Redesigned Vinh Long forging ahead with vigor and determination
The Mekong Delta region of Vietnam is seeing a significant transformation with the merger of Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, and Ben Tre provinces. This new entity, Vinh Long Province, is set to become a major economic powerhouse with an ambitious growth target of at least 8% this year.
Agricultural Transformation
The province is focusing on restructuring agriculture towards high-tech, green, organic, and circular farming models. The aim is to enhance sustainability and value chain development. Livestock farming is being stabilized with large-scale, biosafe, organic models linked to supply chains to ensure food safety and economic efficiency. The merger facilitates restructuring of key agricultural products, particularly coconut, which dominates the Mekong Delta production with over 120,000 hectares under cultivation. The new province stresses adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and collaboration between businesses and scientific research to enhance competitiveness and sustainability.
Industrial Development
The province aims to build ecological industrial clusters aligned with ESG principles to support innovation-led industrial growth. The merger allows for coordinated industry and production chain restructuring, promoting environmentally friendly practices that boost domestic and international trade networks.
Export Activities
Emphasis is placed on expanding domestic and international trade networks to leverage agricultural and industrial strengths. Compliance with ESG and innovation-driven practices is key to maintaining competitive access to export markets, especially for high-value and organic agricultural products like coconut.
Infrastructure and Administrative Reform
Following the merger, Vinh Long has streamlined its administrative system and established one-stop service centers to facilitate business operations and public services without disruption. Improved infrastructure planning is underway to unify spatial planning, enhancing transport connectivity regionally, which will reduce logistics costs and enhance supply chain resilience for exporters and industries.
Tourism Development
While explicit recent details on tourism strategy are less highlighted in the sources, the merger and improved infrastructure support potential growth in tourism through better connectivity. The focus on sustainability and ecological clusters may also provide eco-tourism opportunities complementing the province’s agricultural and cultural assets.
A Promising Future
By the end of 2025, Vinh Long province is expected to have 119,270 hectares of coconut trees, leading the nation and accounting for nearly half of Vietnam's total coconut-growing area. Future connectivity will be further enhanced by the planned Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway, scheduled for groundbreaking in 2027, combined with the inland waterway system, offering optimal conditions for freight transportation.
The Rach Mieu 2 bridge connecting Tien Giang province is scheduled to open on September 2, shortening the travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and eastern coastal provinces. For the entire year 2025, Vinh Long's export value is projected to exceed $3.6 billion, marking a 7.94% increase on-year.
In the first half of 2025, the new Vinh Long Province is expected to have a total export value of $1.86 billion, up 17.6% on-year. The Vinh Long Department of Industry and Trade is working to support businesses in technological innovation, enhancing competitiveness, and boosting exports.
The merger of the three localities is believed to expand the development scope of the new Vinh Long towards the coast and transform it into a powerful growth hub for the Mekong Delta region and the country.
- The shift towards eco-friendly industrial clusters and the focus on innovation-driven practices in Vinh Long Province may attract businesses from various sectors, such as finance and sports, due to the province's ambitious growth target and improved infrastructure.
- With the projected increase in export value and the enhanced transportation network in Vinh Long Province, there may be lucrative opportunities for businesses engaged in sports sponsorship and merchandising, as well as finance institutions involved in international trade.
