Dong Thap’s Vision in the Era of Convergence - Solidarity – Innovation
(DTO) Amidst the powerful currents of the digital era, as the nation enters a new phase of development fueled by aspirations for prosperity and strength, Dong Thap stands before an unprecedented opportunity. This is a period of "favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony," enabling the province to clearly identify its path forward. It demands that the entire Party Committee, authorities, and people embrace a new mindset and innovative approaches to reposition Dong Thap within the regional and national landscape—rising powerfully, sustainably, and with a distinct identity, guided by the core values: Convergence - Solidarity - Innovation.
This is a long-term strategy that not only focuses on economic growth but places core emphasis on the people and their happiness.
Within that strategy, the aspiration for a prosperous land that gathers resources, nurtures innovation, and draws strength from unity becomes the driving force. The era of Convergence - Solidarity - Innovation is not a slogan, but a concrete action agenda to transform Dong Thap into a dynamic, adaptive, and sustainable economic center in the Mekong Delta.
CONVERGENCE - CLEAR ECONOMIC MOMENTUM FORMING A FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Dong Thap Province was established through the merger of the former Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces, covering nearly 6,000 km² with a population of more than 4.2 million. The province has a 32-kilometer coastline and over 50 kilometers of northern border.
With its strategic location, Dong Thap serves as a gateway to the Mekong Delta, connected to the Southeastern Key Economic Region through multiple arterial transport routes. The province is also home to some of the nation’s largest rice, fruit, and aquaculture production zones.
Dong Thap links Vietnam with Cambodia (bordering Prey Veng Province of Cambodia), and plays a crucial role in the region’s agricultural value chain. It continues to attract investment in transport infrastructure through major expressways such as Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong - My Thuan - An Huu - Cao Lanh - My An, paving the way for the province to become a regional agricultural logistics hub.
In terms of knowledge networks, the province is building a community of experts, intellectuals, and Dong Thap natives living in different places who remain committed to contributing to their hometown.
The administrative restructuring has opened up a broader, more coherent, and more interconnected development space for Đồng Tháp. This new space is not defined merely by land area or population size, but more importantly, by cognitive space, institutional space, and creative space.
Today, Dong Thap possesses all the factors needed to become a major regional connector linking the Mekong Delta with Southeast Vietnam, being a gateway for trade, rich in potential for ecological agriculture, cultural-historical tourism, and logistics services.
This expanded development space creates new room for investment, for transforming the growth model, and for restructuring the economy toward green, circular, and sustainable growth.
Looking back, it is clear that Dong Thap has mobilized the collective strength of its people to build essential foundations for development, fully demonstrated through the reclamation of the Dong Thap Muoi wetlands, the Agricultural Restructuring Program, the Go Cong Salinity Control Project, and the New-Style Rural Area Development Program.
That collective strength has transformed Dong Thap from a deeply flooded, acidic, barren land into one of the country’s most important agricultural production centers.
The shift in mindset, from agricultural production to an agricultural economy, has produced remarkable outcomes, generating strong momentum for socio-economic development.
Between 2020 and 2025, the province’s GRDP grew at an average of 5.4-5.5% per year, despite severe impacts from the COVID pandemic and global economic fluctuations. Per capita GRDP surpassed 85 million VND per year, a significant increase compared with the start of the term.
Notably, the economic structure has shifted positively. Agriculture now accounts for around 35%, while industry-construction and services continue to rise.
These achievements stem from persistent restructuring, expanding development space, and progressively moving away from a purely agricultural mindset; comprehensively reorganizing development zones; linking agriculture-industry-services; connecting the Dong Thap Muoi wetlands with economic, logistics, and trade corridors; and leveraging the province’s advantages in border geography, waterways, and distinctive ecological systems.
Dong Thap is forming new growth corridors centered on high-tech agriculture, agro-processing industries, logistics, trade-services, and border economy. This convergence creates new growth potential, enabling the province not only to “move faster” but also to “go farther.”
SOLIDARITY - THE SOCIO-POLITICAL FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The strength drawn from the people has long been a source of pride for Dong Thap, shaping a development vision that leaves no one behind.
