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Regions transformed with targeted tourism

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2 months ago

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The lives of ethnic minority people in the northern mountainous areas of Son La, Ha Giang, and Lai Chau have become more prosperous since they started engaging in tourism and serving visitors.

Vat village, located in Muong Sang commune, is a well-known community-based tourism destination in Moc Chau district of Son La, about 10km from the town centre. The entire village currently has 50 households involved in tourism, with 15 households providing accommodation for guests, while the others form groups focused on weaving, arts, tour guiding, and providing food,

Regions transformed with targeted tourism
Regions transformed with targeted tourism

Luong Thi Tuoi, owner of Moc Mien homestay and also the head of the homestay group in Vat village, said that, along with two other families in the village, she started offering lodging services in 2017, planting local fruit trees such as plums, apricots, and strawberries.

“At that time, we were just experimenting, trying out things we had learned or thought of ourselves, but tourists started coming and staying with us. These early signs made me and the other villagers feel hopeful,” Tuoi added.

At the moment Tuoi and the villagers of Vat were starting visitor activities, early in 2019, Moc Chau was planning to become a national tourism area by 2030. The scope of the planning includes the two districts of Moc Chau and Van Ho, covering a total natural area of over 206,000 hectares. Vat village was also chosen by the district as a pilot site for the community-based tourism model.

“From an income of $120-150 per month, the people of Vat village now earn $600-800 per month from hosting guests at homestays, providing strawberry-picking experiences, and selling local fruit,” she shared.

Dinh Thi Huong, head of the Department of Culture and Information of Moc Chau district, stated that after more than four years of running the community tourism model, the Thai ethnic community in Vat village can now confidently manage this model and use it to improve their income and enhance their quality of life.

After Vat village, Moc Chau added four other villages that have developed the community tourism model effectively. However, Vat receives the most visitors due to its convenient transport links and the preservation of the traditional culture of the Thai people.

In October 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism approved a scheme on the development of community tourism in Vietnam. One of the goals of the initiative is to support access to resources and public services for rural areas, especially those inhabited by ethnic minorities and mountainous regions, prioritising those with small ethnic groups.

The project aims to develop community tourism products and services linked with the development of cultural industries, involving real experiences in traditional craft villages and preserving the cultural values of ethnic groups.

Nguyen Le Phuc, deputy director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), emphasised that Vietnam’s diverse terrain, attractive natural landscapes, and varied ethnic cultures make it ideal for the development of community tourism.

“In Vietnam’s tourism development strategy, products based on exploiting the values of natural and indigenous culture are prioritised for investment, with a special focus on developing community tourism products,” Phuc said.

According to the VNAT, there are currently about 300 community-based tourism villages and 5,000 homestay accommodation establishments across the country, mainly concentrated in the midland and northern mountainous regions, home to many ethnic minority groups.

The development of this tourism product helps preserve cultural heritage and brings greater economic value to local people.

Elsewhere, Ban Hon commune in Tam Duong district of Lai Chau province has eight villages with nearly 600 households, over 90 per cent of which are from the Lu ethnic group.

In recent years, Ban Hon has aimed to develop commercial agriculture linked to sustainable tourism. By the end of 2024, the commune will have four villages engaged in tourism, with more than 20 households running homestays.

“To meet tourist interest in local culture, Ban Hon has revived and preserved many traditional rituals and crafts in the villages. Many Lu ethnic households have not only escaped poverty but have also become prosperous, contributing to reducing the poverty rate of the commune to less than 25 per cent,” said Lo Van Giot, deputy chairman of the commune’s People’s Committee.

Meanwhile, the Ha Giang stone plateau, home to ethnic groups such as the H’Mong, Dao, Tay, and Lo Lo, have rapidly transformed over the past 10 years of community tourism development.

From only a few thousand visitors per year, Ha Giang province has become an attractive destination with millions of tourists, including many international visitors. In 2024, Ha Giang welcomed 3.2 million visitors, an 8.8 per cent increase compared to 2023, with about 380,000 international visitors. The total tourism revenue exceeded $315 million.

Compared to 2014, community tourism has brought Ha Giang five times the number of visitors and more than seven times the revenue, from 650,000 visitors and $44 million in revenue.

