Hoa Binh carves out a distinct spot on Vietnam’s new service map

5/7/2025 - 6:10:07 PM

Over the past three years, the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh has begun redefining its position on Vietnam’s service landscape with a series of distintive commercial models, from highland night markets, pedestrian-friendly streets, to logistics centres tied to local agricultural products.

Vi Hoa Binh supermarket in Tan Thinh ward is one of the first established in Hoa Binh city, playing a key role in boosting the province’s overall retail sales.

In Q1 2025, Hoa Binh’s total retail sales and consumer service revenue reached an estimated 20.1 trillion VND (804 million USD), up 13.7% year-on-year, the highest in three years. This rebound in domestic consumption has spurred notable momentum across local trade and service sectors.

In the urban core of Hoa Binh city, a new model combining commercial and tourism streets is taking shape, with specialised shops, eateries, and beverage outlets replacing once-closed storefronts.

Transformation is also visible in rural areas. Cao Phong market, once known for small-scale, fragmented trading, now boasts dedicated One Commune, One Product (OCOP) item counters, QR code scanning points, and even cashless POS terminals. E-commerce is steadily taking root, as the province continues to operate its own digital marketplace, despite challenges related to seasonal supply and product diversity.

The province welcomed 1.65 million tourists in Q1 2025, a 5.8% rise year-on-year, generating 1.68 trillion VND in revenue. Particularly notable was the sharp rise in international visitors, reaching 230,000 arrivals, reflecting the early success of Hoa Bình’s outreach and promotional campaigns abroad.

Key programmes, such as the development of Hoa Binh Lake National Tourist Area, partnerships with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and digital transformation in travel and accommodation, have given the local service sector a powerful boost. Young entrepreneurs and ethnic communities are increasingly venturing into tourism with offerings like Muong village homestays and self-guided trekking tours.

Despite these gains, Hoa Binh still faces challenges, including a relatively small market size, limited logistics infrastructure, and underperforming e-commerce platforms. Nonetheless, the province is moving with clear intent. The local People’s Committee has released a 2025 tourism development plan and is preparing a support framework for 2026–2030, with a strong focus on digital transformation in consumption and trade.

Duong Quoc Thang, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, stressed the need for a distinctive trade network and services rooted in local identity, designed first and foremost for Hoa Binh residents, before reaching outward to visitors and broader markets.

Six-month industrial production index estimated to rise 20%

According to data from the Hoa Binh Provincial Party Committee, the industrial production index for the first six months of 2025 is estimated to have increased by 20% compared to the same period last year. This marks the highest year-on-year growth rate for this period since 2020.

Exports exceeded 1.1 billion USD in 6 months

In the first six months of 2025, Hoa Binh province’s export turnover was estimated at 1.145 billion USD, marking an 18.11% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Import turnover was estimated at $ 804 million, a 17.15% increase, which helped the province maintain a positive trade balance.

The effectiveness of professional models of association and group in Tan Lac district

The lives of the ethnic minority farmers in Tan Lac district have gradually improved thanks to the new directions in agricultural production. This is a testament to the collective strength fostered through the professional associations and groups implemented by various levels of the district’s Farmers’ Union.

Building the brand of Muong village clean food

With the motto the "product quality comes first,” after nearly one year of establishment and operation, Muong village’s Clean Food Agricultural and Commercial Cooperative, located in Cau Hamlet, Hung Son Commune (Kim Boi district), has launched reputable, high-quality agricultural products to the market that are well-received by consumers. The products such as Muong village’s pork sausage, salt-cured chicken, and salt-cured pork hocks have gradually carved out a place in the market and they are on the path to obtaining the OCOP certification.

Hoa Binh ethnic farmers join forces through collective economic models

In the past, the phrase "bumper harvest, rock-bottom prices" was a familiar refrain for Vietnamese farmers engaged in fragmented, small-scale agriculture. But today, a new spirit is emerging across rural areas of Hoa Binh province - one of collaboration, organisation, and collective economic models that provide a stable foundation for production.

Maintaining farming area codes: Key to bringing Hoa Binh farm produce to global market

Maintaining growing area codes and packing facility codes in accordance with regulations is a mandatory requirement for agricultural products to be eligible for export. Recently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hoa Binh province has intensified technical supervision of designated farming areas and packing facilities to safeguard the "green passport" that enables its products to access international markets.