this reason, the training sessions were designed as a behavioral education program, helping participants not only to learn but also to practice and internalize safer habits.
The course covered five main topics, focusing on four key food chains including fruits and vegetables, meat and milk, poultry and eggs, and seafood, along with a session on consumer rights and responsibilities. Each lesson used practical examples, visuals, and real life scenarios to make learning relevant and memorable.
Many participants shared that they realized how often they had relied on emotion when buying food. Now, they know how to check product codes, identify VietGAP or organic certifications, and confidently share what they have learned with others in their communities.
From Small Classes to Big Impact
After two days of training, 80 core members were equipped with the knowledge and communication skills needed to educate others. They will go on to replicate the training in 20 classes across districts in Hanoi, aiming to help 725 members of the Thang Long Consumer Club improve their understanding and transform their food safety behaviors.
What makes this group truly special is that they are powerful consumers, retired women who not only cook for themselves but also for their children and grandchildren. Their choices influence family habits and neighborhood practices, meaning the project’s positive impact will reach thousands of people across households and communities.
According to VICOPRO, this series of trainings is more than just capacity building. It marks the beginning of a network of informed and responsible consumers who understand their rights and promote sustainable and safe consumption in Vietnam.
The classes concluded with applause and smiles. Many participants lingered to take photos, saying they would begin their own “first lesson” right at home, in their own kitchens. For them, learning about food safety is not just about gaining knowledge. It is about living safely, staying healthy, and building a community of mindful and responsible consumers.
