Bountiful resources for the Dong Thap investor journey

Dong Thap province’s investment and business environment has consistently been regarded highly by the business community. For 16 years, the provincial competitiveness index (PCI)’s ranking has been in the top 5 localities with the best governance quality nationwide, as mentioned in this year’s PCI report.

MUFG Bank (Japan) works with Dong Thap leaders to seek investment and cooperation opportunities, Photo: Viet Tien

The report is conducted annually by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the United States Agency for International Development.

Pham Thien Nghia, Chairman of Dong Thap People’s Committee, noted that effectively improving the investment and business environment was one of the key solutions to bringing in more resources for the province’s development.

Local authorities regard this as a critical and ongoing task, and are consistently implementing the policy of supporting enterprises from the provincial level to grassroots units.

The province’s Party Committee has integrated the goal of improving the PCI into its resolutions on business development and startup promotion in the province to unify its direction and vision. Along with this, it has issued numerous directives to enhance local investment and the business landscape.

Key measures include resolving obstacles in the implementation of projects under its jurisdiction, advocating for the removal of barriers to business and investment, advancing IT applications, and ensuring seamless data sharing among government agencies to improve administrative procedures.

The province is also committed to reducing the processing time for administrative procedures, especially in crucial areas for businesses such as land, construction, taxation, and access to capital.

Vision for a thriving province

Dong Thap continues its efforts towards establishing the image of an action-oriented government that serves the people. It strives for flexible and effective governance, aiming to transform the province into a prosperous locality, with an ecological agricultural base, modern rural areas, cultured farmers, and a dynamic and compassionate community.

With a population of over 1.6 million, Dong Thap boasts a young labour force, over 40 per cent of whom are well-trained. Additionally, more than 11,000 workers have gained international experience through overseas employment programmes. This skilled and disciplined workforce, combined with the province’s robust entrepreneurship movement, fosters collaboration and partnerships with investors.

In the past, underdeveloped transportation infrastructure posed a significant bottleneck for the province’s development and investment attraction. This dilemma, however, has been tackled with substantial investments to modernise key transportation systems.

In recent years, Dong Thap has prioritised resources for building and upgrading essential infrastructure, creating a foundation that integrates agriculture, industry, and tourism development while harmonising urban growth. These projects have also bolstered inter-regional connectivity, bringing the province closer to major economic hubs. Notable infrastructure milestones include the operational Vam Cong bridge and the Cao Lanh cable-stayed bridge.

Moving forward, the government has invested intensively in improving transport networks in the Mekong Delta region. The first phase of the Cao Lanh-An Huu Expressway is accelerating construction, with the bridge component targeted for completion in 2024 and the second phase expected to finish by October 2025. Once operational, the project will reduce travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap to just two hours.

Other key projects underway include upgrading the Cao Lanh-Lo Te route, raising bridge clearances along national inland waterways in the first phase, and improving the National Highway 30 in Cao Lanh City. The first phase of the My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway is undergoing investment adjustments and is slated for completion in 2025. The My An-Cao Lanh Expressway, also in its first phase, is scheduled to begin construction by the end of next year.

To ensure new advantages for business development, the province is accelerating the development of industrial parks and clusters, including Tan Kieu, Tan Lap, Truong Xuan, Quang Khanh, and the Dong Thap Border Gate Economic Zone, which features two international border gates.

The province leads the way in deploying digital platforms for agriculture, including systems for traceability and data-driven management. It is committed to advancing ecological, organic, and circular agriculture while minimising carbon emissions.

In the agricultural sector, the province seeks partnerships and investments to develop high-quality, diverse crop varieties and expand the agro-processing industry. The focus is on enhancing value chains for agricultural products, especially high-tech value chains in key sectors like rice, mango, basa fish, lotus, and ornamental flowers.

It is also forming organic farming zones and high-quality aquaculture areas integrated with processing industries and market-oriented value chains, while building strong product brands to bolster competitiveness.

Dong Thap boasts great potential for expanding cooperation and attracting investment in many sectors, Photo: dongthap.gov.vn

An exemplary model

Dong Thap is endowed with much tourism potential, particularly in ecological and cultural areas. The province boasts numerous attractions and cultural spaces that captivate visitors, including the Tram Chim National Park, home to the rare sarus crane, a species listed in the global Red Book; and the Xeo Quyt historical site, featuring a 20-hectare primeval melaleuca forest ecosystem.

It also boats Gao Giong ecotourism site, which features a 36-ha bird sanctuary, and the Go Thap historical site, which preserves the remnants of fortifications from the ancient Funan Kingdom and artefacts from the Oc Eo civilisation.

Additionally, Dong Thap is home to numerous temples, pagodas, and traditional craft villages, such as the Kien An Cung pagoda, Huong pagoda, Buu Lam Tu pagoda, Tan Phu Trung communal house, and Van Thanh temple; and traditional craft villages such as the Dinh Yen mat weaving village and the Lai Vung fermented pork roll village.

Located in the low-lying areas of the Mekong River Basin, Dong Thap benefits from fertile land and a year-round supply of fresh water. It is a key agricultural province, ranking among the top in Vietnam for rice and aquaculture production. The province accommodates more than 195,000ha of rice fields, yielding 3.32 million tonnes annually, making it the third-largest rice producer nationwide.

For aquaculture, Dong Thap leads the delta region, with 2,450ha of basa fish farms producing 525,000 tonnes per year. The province is also renowned for its fruit cultivation, with distinct products such as Cao Lanh mango, Chau Thanh longan, Lai Vung mandarin, and Thap Muoi lotus.

Of particular note is the Sa Dec flower village, one of Vietnam’s oldest and largest flower-growing regions. With over 3,000 flower varieties and an annual output of 12 million products, the village is not only a major supplier of flowers but also a popular destination for tourists.

Earlier this year, Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of the Dong Thap Party Committee, noted that Dong Thap is prioritising investment attraction in industries such as urban development, trade and services, tourism, environmental protection, the green economy, the digital economy, and the circular economy. The province focuses on developing modern and integrated information infrastructure and sci-tech databases, while supporting programmes, projects, and innovative startups to operate effectively.

“It is also important to efficiently expedite the agricultural restructuring plan through innovative and breakthrough approaches, positioning agricultural economics as a foundational sector, with processing industries and services as key drivers. The goal is to establish Dong Thap as a leading and exemplary locality in building an ecological agriculture, cultured farmers, and modern rural areas model,” said Phong.

Dong Thap inspires with its green tourism development Dong Thap province in the Mekong Delta is adopting innovative approaches to green tourism, aligning with global trends and unlocking significant opportunities for its tourism industry.

Dong Thap places importance on green growth innovation Green growth is a top objective for Dong Thap province as it strives to establish itself as a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.