Lao Cai converges potential and advantages for development

With its geopolitical advantage, Lao Cai plays a particularly important role on the Kunming (Yunnan, China) - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh (Vietnam) economic corridor, serving as a "gateway" and "bridge" for two-way goods from China to Vietnam, ASEAN countries and vice versa. In addition to its geographical advantage for developing border gate economy, Lao Cai also has many favorable conditions for developing transportation, tourism and services.

Lao Cai has a very special geographical position: located between the Northwest and Northeast regions of the country, it has a strategic position in the "Belt and Road" initiative and the economic corridor of Kunming (Yunnan, China) - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh (Vietnam), the shortest route to the sea of the provinces in the Southwest of China. Furthermore, Lao Cai offers good natural circumstances for tourism development; now, the tourism economy accounts for 15% of the province's total GRDP. The Sa Pa National Tourist Area and Y Ty Resort (Bat Xat) are expected to be developed by 2030, with 15 million visitors per year.

Bustling import and export activities through Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II. Photo: Viet Vinh

Lao Cai has strengths in industrial growth, particularly mining and mineral processing, with the industry's total production value expected to exceed 40,000 billion Vietnamese dong by 2024. In addition to ordinary minerals, Lao Cai province boasts the country's largest rare earth reserves, which are minerals that play a critical role in the growth of high-tech businesses around the world. The economy has improved; in 2024, Lao Cai province's budget revenue will reach 12,989 billion Vietnamese dong; culture and society are being prioritized, and the school system has been fully invested.

Tang Loong Bao Thang Industrial Park. Photo: Viet Vinh

With the will and aspiration to rise, through each congress, Lao Cai always sets high goals to strive for, and at the same time chooses potentials and advantages to create breakthroughs for development. Lao Cai always proactively puts itself in the development of the region, builds and submits to the Central Government for promulgation of strategic and comprehensive policies. Starting from the "end of the tunnel", up to now, Lao Cai has a special position as a growth pole, a connecting center clearly defined in Resolution No. 11-NQ/TW, dated February 10, 2022 on the direction of socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region to 2030, with a vision to 2045; Decision No. 316/QD-TTg, dated March 29, 2023 on approving the Planning of Lao Cai province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050; Decision 1620/QD-TTg dated December 20, 2024 of the Prime Minister on promulgating the Plan to implement the construction of Lao Cai to become a center for economic trade connection between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region of China.

Breakthrough opportunity

Lao Cai is currently focused on becoming a key gateway and a central hub for transportation and economic connectivity in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous region. The province aims to link Vietnam and ASEAN nations with China’s southwestern region through the development of a modern, integrated transport infrastructure. Plans include transforming the Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone into a major transit point for goods and a large-scale logistics hub along the Kunming – Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh economic corridor, as well as within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economic framework. Additionally, Lào Cai seeks to position itself as a center for finance, tourism, trade, and international events. The province will implement smart border gate systems and pilot a cross-border economic cooperation zone at its border gate. All these efforts aim to elevate Lào Cai to a relatively developed province in Vietnam by 2030.

Sa Pa National Tourist Area always attracts investors. Photo: Manh Dung

The Government's priority in building the Northwest growth pole of the country is to soon complete the upgrade of the Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway (Yen Bai - Lao Cai section) from 2 to 4 lanes; invest in the route connecting the Hanoi - Lao Cai expressway with Ha Giang; mobilize resources and prepare conditions for the early implementation of the Bao Ha (Lao Cai) - Lai Chau expressway. Also at the end of 2025, the construction of the Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong standard gauge railway connecting with Kunming (Yunnan - China) will begin; the Lao Cai - Vinh Yen 500 kV power line project will begin and be completed to complete the energy infrastructure system; the Sa Pa Airport will be started and put into operation, meeting the standard of welcoming 3 million passengers/year.

For Lao Cai province, the very important task is to develop the Border Gate Economic Zone into the core of the economic trade connection center between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region of China. This includes researching, building and implementing the pilot project to build a new model of cross-border economic cooperation zones; the project to build a smart border gate at the Lao Cai international road border gate; building a logistics center according to the planning to ensure synchronization, interconnection, meeting the requirements of international transport and integration. Along with the infrastructure system, Lao Cai has determined to build a number of high-class resorts associated with specific services in Sa Pa town, Lao Cai city and Bac Ha and Bat Xat districts; continue to develop the Lao Cai Provincial Public Administration Service Center operating under the one- stop, one-stop mechanism, promoting the provision of online public services on the Provincial Administrative Procedure Information System connected to the National Public Service Portal.

Lao Cai city is bustling on the border.

To achieve this goal, Lao Cai province has identified many strategic tasks and solutions with breakthroughs in mechanisms and policies, focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles for businesses and people, strongly improving the investment and business environment towards efficiency, greenness, and sustainability; building a unique and outstanding mechanism, attracting strategic investors, making use of talents, unlocking resources, promoting the benefits of the pr Continuing to expand infrastructure, with an emphasis on integrating traffic, industrial parks, metropolitan areas, digital and tourism-related service infrastructure... In addition, developing high-quality human resources, creating a source of cadres, particularly talented young cadres, female cadres, and cadres from ethnic minorities; and attracting and training high-quality workers in the fields of education, healthcare, tourism - services, construction, industry, processing, manufacturing, digital transformation, agriculture, and rural areas.

Promoting advantages and seizing opportunities, Lao Cai is determined to strive to become a developed province of the country, a growth pole of the midland and mountainous region of the North; an important economic and trade connection center between Vietnam, ASEAN and China, a province with a synchronous and modern infrastructure system; ensuring national defense, security and environmental protection. Lao Cai is ready and confident to enter the era of national development, prosperity and wealth.

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