Lam Dong Removes Bottlenecks to Unlock New Growth Drivers

Removing Bottlenecks to Unlock Development Resources

Despite continued uncertainty in the global economy, Lam Dong maintained positive growth momentum during the first half of 2026.

The province's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is estimated to have expanded by 7.97 percent, with industry and construction growing by 9.2 percent, services by 8.65 percent, and agriculture, forestry and fisheries by 5.3 percent. State budget revenue reached approximately VND 18.6 trillion, while total social investment climbed to VND 51.2 trillion, up 12.7 percent year on year.

These results reflect the concerted efforts of the entire political system in steering socio-economic development. However, provincial authorities acknowledge that achieving higher growth in the coming years will require addressing persistent constraints, particularly in public investment, infrastructure, land management, administrative reform and the overall investment climate.

Among all development resources, public investment continues to serve as the province's principal catalyst for mobilizing broader economic activity.

According to Le Ngoc Tien, Director of the Lam Dong Department of Finance, public investment in the province's new development phase is expected to go beyond infrastructure construction and serve as catalytic capital to attract greater private sector investment.

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Alongside allocating capital for strategic projects, the province is focusing on removing bottlenecks related to site clearance, completing investment procedures, improving the business environment and strengthening the accountability of project owners to accelerate public investment disbursement and create additional room for economic growth.

Le Ngoc Tien, Director of the Lam Dong Department of Finance

Several strategically important projects are currently being accelerated, including the Bao Loc–Lien Khuong, Tan Phu–Bao Loc and Gia Nghia–Chon Thanh expressways, the expansion of Lien Khuong International Airport, major reservoir projects and resettlement areas supporting land clearance.

These projects are expected to generate significant spillover effects by expanding development space, strengthening regional connectivity and enhancing the province's competitiveness.

Nevertheless, public investment disbursement remains one of the province's key challenges. Delays in compensation and land clearance, lengthy investment procedures and coordination issues following administrative restructuring have continued to affect implementation progress.

Land resources and spatial planning also represent critical development assets. Following the expansion of its administrative boundaries, Lam Dong now possesses a larger land area, population and development space, creating favorable conditions for the emergence of new growth poles.

However, these advantages can only be fully realized through synchronized planning, efficient land use and transparent, streamlined land administration.

The province's investment environment has continued to improve. During the first six months of the year, around 2,600 new enterprises were established with total registered capital exceeding VND 12 trillion, representing a sharp increase from the same period last year.

Lam Dong also attracted 35 new investment projects with combined registered capital of more than VND 56.1 trillion, including several large-scale developments in industry, infrastructure and services.

According to Le Ngoc Tien, the province's priority is no longer simply attracting more investment projects, but improving the quality of investment flows by prioritizing sectors capable of generating high added value, including processing industries, high-tech agriculture, logistics, digital transformation, clean energy and high-quality tourism.

These sectors are expected to strengthen productivity, competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.

Creating New Engines of Double-digit Growth

While public investment and infrastructure remain immediate growth drivers, Lam Dong sees science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and private sector development as the foundation for sustainable long-term growth.

During the first half of 2026, provincial authorities identified the implementation of central government resolutions on science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and private sector development as key priorities for building a more dynamic and resilient economy.

These policies will also provide the basis for designing development strategies suited to the province's new stage of growth.

Agriculture continues to be one of Lam Dong's strongest competitive advantages.

With approximately 109,500 hectares under high-tech agricultural production, including nearly 1,400 hectares applying smart farming technologies, the province remains one of Vietnam's leading high-tech agricultural hubs.

However, authorities believe there is still considerable room to increase value creation through deeper processing, stronger branding and closer integration across agricultural value chains.

Encouraging greater private investment in agricultural processing, logistics, post-harvest preservation and export market expansion will play a vital role in increasing product value, improving rural incomes and promoting sustainable rural development.

Industry is also steadily reinforcing its role as a key growth engine. During the first half of the year, industrial production value rose 9.46 percent, while the industrial production index increased 8.7 percent, supported by sustained growth in several key manufacturing sectors.

Meanwhile, the province continues working to accelerate industrial park infrastructure development, improve occupancy rates and attract more large-scale manufacturing projects.

The services and tourism sectors have likewise maintained strong momentum, welcoming nearly 12 million visitors in the first six months of 2026, an increase of 18.1 percent year on year, including approximately 825,000 international arrivals.

Following the expansion of its administrative boundaries, Lam Dong now offers an integrated tourism landscape stretching from the Central Highlands to the coast, creating favorable conditions for the development of inter-regional tourism products, eco-tourism, agricultural tourism, cultural experiences and high-end resorts.

To realize these opportunities, investment will remain the decisive factor.

Under the province's medium-term investment plan for 2026–2030, approximately VND 125 trillion in public investment is expected to be allocated—more than 50 percent higher than the previous period.

At the same time, 18 strategic projects with a combined investment value of around VND 158 trillion will be implemented through a combination of state budget funding, central government support, public-private partnerships (PPP) and private investment.

According to Le Ngoc Tien, this investment scale will not only meet infrastructure demands but also create new growth poles, strengthen regional connectivity, attract investment and maximize the province's competitive advantages.

Ultimately, he emphasized, success will depend on directing resources toward priority sectors and ensuring efficient use to generate stronger spillover effects for the private sector.

Experience shows that every project brought back on track creates new development opportunities; every administrative procedure simplified strengthens investor confidence; and every transport corridor completed expands development space across the region.

With growing advantages in geographical scale, strategic location and development potential, Lam Dong is well positioned to emerge as a new growth center for Vietnam's Central Highlands and South Central Coast.

Achieving that vision will require continued institutional reform, comprehensive planning, synchronized infrastructure development, an improved investment climate and stronger contributions from businesses, science, technology and innovation.