Dien Bien promotes digital transformation in green economic development

Restructuring agriculture, building commodity production zones

After a determined leadership term, Dien Bien has made remarkable progress in economic development, particularly in sustainable agriculture and forestry, integrating science and technology applications with environmental protection to lay the foundation for the next stage of growth.

Looking back on the past five years, despite numerous challenges, the Provincial Party Committee and local authorities of Dien Bien have upheld solidarity and innovation, effectively harnessing the province’s potential and advantages. The local economy has maintained a steady growth rate, outperforming the regional average. From 2021-2025, Dien Bien’s average annual economic growth rate reached 8.76%, exceeding the target set by the resolution. The province’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2025 is estimated at 17.235 trillion VND, with per capita GRDP reaching approximately 54 million VND - a rise of more than 62% compared to 2020.

The province’s economic structure has shifted in the right direction: the agriculture - forestry - fishery sector now accounts for only 13.65%, industry - construction makes up 23.12%, and services exceed 59%. Budget revenue reached VND 2,062 billion, achieving 103% of the target for the term. These figures clearly demonstrate that Dien Bien’s economy has entered a phase of strong transformation, with the agroforestry sector continuing to play an essential role.

During the past term, the province’s agricultural restructuring has been closely directed by the Party and local authorities, in line with the national new rural development program. Crops and livestock have been reorganized to develop key product groups such as rice, tea, coffee, macadamia, rubber, and medicinal plants. Total grain output reached nearly 295,000 tons, exceeding the plan by over 5%, while livestock production remained stable, with the herd growth rate averaging 2.6% per year.

Food security has been ensured, and rural livelihoods have continued to improve. Dien Bien has focused on expanding concentrated production zones linked to processing facilities. Many new-style cooperatives have been established, forming value chains that connect production, processing, and consumption, thereby increasing the value of agricultural products. By 2025, the province will have more than 370 cooperatives with total registered capital exceeding VND 1,000 billion - a 1.5-fold increase compared to the beginning of the term.

At the same time, the forest coverage rate has reached 45.5%, with projects on forest protection, regeneration, and production forest planting being implemented synchronously. Many forest-based economic models associated with macadamia trees, large timber species, and medicinal plants have begun to show positive results, opening up sustainable livelihood opportunities for upland communities.

Lo Van Phung, a resident of Phung village in Tuan Giao commune, shared: “Each household only needs about 10 macadamia trees. From the second year of fruiting, each tree can yield 20–30 kilograms of fresh nuts, priced at around 40,000 VND per kilogram. With that, our people can definitely escape poverty.”

Currently, macadamia covers nearly 8,000 hectares across Dien Bien Province, with about 5,000 hectares concentrated in the five communes of Tuan Giao, Quai To, Muong Mun, Pu Nhung, and Chieng Sinh. Of this, more than 2,000 hectares are already under harvest.

Effective production models are being replicated widely, while the number of communes and villages meeting the criteria for new-style, advanced, and model rural development has surpassed targets. The province has maximized support policies for linkage projects and cooperatives, offering up to 3 billion VND per linkage model and 1 billion VND per community-based production model, particularly for high-value industrial crops like macadamia and coffee grown on sloped terrain.

In the communes of Tuan Giao, Quai To, Muong Mun, Pu Nhung, and Chieng Sinh, the government has supported over 100 macadamia cultivation models, with total funding reaching nearly 10 billion VND, contributing significantly to agricultural restructuring.

Digital transformation in agricultural production

Dien Bien has been accelerating the application of science, technology, and digital transformation in agriculture. Digital infrastructure has been comprehensively invested, with 72% of the population using the Internet and 3G/4G coverage reaching nearly the entire province. The open data portal and smart urban monitoring system have improved management efficiency, paving the way for a digital agricultural economy.

Alongside agricultural restructuring, the processing industry has also expanded, with the average industrial production index increasing by 12.8% per year. Numerous projects in agro-forestry processing and renewable energy have been implemented, forming integrated value chains of raw materials, processing, and services.

Dien Bien is gradually zoning agricultural production based on ecological regions, promoting organic farming, watershed protection, and reforestation to adapt to climate change. This momentum marks a new direction: shifting from small-scale production to value chains, from extensive to quality-based growth - toward an ecological, technology-driven, environmentally friendly agriculture that is green, intelligent, and sustainable.

To realize the “green dream,” Mr.  Le Thanh Do, Chairman of the Dien Bien Provincial People’s Committee, said that over the past term, the province has focused on transforming local awareness about agricultural economic development. Many localities have achieved effective production models - notably Tuan Giao, Quai To, Muong Mun, Chieng Sinh, and Pu Nhung communes, where sloping land has been converted to macadamia and coffee cultivation; smart rice farming models have been applied in Muong Thanh field; and pineapple farming has developed in Muong Nha and Na Sang communes.

Restructuring the agricultural sector in tandem with building new-style rural areas has created strong development momentum. The proportion of communes and villages meeting the criteria for new-style, advanced, and model rural areas has surpassed the 2020-2025 targets. The forestry sector has also received attention, with the forest coverage rate rising above 45%.

Provincial support policies, ranging from community projects to enterprise-linked models and the application of science and technology, have driven crop restructuring and improved production efficiency. Under Decision No. 45 of the Provincial People’s Committee, the maximum support for a linkage model under the national target program is 3 billion VND, while community production models can receive up to 1 billion VND.

This provides an important basis for effectively utilizing national target program funds to restructure crops on sloping land, converting low-yield areas into high-value industrial crops such as macadamia, coffee, or fruit trees. In Tuan Giao, Quai To, Muong Mun, Pu Nhung, and Chieng Sinh communes alone, the State has supported more than 100 macadamia-growing models with a total funding of nearly 10 billion VND.

Chairman Do added that for the 2025-2030 term, Dien Bien aims for green, smart, and sustainable development. Successful production models will be replicated, and crop restructuring on sloping land will target 40,000 ha of macadamia and 20,000 ha of coffee. The province will also promote technology adoption, smart rice farming, and carbon certification assessment to enhance productivity, reduce emissions, and increase economic value. 

Agriculture and rural development will remain the foundation for socio-economic growth, guided by the principle: agriculture as the pillar - developing rapidly, sustainably, and in harmony with green and smart growth.

$ 1 = VND 26.114 - Source: Vietcombank.