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.
The current appearance of Hoa Binh city stands
as a testament to its transformation through economic restructuring.
Policy-driven
transformation
In Giang Mo Village, Binh Thanh commune (Cao
Phong), a homestay was recently inaugurated. Its owner Luong Van Tinh, formerly
a farmer, is rushing off his feet to welcome weekend visitors from Hanoi.
Not far away, the once-quiet road along Hoa Binh Lake now bustles with
tourist vehicles heading to picturesque resorts. A different Hoa Binh is
emerging-more vibrant, more attractive, and ready to become a new tourism hub
in the northern region.
The transformation has been driven by the
Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee’s Resolution No.09-NQ/TU dated
December 31, 2021, which identifies tourism – service an economic pillar with
the ambitious goal of transforming the province into the Northwestern region's
premier destination for resort tourism and cultural experiences.
In Mai Chau district, over 30 households have
shifted from rice cultivation and farming to operating homestays. The
traditional stilt houses maintain their authentic character while offering
modern comforts of electricity, wifi, and comfortable bedding. In the evenings,
tourists immerse themselves in bamboo dances accompanied by vibrant drum and
gong rhythms.
According to Vice Chairman of the district
People’s Committee Hoang Duc Minh, Mai Chau hosted some 210,000 tourist
arrivals, an impressive figure for a mountainous district.
Hoa Binh Lake, once a tranquil expanse
frequented only by fishing boats, now teems with cruise ships, motorboats, and
even kayakers navigating between small islands. Billed as "Ha Long Bay in
the mountains," the lake is gradually establishing itself as a unique
ecological and resort tourism destination in the north. Lake exploration tours
allow tourists to drift across the deep blue waters, fish from boats, and enjoy
freshly grilled fish on islands beside glowing charcoal stoves. Additionally,
numerous lakeside resorts have emerged, transforming the area into a tourism
paradise on the verge of flourishing.
Beyond community tourism, Hoa Binh has quickly
embraced new trends including lakeside resorts and luxury retreats, such as the
Phoenix Golf Course in Luong Son, which attracts visitors from Hanoi and
neighboring provinces. Forest meditation and yoga sessions, natural hot spring
baths, kayaking on the Da River, mountain climbing, and waterfall expeditions
cater to adventure enthusiasts
Tourism has transformed local livelihoods,
helping residents gain stable income while showcasing their ethnic culture to
visitors from everywhere.
Undercurrents
behind growth
If tourism represents the new growth engine,
then commerce and services are the gears operating behind the scenes,
propelling local economy forward with greater momentum. A few years ago, Hoa
Binh residents were familiar only with small traditional markets. Today,
supermarkets and shopping centers appear in the heart of the city and towns,
creating a more modern landscape. The total retail sales of goods and service
revenue in 2024 reached over 74 trillion VND, up 18% against the previous year.
Beyond expanding in scale, the province’s
commerce has established its unique identity through numerous OCOP products.
Cao Phong oranges, forest honey, can wine, and Shan tuyet tea—specialties once
familiar only locally—now appear on shelves in major supermarket chains and
e-commerce platforms like Postmart and Voso, reaching consumers nationwide.
Additionally, transportation and logistics have
boomed, facilitating the flow of goods and tourism development. The Hoa Binh -
Hanoi expressway and key transportation routes have shortened travel times and
significantly reduced logistics costs.
The development of commerce, tourism, and
logistics has generated impressive growth figures and created thousands of new
jobs.
According to Permanent Vice Chairman of the
provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan, the province’s GRDP per capita
reached 81 million VND in 2024 as compared to 64.7 million VND in 2022.
Services played a substantial role in this growth. If tourism provides the
initial impetus, commerce and services represent persistent currents carrying
this region into a new era. Hoa Binh is advancing along a new path where each
tourist footprint not only leaves an impression but transforms an entire
countryside.
From Mai Chau to Hoa Binh Lake, from Luong Son
to Kim Boi, new economic models have been developed, bringing changes to daily
lives. Hoa Binh is stepping beyond the well-worn path of a purely agricultural
mountainous province. However, challenges are on the horizon for the province
to develop sustainably and ensure no one is left behind during the development
process.
Three years may not be long for such a
transformation, but it's sufficient to affirm that Hoa Binh is no longer a
locality standing outside the major economic arena. The future of the province
will continue to be crafted by the people of this land.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
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.
