Following its merger, Thai Nguyen Province has expanded into a new development space with abundant potential and advantages. While the southern region continues to serve as the center for industry, high technology, and modern services, the northern region is being oriented to become a driving force for green economic development, ecological tourism, mineral processing industry, and sustainable forestry economy.
Ba Be Lake in Ba Be commune, Thai Nguyen Province, with abundant potential and advantages for development
This development orientation stems not only from existing potential but also from the province's long-term vision, aiming to effectively exploit resources, increase value, protect the environment, and create new growth drivers.
Awakening distinct advantages
The northern region of Thai Nguyen Province possesses many advantages that not every locality has. It is home to a distinctive system of cultural heritage along with pristine natural landscapes. Abundant natural resources continue to serve as an important foundation for development. Most notable is Ba Be Lake - Vietnam's largest natural freshwater lake - surrounded by Ba Be National Park with its rare primeval forest ecosystem.
This is a natural asset of special value, qualified to develop ecological tourism products, high-end resorts, scientific research, and environmental education.
Mineral processing at Bac Kan Non-Ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company
In addition to its tourism advantages, the northern region also possesses abundant mineral resources, including deposits of lead, zinc, iron, manganese, gold, cement-grade limestone, white stone, and quartz. These serve as important raw materials for the metallurgy, construction materials, and deep processing industries. Lead-zinc mines are concentrated mainly in Cho Don and Ngan Son, with forecast resources of about 3 million tons, rated as one of the country's largest lead-zinc mineral regions.
Iron and iron-manganese ore resources are forecast at about 22 million tons. Gold has been recorded at 17 mines and ore points, with forecast resources of about 39 tons. In addition, the region also has cement-grade limestone, white stone, and quartz, providing important raw materials for the construction materials industry and mineral processing.
In particular, the forest coverage rate in the northern region exceeds 73%; together with the Kim Hy and Nam Xuan Lac nature reserves, this is a prominent advantage for developing a sustainable forestry economy and under-canopy forest economy, and for gradually participating in the carbon credit market - a field opening up many opportunities amid the global trend toward green development.
Infrastructure paves the way, attracting new investment capital
While transportation was once seen as the biggest bottleneck, the northern region is now facing an opportunity for strong transformation thanks to a series of strategic infrastructure projects. The most important driving force is the Cho Moi - Bac Kan Expressway, targeted for basic completion in 2026, which will directly connect the region to the national expressway network.
Along with National Highway 3, National Highway 3B, National Highway 279, the Bac Kan - Ba Be - Na Hang route, and the planned investment in the Bac Kan - Cao Bang Expressway, the transportation system is gradually forming a complete inter-regional connectivity network, shortening transport time, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing the region's competitiveness.
Bac Kan - Ba Be Lake route, now complete, creating development space and attracting investment
In parallel with transportation development, the province has also planned nearly 1,500 hectares of industrial park land in Cho Moi, including Cho Moi 2, 3, 4, and 5 Industrial Parks. This will be a space to attract large-scale industrial projects, especially in deep processing, green industry, and supporting industries.
The energy foundation is also being strengthened with existing hydropower plants and the potential for wind and solar power development. This is a favorable condition for attracting industries with high energy demand that require a stable power supply, while also aligning with the trend toward clean energy development.
Boosting development investment
Unlike before, when resource advantages were mainly exploited in raw form, the province's development orientation for the new period is to raise added value through deep processing, apply modern technology, and develop toward a green economy.
In the industrial sector, the province prioritizes attracting non-ferrous metallurgy projects and deep processing of lead, zinc, and other valuable minerals in the Cho Don area, linked with advanced technology, low energy consumption, and compliance with strict environmental protection standards. The formation of deep processing complexes will not only improve resource exploitation efficiency but also promote the development of supporting industries, create jobs, and increase budget revenue.
Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Trinh Xuan Truong and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan present Investment Policy Approval Decisions and Investment Registration Certificates to enterprises at the July 2026 "Morning Tea with Entrepreneurs" Program
For tourism, the goal is not only to exploit the landscape but also to build Ba Be Lake into a leading ecological tourism center of the Northeast region. Projects such as high-end resorts, golf courses, entertainment and recreation services, community-based tourism, and experiential products linked with nature conservation will be priority areas for attracting investment.
In agriculture and forestry, the province is oriented toward high technology, a circular economy, and increased product value. Besides its large planted forest area, the region also has many specialty products such as oranges, tangerines, fragrant winter melon, canna, and canna vermicelli - products with great potential for expanding raw material areas, investing in deep processing, building brands, and developing export markets.
Provincial leaders presenting Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation to units implementing investment in the northern region of Thai Nguyen Province
In particular, amid the trend of many countries and businesses pursuing Net Zero emissions targets, the advantage of forest resources will help the northern region attract investment capital that meets environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria; develop the under-canopy forest economy and forest environmental services; and gradually participate in the carbon credit market. This is seen as a new direction that both generates sustainable revenue and helps conserve natural resources.
It can be seen that the northern region of Thai Nguyen Province is gathering all the conditions needed to develop with its own identity, shifting clearly from exploiting existing advantages to promoting resource value through technology, innovation, and sustainable development.
With the province's clear orientation, increasingly complete infrastructure, and open investment attraction policies, the northern region not only has the conditions to become a driving force for Thai Nguyen Province's green economic development but also promises to be an attractive destination for investors in the new development period.