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Removing legal barriers for eco-industrial park development

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By 2030, 40-50 per cent of localities will have plans to convert existing industrial parks into eco-industrial parks, while 8-10 per cent of localities are determined to build new eco-industrial parks to attract investment.

According to data from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, by the end of 2023, the country had 416 industrial parks established, including four export processing zones, with a total natural land area of ​​about 129,900 hectares and a total industrial land area of ​​about 89,200 hectares.

Up to now, the system of industrial parks has been present in 61 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide, becoming a key area attracting domestic and foreign investment projects and a destination for many leading world corporations.

In the new development trend, economic organisation models by territory are changing in development goals, and Vietnam is no exception.

At the same time, towards sustainable development, the requirement to build green industrial parks and convert existing industrial parks into ecological industrial parks is becoming an urgent need to adapt to development requirements.

An assessment report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment shows that in over 30 years of forming and developing industrial zones in Vietnam, up to now, the development of industrial zones in width is facing difficulties due to the limited resources of labour, land, and resources. Labour productivity and resource exploitation efficiency are low, not ensuring harmony between economic development, environmental protection and social security.

This process also faces difficulties as tax and land incentives are gradually decreasing. The linkage and cooperation in industrial production in industrial zones and economic zones are still limited.

According to the plan, by 2030, 40-50 per cent of localities will have plans to convert existing industrial parks into eco-industrial parks, while 8-10 per cent of localities are determined to build new eco-industrial parks to attract investment.

A survey by the Institute for International Investment Studies (ISC) shows that the demand for attracting investment capital to fill the remaining area of ​​Vietnam’s planned industrial parks is about 600-650 billion USD. The total investment capital for infrastructure development and filling industrial parks is about 650-700 billion USD.

In addition, the demand for investment capital for technological innovation in enterprises in industrial parks and restructuring and converting 293 existing industrial parks into ecological industrial parks, to realise the green growth target according to the commitment of the Vietnamese Government to the international community, is also very great.

According to the Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association, the implementation time of an industrial park infrastructure investment project can last more than three years, even five years, because of many difficulties and obstacles in the legal framework and site clearance, especially investment in the model of new industrial parks and ecological industrial parks.

Dr Ngo Cong Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association, said that attracting investment to develop economic zones and industrial parks is showing limitations that must be overcome.

The planning and development orientation of industrial parks and economic zones still lacks a comprehensive vision and long-term perspective. They are still spread out across administrative boundaries, lack industry and regional linkages, and the quality and efficiency of investment attraction have not met the requirements for in-depth development.

In addition, localities and investors developing infrastructure for domestic industrial parks still prioritise attracting investment to fill in, not paying attention to the industry structure, technology, and environmental and social factors of investment projects, so the efficiency of investment in developing industrial parks has not met the requirements.

On the other hand, due to limited financial capacity, investors in industrial park infrastructure still have the mentality of waiting to find secondary investors before investing in shared infrastructure in the industrial park while foreign investors want to have land and technical infrastructure immediately before deciding to invest. This is one of the reasons why many industrial parks have low occupancy rates.

To mobilise large capital sources for investment in industrial parks and economic zones in the coming time, Dr Ngo Cong Thanh said there should be fundamental changes in attracting capital flows, creating conditions for investors to easily access production factors and innovate investment promotion activities.

In addition, legal issues regarding the formation and development of ecological industrial parks, and converting existing industrial parks into ecological industrial parks, need to be legalised or specifically guided, encouraging investors to participate in developing industrial park infrastructure.

Every year, the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) in industrial parks and economic zones accounts for 60-70% of the FDI capital attracted nationwide, and this rate is still on the rise. This shows that industrial parks play a very important role in foreign investment cooperation activities in Vietnam. The trend of foreign investment in Vietnam in the coming time will focus mainly on industrial parks and economic zones.

Dr Phan Huu Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association

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Massive investments flow into Cam Lam district as airport town to take shape in Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa province

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Hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars are flowing into Cam Lam district, providing a major boost for Khanh Hoa as the province in south-central Vietnam accelerates its plans to develop an international-standard airport town.

