Di Linh Plateau: From Coffee Capital to a Vision of a “Green AI Valley”
Long known for its endless tea hills and vast coffee plantations, Di Linh is being envisioned as a “Living Lab” — a place where farmland is not only for cultivation, but also a source of data to power artificial intelligence. It is a daring vision aimed at transforming Di Linh into a model satellite city in the era of Industry 4.0.
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Reaching Toward High Technology
For decades, Di Linh has often been perceived merely as a transit point on the way to Da Lat or simply an agricultural region. Its lush tea hills and fragrant robusta coffee farms have been the area’s hallmark.
Today, however, the region’s economic outlook is brightening following its selection as the venue for the international workshop “New Strategies and Vision for the Development of the Di Linh Plateau.” The workshop sought ideas and scientific grounding to position Di Linh as a modern, well-planned urban area ready to capture investment in smart agriculture.
Experts at the event outlined an ambitious roadmap: Di Linh should not only be “different,” but should evolve into a sustainably developed and breakthrough region built upon technological foundations.
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Turning Farmland into AI “Data Mines”
In the district’s regional planning project through 2035, with a vision toward 2050, planners proposed several key pillars for Di Linh’s breakthrough — the most notable being the transformation of agricultural fields into AI “data mines.”
Nguyen Do Dung, CEO of EnCity, a leading urban strategy consultancy, described the opportunity as transformative:
“Di Linh’s advantage lies in the combination of agriculture and urban development. Over the next 10–20 years, AI and automation will penetrate every aspect of life. The real driver of innovation will be who owns the cheapest, most stable and green computing capacity.”
Unlike most industries, agricultural AI requires massive real-world datasets. Di Linh naturally possesses what no greenhouse laboratory can provide: diverse soil types, water sources, microclimates, biodiversity, and real farming practices.
This represents a “gold mine” for training algorithms that can optimize agricultural value chains — forming the basis for a green AI training hub. Dung emphasized that Di Linh should become a “Living Lab”, where agricultural technologies are conceived, tested and applied directly in real conditions before being scaled globally.
Defining a Distinct Identity
To realize the vision of a model “technology valley,” Dung proposed six core planning principles. These focus on prioritizing circular agriculture integrated with AI, using technology to enhance natural assets instead of over-urbanizing, and building smart infrastructure — high-speed internet, modern logistics and clean energy — all supported by flexible land-use mechanisms suitable for the digital economy.
Equally important is establishing a capable coordinating organization authorized to attract investment while developing a high-quality living environment to retain talent and experts.
The key question, experts noted, is: What competitive advantages make Di Linh a superior choice for investors compared to established hubs like Da Lat or Bao Loc?
Their answer: specialization.
If Da Lat is a tourism center and Bao Loc is an industrial city, then Di Linh should become a Research and Development (R&D) hub.
This positioning would attract technology groups seeking green data centers and IoT testbeds, agri-tech startups needing real-world environments, and eco-real-estate developers serving high-skilled professional communities.
The Key to Success
Even the best plans remain theoretical without political will. Di Linh currently benefits from strong provincial leadership attention. Lam Dong People’s Committee Chairman Ho Van Muoi has repeatedly stressed the urgency of modernizing the economic structure and applying science and technology to increase agricultural value. Green, sustainable urban development anchored in smart agriculture aligns closely with the province’s long-term trajectory.
Di Linh therefore stands at a pivotal moment. The vision of a unique satellite city — a “green Silicon Valley” in the heart of the plateau — is ambitious yet realistic. With bold ideas from experts and firm commitment from authorities, the coming decade may witness Di Linh’s transformation into a prominent destination for high-tech investment in Vietnam.