Upholding the principle of “a government that serves the people,” the province has secured strong public consensus in carrying out breakthrough projects, including building a clean, strong, and comprehensive Party organization and political system; promoting the strength of great national unity; and inspiring the people’s aspirations for development and their spirit of self-reliance and self-strengthening.
By 2030, Dong Thap aims to become a province with rapidly developing industries; a pioneer in ecological agriculture, modern rural development, and progressive farmers; a leading locality in the Mekong Delta; with improved living standards, social and cultural advancement, and firmly guaranteed national defense and security.
By 2045, the vision is to become the Mekong Delta’s center for modern agriculture and ecological tourism, a national leader in some agricultural sectors, an advanced industrial hub, and a desirable place to live, where residents enjoy prosperity and happiness.
If convergence is the necessary condition, then solidarity is the sufficient one, transforming potential into reality. In practice, Dong Thap’s achievements in recent years stem from strong political consensus and the solid support from the people and the business community.
From wartime to peacetime, from hardship to innovation, the spirit of affection, unity, and shared purpose has been the bond that holds the community together, shaping the distinct character of Dong Thap’s people.
Solidarity is strength and the source of all socio-economic achievements of the past term, built by the Provincial Party Committee through dialogue, partnership, and trust-building, particularly the synergy among key development actors: between the Party and the People, the State and enterprises, urban and rural areas, and tradition and modernity.
These values are reflected in measurable outcomes: total social investment capital in 2025 exceeded 21 trillion VND; more than 2,400 new enterprises were established, a sharp increase from previous years; and over 55,000 workers secured employment.
These figures demonstrate not only the government’s administrative efforts, but more importantly, the social consensus and the confidence of the business community and residents in the province’s development direction.
Moreover, solidarity is expressed through diversity, respect for differences, and a shared commitment to enhancing people’s quality of life and fostering rapid, sustainable local development.
From this spirit of solidarity, many innovative models bearing Dong Thap’s signature have emerged: the Farmers’ Clubhouses, Entrepreneurs’ Coffee Sessions, and Farmer Start-up Initiatives. These models foster self-reliance and self-strengthening, as well as empower residents as key actors in socio-economic development.
The Clubhouse model, where residents voluntarily associate to share experience and work together in production, strengthens community solidarity, neighborly bonds, and overall quality of life, contributing significantly to the New-Style Rural Area Development Program.
Solidarity is also evident in agricultural development. Value-chain linkages and new-style cooperatives have helped shift production mindsets, empower the people, and move from “producing what we have” to “producing what the market needs.” This is the firm social foundation upon which Dong Thap builds sustainable development.
INNOVATION - THE DRIVING FORCE FOR DEVELOPMENT
For the 2025-2030 period, Dong Thap has identified five strategic breakthroughs:
(1) Developing modern, climate-adaptive, and interconnected transport infrastructure, with emphasis on cross-border and multimodal logistics systems to position Dong Thap as a central transit hub of the Mekong subregion;
(2) Building an ecological, modern, high-tech agricultural sector, linked to processing industries, value chains, and export markets;
(3) Accelerating industrial development toward modernity and sustainability, making it a major engine of economic growth;
(4) Developing a high-quality human resources base;
(5) Promoting the application of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation across priority industries and state administration.
Central to these priorities is the recognition that innovation is indispensable, a pivotal driver for breakthrough development. It places people at the center, culture as the foundation, and innovation as the driving force, creating combined strength to flexibly adapt to rapid shifts in domestic and global contexts.
The province’s vision for digital transformation and the green economy is to shift from “agricultural production” to “the agricultural economy.”
Smart agriculture integrates advanced technologies into the cultivation of key local products, boosting value-added outcomes; maintains the top position in the Provincial Competitiveness Index through the “Government accompanies businesses” model; and utilizes agricultural by-products to create new products and reduce environmental impact. Dong Thap also aims to spur ecological and agricultural tourism rooted in local cultural identity, with people and culture as the core attractors.
The province has clearly identified the opportunities and challenges of this pivotal stage as it joins the nation in pursuing strategic socio-economic development goals.
