Lam Dong Provincial Planning: Addressing Growth Challenges
Lam Dong is entering a new phase of development with a broader strategic vision following its administrative merger. The provincial master plan for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050 (revised), is expected to serve as a driver of breakthrough growth and help address sustainable development challenges in a new era.
Choosing a focused, results-driven strategy
Planning experts are often wary of proposals that paint optimistic scenarios but lack feasibility. However, in Lam Dong, the current working atmosphere reflects a markedly different determination. The province’s economic blueprint must start from planning, and such planning must align with the national framework while preserving its unique identity.
A key factor boosting confidence in this planning process is the involvement of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the world’s leading strategy consulting firms. Its involvement suggests that Lam Dong is moving away from the traditional practice of spreading resources too thinly — an approach that often fragments budgets and undermines competitiveness. Instead, the province is pursuing a focused, results-driven strategy.
Architect Tran Minh Trung of Son Anh Co., Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City, commented:
“Adjusting the provincial plan this time is a golden opportunity for Lam Dong to redefine its position within the region and the nation. Choosing an internationally recognized consultant shows that the province is taking systematic steps to realize its breakthrough aspirations. It also reflects a broader development mindset, no longer constrained by previous administrative boundaries, especially in the context of administrative merger and regional connectivity.”
.jpg)
A model of 6 corridors, 7 zones, 18 clusters, and 5 specialized areas
To realize its ambitions, the consultant has proposed a highly structured development framework: one province, six corridors, seven zones, 18 clusters, and five specialized areas. This is expected to serve as the backbone for transforming natural resources into new competitive advantages through science, technology, and innovation.
The proposed targets are ambitious yet challenging: achieving a GRDP growth rate of 10.5–10.6% by 2030, with per capita GRDP reaching approximately VND 200–205 million per year.
To achieve these goals, the plan identifies three strategic pillars:
- Leveraging natural resources and energy advantages
- Promoting innovation and technology
- Developing high-end tourism and urban services
Notably, the vision of positioning Lam Dong as a “national green energy hub” is being concretized through the development of a stable energy base to meet immediate socio-economic demands.
The provincial master plan identifies three strategic pillars: leveraging natural resources and energy advantages; promoting innovation and technology; and developing high-end tourism and urban services.
A practical solution for sustainable development
At appraisal meetings, provincial leaders have demonstrated strong determination. Nguyen Hong Hai, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, emphasized that all departments, sectors, and localities must actively participate, ensuring that every figure in the plan is tied to feasible projects, specific resources, and clear accountability. The plan must not remain merely on paper.
The province is currently carrying out a comprehensive review of its data to avoid discrepancies. The Department of Finance and other relevant units have also collected feedback from all 15 departments, sectors and local administrative units. This broad consultation not only helps ensure legal compliance but also brings in practical input, making the plan more closely aligned with actual conditions.
At the same time, the province is classifying public investment and non-budget-funded projects, while identifying key projects that can drive growth and help capitalize on economies of scale after the merger.
Looking back over two years of implementing the previous plan, Lam Dong has achieved encouraging results: the economic structure has shifted in the right direction, while healthcare systems and infrastructure have developed in a more synchronized manner. However, as the development space expands, the previous framework has become increasingly inadequate.
The Lam Dong Provincial Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, is nearing completion and is expected to be officially announced soon. This revised plan is anticipated to provide a comprehensive framework for future growth. With the support of international consultants, strong determination from authorities, and public consensus, the proposed growth targets are expected to move beyond the planning stage and translate into a new development landscape and renewed vitality for Lam Dong in the coming years.