With its vast forest land, Da Bac district has focused on reforestation and developing forest economy over the past few years to improve livelihoods and increase income for local residents.
People in Rang village, Cao Son commune have got better
incomes through forest planting.
Cao Son is one of the communes that has seen significant growth in its forest
economy, with nearly 2,530 ha of forest, including over 1,340 ha of planted
forest. In 2024, the commune harvested 84.6 ha of production forest that had
reached the harvesting cycle, generating a total revenue of 10.7 billion VND
(420,000 USD) from forestry activities.
Vice Chairman of the Cao Son People's Committee Ban Van Xuan
said that local residents are further engaged in forest economic development.
As a result, the harvesting of young timber has decreased, with many households
waiting until their trees are 6 to 7 years old for better economic value.
Recently, responding to the commune’s tree planting festival, the commune
successfully plante 9,360 trees. It is expected to plant 78 ha of forest in
2025.
In the commune’s Rang village, forestry planting is the primary source of
income for residents, with over 200 ha of production forest.
Luong Van Hau, head of the village, noted that 2024 marks a
significant harvesting period for villagers, with more than 40 ha ready for
harvest. With a planting cycle of 6 to 7 years, each hectare of planted trees
yields an income of 75 to 80 million VND. After harvesting, villagers promptly
clear the land to replant for a new cycle, focusing on species such as acacia,
bodhi, and eucalyptus.
Reforestation is not only for timber but also serves as
pastureland for livestock, Hau said.
Tan Minh commune is also thriving in production forest planting.
Chairman of the commune People's Committee Quach Cong Khang said that due to
Typhoon Yagi in 2024, over 200 ha of forest in the commune were damaged, and
growers had to harvest young timber in many areas. After the Lunar New Year
celebration, residents focused on replanting these areas.
The commune targeted to plant 100 ha of forest in 2025 but so
far this year, it has planted 245 ha already, mostly acacia and bodhi species.
Additionally, the commune is surveying to pilot
cinnamon planting in several villages. The local authorities encourage
residents to grow larger timber species to enhance economic efficiency in the
coming time while utilising forested hills for compatible livestock farming.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Da Bac district,
the district plans to plant over 34,000 saplings of various types. With its
advantages, Da Bac identified that developing the forest economy is crucial for
increasing people' incomes. Therefore, the district has directed efforts to
strengthen forest protection, establish new production forests and protection,
gradually transforming small timber forests into large timber production areas
to improve forest quality and productivity.
Amid efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus, Hoa Binh province has intensified measures to address challenges in land clearance, resettlement support, and infrastructure investment, aiming to speed up the progress of key projects.
Hoa Binh province has posted an unprecedented economic growth rate of 12.76% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its highest quarterly performance to date and positioning it as the second fastest-growing locality in the country, trailing only Bac Giang province.
Under current regulations, products in the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme that are rated three stars or higher must undergo re-evaluation every three months. However, in reality, some of these products fail to consistently meet the required standards, raising concerns about the sustainability of their OCOP certification. This underscores the urgent need for producers to enhance product quality and gradually develop their OCOP products into strong, marketable brands.
In 2019, the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) programme took root in Yen Thuy district. At the time, local products lacked branding, packaging, and labels, mostly sold in raw form through small-scale distribution. However, amid these challenges was a crucial advantage: farmers' willingness to change, experiment with standardised processes, and learn to package and price products based on value, not just weight.
Once barely visible on the northern region’s tourism map, Hoa Binh province welcomed 4.3 million visitors last year, generating a tourism revenue of nearly 4.74 trillion VND (USD), according for 31% of its GDRP. Beyond mere statistics, the milestone demonstrates that tourism and services have become new growth engines for the locality.
