Moc Chau: Vietnam’s dairy land

Moc Chau Plateau has become a tourist destination, with its wide, grassy fields and farms of dairy cows.

Visitors to the place, which is located in the northern province of Son La, often bring back dairy products, as well as other regional specialities.

The breeding of dairy cows has greatly helped to improve economic conditions in Moc Chau. Most households have set up dairy farms, creating a new phenomenon in the region.

Many local farmers are people who were relocated from Muong La District before construction of Son La Hydropower Plant. These people, who initially used to loggers and fishermen, have switched to raising cows for milk. Aided by technologies for milk production, a number of them have improved their lives.

Moc Chau has nearly 1,000 ha of land for dairy cow breeding

486 households raise dairy cows

Fertile land provides grass for the cows

All milk is sold to Moc Chau Milk Company

A large-scale dairy farm

The animals are cross-bred from varieties from the US, Canada and Israel, using modern techniques.

A dairy cow is priced at VND50 million (USD2,392).

A corner of Moc Chau

Milk processing

The average household will earn around VND400 million (USD19,138) per year