The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai was set to become a bridge connecting economic and external relations between Vietnam, ASEAN countries and the southwest of China, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said last week.
An overview of Lao Cai province (Source: baochinhphu.vn)
Lao Cai (VNS/VNA) - Thenorthern mountainous province of LaoCai was set to become a bridge connecting economic and external relationsbetween Vietnam, ASEAN countries and thesouthwest of China, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said last week.
The vision is to turn theprovince into a hub of tourism, services, iron and steel, and chemical-freeagriculture.
The long-term plan is todevelop synchronised and modernised socio-economic infrastructure and transformthe province into a centre of research and preserve the identities of ethnicgroups in the northwest of Vietnam.
The Deputy Prime Ministerhas asked for local infrastructure improvements while focusing on disadvantagedareas and improving the lives of local people.
The plan also specifies theeffective use of natural resources, while preserving historic and culturalvalues and natural heritages.
The province has beenencouraged to apply advanced technology and digitalise data as part of theplan.
Local authorities mustanalyse, assess and forecast development conditions including infrastructureand land use, Dung said.
Domestic and internationalfactors that could affect the province’s growth should be taken intoconsideration.
Lao Cai, almost 300km from Hanoi, is located in the centre of Vietnam’s north and shares a 200km border with Yunnan,China.
Covering nearly 640ha, theprovince is home to the well-known tourism town of Sa Pa. Tourism is a brightspot in economic development.
The province’s GDP reached10.23 percent last year and ranked 3 out of 14 northern mountainous localities,and Lao Cai’s Provincial Competitiveness Index ranked 12among 63 provinces and cities last year.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc previously asked the province to strive tobecome one of the top 15 developing localities in the country./.
Measures to further enhance socio-cultural and economic cooperation between ASEAN and China were the main focus of the 12th China-ASEAN Conference on People to People Friendship Organisations (CACPPFO) held in Bandung city, Indonesia, on November 12.
The 25th ASEAN Transport Ministers’ Meeting (ATM 25) and related meetings have been a success with the signing of a number of important agreements to facilitate air, maritime and land transportation, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The told a press conference in Hanoi on November 15.
ASEAN defence ministers and their counterparts from China, Japan and the US held informal meetings on November 17, in the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ambassador Tran Duc Binh, head of Vietnam's permanent mission to ASEAN, has attended the 9th Meeting of the Joint Council of the ASEAN – China Centre (ACC) in Xian, China.
Tuan expressed his confidence that LH, with its expertise and experience, would swiftly implement the urban area project, contributing to a modern urban landscape for the province.
With its strategic location, abundant workforce, and modern infrastructure, Vietnam holds significant potential to become a leading centre for power and electronics production in the region and the world.
The renewable energy workforce training and development centre, invested by Germany's GEO Group, is expected to be a cornerstone in shaping Binh Dinh as a renewable energy and innovation hub in central Vietnam, meeting the growing demand for skilled technical personnel in offshore wind, solar farms, and green hydrogen projects.
A notable trend is the shift toward satellite regions. With land scarcity and soaring prices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, investors are eyeing provinces like Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong, which are benefiting from improved technical infrastructure and transport connectivity.
To further strengthen private-sector innovation, Bac Ninh plans to accelerate administrative reforms, build a digital, service-oriented government, and develop an integrated innovation ecosystem that connects businesses with domestic and international institutions, universities, and experts.
The participation of H&M, one of the world's largest fashion corporations, in Vietnam International Sourcing 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City in early September is considered a special highlight, opening up many cooperation opportunities for Vietnamese businesses in the fashion, textiles and sustainable supply chains.
This latest order builds on a previous agreement signed at the Singapore Airshow last year for 40 engines, bringing the total number of Trent 7000 engines ordered by the airline to 80.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged that despite concerted efforts by ministries and local authorities in combating fake and substandard goods, the situation remains highly complicated, attributing the persistent challenges to high profits luring numerous participants, increasingly sophisticated violations, limited resources within enforcement agencies.
The group also placed among the Top 5 energy companies in Southeast Asia and secured the top spot among the largest Vietnamese enterprises featured on the list.
The zone will cover 1,881 ha, comprising functional areas for production, logistics, trade and services, digital technology industry, information technology, and innovation.
Dung underlined several key objectives, including a comprehensive review of the legal framework governing SOEs, and called for updates that reflect international standards and support modern, transparent governance.
While the US market has become more difficult to access due to new tax policies, Australia could play the role of a trade cushion, helping to reduce shocks and maintain export momentum for Vietnam's shrimp industry.
Vietnam Cycle Expo 2025 will coincide with the Vietnam Sport Show 2025, an international exhibition on sports and outdoor entertainment, expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors in the three-day event.
Despite global economic uncertainties, Binh Duong has maintained strong momentum in both exports and industrial production during the first half of 2025.
An overview of Lao Cai province (Source: baochinhphu.vn) 
