Hoa Binh province’s economy posted an impressive Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate of 12.67% in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 12.76% year-on-year increase, the highest rate recorded since the beginning of the current tenure, according to the provincial Statistics Office. This robust growth reflects years of strategic groundwork and sets a strong foundation for the province’s annual growth target of over 10%.
The implementation of key projects has contributed to promoting the province's economic growth. Photo: Construction of a road which passes through Cao Son commune (Luong Son district) is underway.
By sector, the industry and construction segment led the way, expanding by
27.18% and contributing 9.92 percentage points to the overall growth. Within
this, industrial output alone surged by 33.1%, accounting for 9.4 percentage
points. Meanwhile, the agro-forestry and fisheries sector grew by 4.19%
year-on-year, contributing 0.76 percentage points, and the services sector
expanded by 5.91%, adding 2.37 percentage points.
The service sector, which makes up about 34.6% of the province’s GRDP, received
a significant boost thanks to the launch of new tourism destinations. The
province has made key investments in port infrastructure and road systems
surrounding the Hoa Binh Lake tourist site, while also restoring cultural and
historical landmarks to attract more visitors. These developments have also
driven notable growth in related industries: wholesale and retail trade
increased by 8.93%, accommodation and food services by 17.36%, and
transportation by 21.09%.
Although Q1 marks the beginning of a new agricultural crop, high-efficiency
production models and value chains continued to thrive. Authorities have also
maintained a strong focus on ensuring food safety and the quality of
agricultural inputs. Hoa Binh currently boasts 158 One Commune One Product
(OCOP) items rated between 3 and 4 stars, including seven products that have
been shipped abroad, further bolstering the province’s agricultural output.
Nguyen Khanh Son, deputy head of the provincial Statistics Office, emphasised
that this strong performance was not a short-term spike but rather the result
of sustained, long-term planning and consistent effort.
Hoa Binh aims to achieve a minimum growth rate of 10% in 2025, surpassing the
national target. To meet this goal, provincial authorities have instructed
departments and localities to conduct thorough assessments, enhance forecasting
capabilities, and deploy timely and effective solutions.
Key measures include accelerating investment in transport, industrial park
infrastructure, and digital transformation, while assigning clear growth
targets to each sector and locality with specific quarterly and biannual scenarios.
Building on the momentum from Q1, Hoa Binh anticipates strong growth in Q2 as
well. The province plans to commence several major projects, including the Xuan
Thien Hoa Binh lime and light powder production plant, new golf courses and
urban development projects in Luong Son district and Hoa Binh city, and a
large-scale eco-tourism and resort complex by Sun Group. At the same time,
local authority will continue to roll out measures to stimulate domestic
consumption, renew trade promotion activities, and ramp up export efforts,
particularly targeting key international markets.
However, Son also acknowledged several ongoing challenges.
External factors, such as US tariff policies, have negatively impacted export
performance. Meanwhile, delays in land clearance, public investment
disbursement, and the implementation of national target programmes remain
obstacles to sustained economic progress.
To maintain growth momentum, he stressed the need to further improve the local
business climate, attract more investment, and accelerate the development of
the processing and manufacturing industries. Continued support for agriculture
and services will also be essential, along with bold and timely actions to
resolve bottlenecks and fast-track public investment, especially for large-scale
and strategic provincial projects, Son added.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
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.
