The ST25 fragrant rice variety from Vietnam has once again been honored with the World's Best Rice award, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. This prestigious accolade, awarded at a recent competition in the Philippines, marks the second time ST25 has received this recognition. The competition featured entries from over ten countries, showcasing 30 different rice samples. Cambodian rice secured second place, while Indian rice took third.

Developed over 20 years of dedicated research by Hero of Labor Ho Quang Cua, ST25 rice (known in Vietnamese as Gao Ong Cua) represents the pinnacle of fragrant rice varieties. This latest generation of premium rice adheres to stringent organic production standards from seed selection through to harvest.

Following its initial win in 2019 with the 68-10 line, Mr. Ho Quang Cua and his team continued their meticulous selection process. By 2021, they had identified line 72-6, which, despite its unremarkable appearance, boasts several improvements. The 72-6 plants are lower and slightly slanted, making them more resistant to toppling and enabling them to bloom five days earlier than the 68-10 line. The rice grains are marginally shorter—by about 0.2mm—but offer a 0.5 percent better recovery rate.

The "World's Best Rice" competition, organized by Rice Trader, has been held annually since 2009. Vietnam first claimed the top prize in 2019. Last year, Cambodian rice was awarded the highest honor in Thailand, with varieties from Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos also making it into the top four.