Giang Mi Lu, the owner of a traditional stone house homestay in Dong Van district, said that previously as a farmer, his family’s income depended on a few acres of corn, earning just over $400 per season. “Now, running a homestay, I welcome about 400–500 guests each month, earning five to seven times more than before,” Lu said.

Along the roads from Dong Van and Meo Vac to Hoang Su Phi, hundreds of traditional stone houses and wooden houses have become cosy homestays for tourists.

Visitors staying in a homestay in Ha Giang get to experience the accommodation and enjoy traditional Mong dishes, such as thang co, drink corn wine, and learn to weave flax and dye fabrics using traditional methods.

Ha Giang currently boasts over 300 homestays, 70 per cent of which are operated by ethnic minorities.

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Billionaire Trần Bá Dương’s VND 2,000 Billion, 200-Hectare Industrial Park in Thái Bình Could Begin Operations This Year

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3 weeks ago

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March 31, 2025

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The Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park, covering more than 194 hectares with an investment of over VND 2,100 billion, is expected to become operational within this year, according to the development plan.

Recently, provincial leaders of Thái Bình conducted an on-site inspection of land clearance efforts and infrastructure construction progress at the Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park located in Quỳnh Phụ District.

To date, Quỳnh Phụ District has completed compensation and land clearance for nearly 192 hectares of agricultural land, involving the land recovery of 1,067 households to hand over to the investor for project implementation.

Currently, the district is focusing on clearing the remaining land, involving 94 households in Lương Cầu Hamlet, An Cầu Commune. At the same time, it is coordinating with the electricity sector to relocate a 220kV high-voltage power line.

On the investor’s side, groundwork construction is underway, including roadbeds, internal roads, stormwater and wastewater drainage systems, and communication infrastructure within the industrial park.

The Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park is a specialized high-tech agricultural industrial park proposed by THACO Group (chaired by billionaire Trần Bá Dương) since 2017, originally planned to cover 250 hectares. By July 2017, the provincial authorities agreed to incorporate the project into Thái Bình’s industrial development master plan.

In August 2020, THACO officially broke ground on the industrial park’s infrastructure. A year later, in August 2021, the project’s investment certificate was revised, confirming a total investment of over VND 2,100 billion and a land area of more than 194 hectares. The project is being developed across An Thái, An Ninh, and An Cầu communes in Quỳnh Phụ District.

According to the roadmap, the investor is determined to complete and officially launch the project in 2025.

The Thaco – Thái Bình Industrial Park is designed as a dedicated high-tech agricultural zone, featuring various functional subdivisions including an administration center, agro-food processing zone, high-tech agricultural training center, experimental farms, agricultural materials production area, and a cargo transport port.

This project is considered one of the key developments in Thái Bình Province, playing a crucial role in the region’s socio-economic growth strategy.

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Carbon labels: a gateway to high-value global markets

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4 weeks ago

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March 27, 2025

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In an era where sustainability is not just a choice but a requirement, carbon labelling is emerging as a crucial factor for exporters.

Carbon labels: a gateway to high-value global markets
Vu Trung Kien, director Climate Change Resilience Centre

Countries like the US and the European Union are implementing stringent carbon regulations, such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and increasing scrutiny on supply chain emissions.

Vietnamese businesses that fail to adopt carbon labelling risk losing access to lucrative markets. However, those that proactively integrate carbon footprint transparency into their products can gain a competitive advantage, enhance brand reputation, and secure long-term profitability.

Across the world, forward-thinking countries have embraced carbon labelling as a strategic tool for trade success. These efforts have not only helped businesses comply with regulations but have also opened doors to new investment and consumer markets.

Japan has implemented a government-backed carbon labelling programme that allows companies to display detailed carbon footprint information on their products. This has strengthened consumer trust and made Japanese goods more attractive in environmentally conscious markets such as the EU and North America.

The South Korean government incentivises businesses to adopt carbon labelling through tax benefits and green export support schemes. Companies that participate gain access to new trading partners, particularly in Europe, where sustainable supply chains are becoming the norm. Thailand, a key competitor to Vietnam, has integrated carbon labelling across industries such as food processing, textiles, and electronics. Thai exporters, particularly in agriculture, now benefit from preferential treatment in European supermarkets and trade agreements.

These case studies highlight an important lesson: carbon labelling is not just about compliance – it is a business strategy that enhances market access, builds consumer confidence, and future-proofs exports.