It seeks to leverage every opportunity, maximize potential and advantages, and mobilize resources efficiently, grounded in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, to accelerate development, aiming for green, sustainable, climate-resilient growth, with an aspiration toward double-digit expansion.
Guided by the principle of “Comprehensive - Focused - Connected - Breakthrough - Sustainable Development,” Dong Thap implements tasks and solutions across all sectors and localities.
It adheres closely to provincial planning, development orientations, and national directives to identify breakthrough initiatives, shape development pillars, and form new growth zones and key economic corridors, enabling rapid, transformative progress.
Economic development is closely linked with national defense, security, cultural and educational advancement, social welfare, and environmental protection. Dong Thap continues to shape its cultural identity and human values based on the core traits of “Affection, Dynamism, Creativity.”
The province further mobilizes the strength of all social groups, both inside and outside the province, fostering people’s trust, strengthening the great national unity bloc, and deepening the bond between the Party and the people.
It empowers the people, self-reliance, and cooperation in development and security efforts, affirming that the people are the central actors in policymaking, implementation, and safeguarding development achievements.
The Party’s comprehensive leadership role is upheld. The government is built to be friendly, collaborative, and service-oriented. The performance of elected bodies is strengthened, shaping a proactive, enabling, and people-centered administration that accompanies businesses.
First and foremost, the activities of People’s Councils at all levels must be renewed toward becoming policy-shaping bodies within the government structure. This includes effectively organizing statutory sessions, improving the quality of resolution issuance and oversight activities, and ensuring democratic and transparent discussions and inquiries.
Public engagement and response to voter concerns are carried out effectively.
In parallel, the province affirms that innovation must be closely tied to digital transformation, administrative reform, and the building of a growth-driven, service-oriented government.
Innovation also means renewing traditional values, transforming culture into an essential internal resource for development; linking economic growth with heritage preservation, ecological protection, and human development.
The goal is to create a transparent, enabling environment where residents and businesses feel secure to invest, produce, and conduct business.
DONG THAP’S ASPIRATION - FOR THE HAPPINESS OF ITS PEOPLE
Dong Thap’s vision in the era of Convergence - Solidarity - Innovation is not a slogan, but a goal measured by the satisfaction of its people, by quality of life, by social trust, and by the province’s growing stature within the region and the country.
Guided by the principles of comprehensiveness, focus, connectivity, breakthrough, and sustainable development, the province aims for an average annual GRDP growth of around 9%, with per capita income reaching 115-120 million VND, striving to become a dynamic and sustainable growth center of the Mekong Delta by 2030. In the coming time, the Provincial Party Committee and the people of Dong Thap are determined to effectively implement the following key solutions:
First, development must be grounded in regional convergence and connectivity, not isolated growth. All planning and investment programs must be aligned with the overall development strategy of the Mekong Delta and the nation.
Second, people and Dong Thap’s cultural identity must remain at the center, the foundation and the driving force of development. Economic progress must go hand in hand with improving quality of life, ensuring social welfare, and preserving both cultural identity and ecological balance.
Third, the province will continue to break through in administrative reform and digital transformation, building a streamlined, efficient, and effective governance system, emphasizing the accountability of leaders, and using people and business satisfaction as key performance indicators.
Fourth, focus will be placed on developing sectors with competitive advantages: high-tech agriculture, processing industries, logistics, and ecological tourism, while fostering the startup ecosystem and innovation.
Fifth, the great national unity bloc will continue to be strengthened. Strong social consensus in implementing major policies must be fostered, which is considered a uniquely vital resource for sustainable development.
With its revolutionary tradition, profound cultural identity, and an innovative spirit entering a new era under the overarching vision of “Convergence - Solidarity - Innovation,” we can place full confidence that Dong Thap will continue to advance rapidly and sustainably, improve the quality of life for its people, move toward becoming a prosperous, thriving province, contributing to the realization of the national aspiration for “a strong and prosperous Vietnam by 2045.”
By NGO CHI CUONG - PROVINCIAL PARTY COMMITTEE SECRETARY
Translated by ANH DUC
