Vietnam rice export to hit over 2.7 million tonnes in H1 Rice bags are being loaded down a ship. Vietnam has exported 2.7 million tonnes of rice in the first half this year. (Source: VNA) An Giang - Vietnam’s rice export is estimated to hit 2.732 million tonnes in the first half of this year, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).  According to the VFA, the country’s rice export in the later half is likely to reach 2.97 million tonnes with priority given to fragrant and high-quality rice.  Huynh The Nang, General Director of the Southern Food Corporation, said in the first six months, the export of Jasmine rice has increased from 22 to 29 percent of the total export volume.  Nang recommended provinces and cities to apply technologies into farming, establish production-sale connections and increase the use of recognised high-quality rice varieties.  Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh recommended localities pay attention to strengthening dykes to protect rice areas from flood.  He also agreed on the increase of the rice production area in the Autumn-Winter crop but asked localities to make detailed planning on which areas are used for high-quality rice and which are for commodity rice.-VNA