For businesses in Vietnam, waiting until carbon labelling becomes a legal requirement would be a mistake. Many international corporations have already set ambitious sustainability targets, requiring suppliers to provide verifiable carbon footprint data. Voluntary carbon labelling can position Vietnamese enterprises as reliable, future-ready partners.

It works by companies conducting a life cycle assessment to measure emissions from production to disposal. Products are labelled with a carbon footprint score, helping consumers and businesses make informed choices. Labels are often verified by third-party certifiers to ensure credibility and compliance with global standards.

The benefits include a boost for green supply chains. Companies like Nestlé and Unilever prioritise suppliers that provide carbon footprint transparency. Vietnamese food and beverage exporters can gain an edge by aligning with such demands.

Businesses with carbon-reduction strategies attract funding from international banks and investors that focus on increasing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment.

It also leads to improved consumer trust and higher sales. Studies indicate that climate-conscious consumers prefer labelled products. In markets like the EU, organic rice, seafood, and textiles from carbon-labelled brands command higher prices.

For Vietnamese companies looking to integrate carbon labelling into their strategy, a step-by-step approach can make the transition smooth and effective.

Pilot carbon labelling programmes in key sectors are critical, with a focus on industries where carbon labelling is already gaining momentum, such as textiles, seafood, agriculture, and furniture.

The process must start with one or two high-export products and conduct a carbon footprint analysis to understand emissions sources. Industry associations must also work with international partners to ensure the label aligns with EU and US standards.

Collaboration with certification bodies is also key, and partnering with recognised organisations such as the Carbon Trust (UK), TÜV Rheinland (Germany), or SGS (Switzerland) for certification is advised, as is engaging with Vietnamese regulatory bodies to advocate for government incentives similar to South Korea’s model.

Another vital part of the process is to leverage green financing and government incentives to access ESG-linked loans and grants that support supply chain improvements. Alongside this, there needs to be a move to propose carbon labelling incentive programmes through the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry or the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The future of Vietnam’s export competitiveness is green. The world is moving towards sustainable trade, and carbon-labelling is no longer optional for businesses that want to thrive in international markets. By learning from successful global initiatives, Vietnamese companies can turn carbon transparency into an economic advantage rather than a compliance burden.

The time to act is now. Companies that lead in carbon labelling will not only future-proof their businesses but also shape Vietnam’s reputation as a responsible trade leader.

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Industrial parks in Binh Duong increase FDI attraction by 232%

Published

4 weeks ago

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March 27, 2025

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In the first quarter of 2025, an additional 588 million USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) poured into Binh Duong Province’s industrial parks, marking a 232% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and reaching 53.43% of the 2025 annual plan, as reported by the provincial Management Board of Industrial Parks on March 26.

Of the 588 million in FDI USD invested in industrial parks during the first quarter, there were 25 new investment projects with a total registered capital of more than 60.2 million USD and 26 projects with additional capital adjustments, contributing nearly 528 million USD in increased capital.

With this positive investment attraction in the first quarter, industrial parks in Binh Duong have so far attracted 3,252 active projects, including 2,561 FDI projects with total registered capital of 31.57 billion USD and 691 domestic investment projects with total registered capital of 93.664 trillion VND.

According to the Management Board of Industrial Parks in Binh Duong, 10 new projects have become operational in the first quarter. Currently, the province’s industrial parks have 2,706 active business and production projects, including 507 domestic projects and 2,199 FDI projects.

With effective operations, the estimated business and production targets for the first quarter of 2025 in the province’s industrial parks exceeded 11 billion USD, increasing by 7.72% compared to the same period last year and reaching 31.49% of the annual plan. Export turnover surpassed 6.34 billion USD, up 9.22% year on year, achieving 25.36% of the annual plan. Taxes and budget contributions reached nearly 175.4 million USD, increasing by 10.23% year on year and fulfilling 25% of the annual target.

Binh Duong currently has 29 industrial parks with a total planned area of 12,746 hectares. Of which, 28 industrial parks are already operational, covering a total of 12,046 hectares.

According to the Binh Duong Provincial Master Plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which was approved by the prime minister, the province is planned to develop 48 to 50 industrial parks with a total planned area of 25,000 hectares.

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