A corner of Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province, south-central Vietnam. Photo by The Investor/Nguyen Tri.

A corner of Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province, south-central Vietnam. Photo by The Investor/Nguyen Tri.

The provincial People’s Committee recently issued decisions to select investors for four large urban complex projects, with a total investment exceeding VND22 trillion ($862.24 million) in Cam Lam district.

The Cam Tan Urban Complex spans over 290 hectares in Cam Tan and Suoi Tan communes, with a projected population of around 4,020 people and a total investment exceeding VND5.73 trillion ($224.6 million).

The Cam Thuong Urban Complex, at the cost of nearing VND6 trillion ($236.9 million), covers nearly 300 hectares in the same two communes and will be home to 4,010 people.

Located in Cam Tan and Cam Hoa communes, the 300-hectare Cam Hoa Urban Complex will have an investment of over VND5.24 trillion ($200 million) and house 4,410 people.

Lastly, the over VND5.1 trillion ($200 million) Suoi Tan Urban Complex, spanning nearly 240 hectares in Suoi Tan commune, will accommodate around 4,020 people.

The provincial People’s Committee also approved a list of projects seeking non-budget investments for the 2025–2030 period, including three projects in Cam Lam.

The most notable is the 10,365-hectare Cam Lam New Urban Area project, with an investment of VND285.3 trillion ($11.18 billion). This major project aims to create a new urban area and world-class entertainment zone, making it one of Khanh Hoa’s flagship initiatives for the 2025–2030 period.

Developing Khanh Hoa’s southern growth pole

Positioned between the coastal towns of Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, Cam Lam benefits from a highly convenient transportation network.

With 13 kilometers of coastlines, the district has attracted significant investment over the past 20 years, leading to the development of numerous resorts that have transformed the area.

In February 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha approved a master plan for the new Cam Lam Urban Area until 2045. The planned area covers the entire administrative boundary of Cam Lam district, totaling over 54,719 hectares (excluding the Thuy Trieu Lagoon area).

Under the master plan, Cam Lam is set to become the southern growth hub of Khanh Hoa and the south-central coastal region, contributing to the province’s ambition to become a centrally governed city. Vietnam currently has six centrally managed cities, namely Hanoi, Hai Phong, Danang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho.

The district will be developed into a modern, international-standard airport town, focusing on coastal tourism, logistics services, finance, global innovation, education, healthcare, and cutting-edge research. The goal is to create a high-quality living environment with modern infrastructure.

In August 2024, the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee approved a zoning plan (scale 1/2000) that covers the coastal sub-area, the central urban sub-area, and the northern urban sub-area of the new Cam Lam town.

The central urban sub-area aims to develop a new political-administrative center for Cam Lam, as well as an innovation hub that is part of a larger regional center.

The northern urban sub-area will focus on developing a new urban center, featuring a chain of golf courses, amusement parks, and specialized parks near Cu Hin Mountain.

Meanwhile, the coastal urban sub-area will serve as a tourism, service, and coastal urban zone, acting as the maritime gateway to the new town.

Real estate market recovery

Nguyen Anh Tuan, vice president of the Khanh Hoa Real Estate Brokerage Association, stated that the local real estate market has emerged from its most challenging period and showed clear signs of recovery in 2024.

The market’s recovery is driven by significant improvements in infrastructure and well-planned, long-term development schemes, such as the Nha Trang master plan for 2040 and the Cam Lam airport town master plan through 2045, he noted.

These initiatives have drawn considerable interest from investors, highlighting the region’s sustainable property market growth potential.

“The real estate market in Khanh Hoa, particularly in hotspots like Nha Trang and Cam Lam, has experienced a notable rise in prices over the past year. This surge has created pressure for both homebuyers and new investors, potentially driving property prices to unsustainable levels, which could pose risks to liquidity and long-term value stability,” Tuan added.

With a strong foundation for recovery in 2024, Tuan believed that the local real estate market will continue to grow substantially in 2025, supported by the ongoing improvements in infrastructure.

