Asian and African countries are still the top rice-importing targets for Vietnam's trade, which now relies on cheap prices to expand the markets and compete with Thailand.
A woman sells rice in her stall at a street in Hanoi. Vietnam exported 2.78 million tonnes of rice during the first five months of 2013, according to the Vietnam Food Association. (EPA file photo)
"Africa and Asia markets will remain major markets for Vietnamese rice, therefore we will focus more on promotions in these markets," Pham Van Bay, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), told Vietnam News.
Mr Bay said the VFA was aware of marketing campaigns by Thailand to bolster its exports and said Vietnam has room to expand. "We accept low prices during this period to consume all the paddy grown by farmers," he said of the rice-exporting measures.
Vietnam exported 2.78 million tonnes of rice in the first five months of this year, a 10% increase year-on-year, according to the VFA.
The association admitted global rice prices in the coming months will remain depressed, since supply would remain abundant.
"Vietnam's traditional buyers will resume rice imports in July," Mr Bay said.
The country has set an export target of 8 million tonnes in 2013 - the same as Thailand's unofficial target.