Notably, key projects such as the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway and the expansion of Cam Ranh Airport will play a pivotal role in stimulating the market and attracting further investment.

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Agoda Offers Free Tickets for Japanese Fans to See NCT WISH, THE BOYZ, n.SSign and More at Seoul Spring Festa

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Digital travel platform Agoda is giving K-pop fans in Japan a reason to cheer with an exclusive offer to attend the Seoul Spring Festa’s opening concert, WONDER SHOW, which will take place on Wed, Apr. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

TOKYO, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda is giving K-pop fans in Japan a reason to cheer with an exclusive offer to attend the Seoul Spring Festa’s opening concert, WONDER SHOW, which will take place on Wed, Apr. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Fans from Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan can snag two free tickets per booking to the highly anticipated event featuring K-pop artists NCT WISH, THE BOYZ, n.SSign, TWS, NMIXX, god, STAYC, ALL(H)OURS, NEXZ, KickFlip, Hearts2Hearts, NouerA, KiiiKiii and more to be announced*. Travelers can secure the free tickets through the ‘Agoda x Wonder Show’ special room package available via participating properties on Agoda. The offer will be available starting March 17 to April 11, 2025, for check-ins between April 21-30, 2025, and includes an additional discount of up to 15% off accommodations.

The Seoul Spring Festa, a city-wide celebration of Korean culture, food, and entertainment, includes a lineup of performances by NCT WISH, known for their electrifying stage presence; THE BOYZ, celebrated for their dynamic choreography; and n.SSign, the rising stars captivating fans across Asia, and many more. Pre-sale tickets for the event have already sold out, making Agoda’s offer a golden opportunity for fans to experience the magic of K-pop live.

Jay Lee, Country Director, South Korea at Agoda, shared, “K-pop transcends borders, uniting fans worldwide, and we’re excited to bring Japanese fans closer to the action. Agoda is making dreams come true with free tickets to see NCT WISH, THE BOYZ, n.SSign, and more, along with unbeatable hotel deals—turning Seoul into the must-visit hotspot for K-pop lovers this spring.”

Travelers can enhance their Seoul experience by booking the Discover Seoul Pass on Agoda. This all-in-one offers access to major attractions, transportation, and connectivity in Seoul, ensuring visitors can explore the city with ease and convenience.

With over 5 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities available, Agoda offers everything travelers need to plan their perfect trip. For more information on this exclusive offer and to book your stay, visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals.

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Promoting circular economy in industrial parks

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The benefits of green transformation in industrial parks are both huge and lasting, according to leaders of the Ministry of Planning and Investment. However, in the short term, many challenges and obstacles have meant the transition process has not been as strong as expected.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) held a conference entitled “Advancing circular economy in Vietnam’s industrial parks for sustainable development” on the afternoon of April 12.

In his opening speech, Le Thanh Quan, Director General of the Department of Economic Zones Management under the Ministry of Planning (MPI), said that in the more than 30 years of establishment and development, industrial and economic zones have been recognised as playing an important role in fostering socio-economic development, accelerating the process of industrialisation and modernisation, and promoting international integration.

Circular economic development is a trend that many countries around the world consider to be the green industrial revolution of the 21st century and is consistent with the country’s development orientation in the coming period. In particular, the eco-industrial park model is seen as the driving force to boost the circular economy.

According to Quan, the benefits of this transformation are great and long-lasting, but in the short term, many obstacles are preventing the transformation process from taking place as strongly as expected.

Smail Alhilali, Industrial Development Officer at the Department of Environment, UNIDO, said: “Promoting circular economy in industrial zones can help Vietnam to not only reduce environmental impacts but also create opportunities for innovation and green growth.”

Vietnam has a lot of potential. With existing support and available directions, Vietnam should learn from previous countries and successfully implement digital and energy transformation. The country should not only focusing on cleaner production and reduced emissions but also address the consumption issues.

The conference included discussion sessions on the important role of industrial parks in implementing circular economy principles, the opportunities and challenges of integrating circular economy activities between different industries in industrial parks, and others.

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