Located in the southern reaches of the Red River delta, Ninh Binh province is calling for investment in hi-tech industries and tourism development in order to create an impetus for its sustainable development.
Ninh Binh is bordered by Ha Nam province to the north, Nam Dinh province to the east and northeast, the Tonkin Gulf to the southeast and Hoa Binh province to the northwest, and Thanh Hoa province to the south.
The province has the typical topography of northern Vietnam mountainous areas, low-lying plains, coastal areas and foothills. It is accessible by national highways 1A, 10A, 12B, etc., and the north-south railway.
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| Boats ready for serving tourists in Trang An tourism complex, Ninh Binh province__Photo: Minh Duc/VNA |
Key industries calling for FDI
Vice Chairman of the Ninh Binh People’s Committee Nguyen Cao Son told the local newswire that in the first year of the re-establishment of the province in 1992, Ninh Binh only had 14 small industrial businesses with an industrial production value of nearly VND 50 billion (USD 2.08 million). To overcome difficulties, the province has efficiently utilized its potential and strengths to gradually shift from a self-supply economy dependent on backward agriculture to heavy industries manufacturing fertilizers, cement, steel and other construction materials.
During the 2011-20 period, the provincial authorities determined to create breakthroughs based on industrial production and completed Ninh Binh’s infrastructure facilities to attract investment projects to the province’s industrial parks. In particular, the province has attached special importance to the development of hi-tech, green and environmentally friendly industries, especially automobile assembling and manufacturing, electronics, mechanical engineering, and agricultural processing, which are considered as the pillar of the economy and an impetus for provincial sustainable development. Among those successful investment projects are the Hyundai Thanh Cong automobile No. 2 factory, camera module manufacturing plant and CFG Ninh Binh float glass factory.
To turn Ninh Binh into one of the country’s automobile manufacturing and supporting industry centers, provincial authorities have offered special investment incentives in support of the automobile supporting industry. For example, projects manufacturing supporting industry products for the automobile industry that are on the list of sectors eligible for special investment incentives and operate in the province’s industrial parks or clusters in areas facing socio-economic difficulties will be exempted from land rental for 15 years. Meanwhile, investors investing in the manufacturing of supporting industry products for the automobile industry in the province’s industrial parks or clusters will be entitled to corporate income tax exemption for four years since generating taxable income and 50-percent tax reduction in the subsequent nine years.
In the coming time, the province will continue calling for foreign investment from large corporations with high technology in manufacturing key industrial products and create a friendly, safe, public and transparent investment environment with the best conditions for investors. It will consider local residents and enterprises the heart of the province’s development cause with the motto “Provincial authorities stand side-by-side, listen to and remove difficulties and obstacles for investors”.
Furthermore, the province will simplify administrative procedures, improve the provincial competitiveness and hold monthly dialogues and biannual meetings between provincial authorities and investors. It will also seek solutions to make information on land, market, bank loans and technologies available for investors.
Hospitality - a pillar for green growth
With a wide range of beautiful natural landscapes and ecosystems, historical and cultural relics, Ninh Binh province is an ideal destination for cultural, historical and spiritual tourism.
The provincial hospitality has made full use of its potential to develop culinary tourism products and other tourist products associated with festivals, craft villages, countryside.
Tourist experts have suggested diversification of the province’s tourist products and make them more attractive in order to serve not only day and holiday tourists but also encourage them to make longer stays and spend more in the province.
Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu has recommended the province redesign and link all tourist products and develop night-time tourist products to bring new experience for tourists.
The Swiss Sustainable Tourism Program’s team leader Doughlas Hainsworth advised the province to survey market segments and tourist groups and update new trends of tourism to create unique tourism products bearing the province’s distinctive features.
In the meantime, Head of the Hanoi UNESCO Committee’s Culture Department Pham Thi Thanh Huong said the province should make eye-catching tourism brochures to promote the province’s images and specialties.
In order to turn tourism into a spearhead economy contributing to the province’s socio-economic development, the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism has introduced the province’s images through tourism promotion programs in the domestic market and delegations of farmtrip, presstrip, bloggers and youtubers and supported domestic and international film firms to shoot their films in tourism zones and destinations. The department has applied digital transformation in the management, developed the digital information and virtual tour guide systems, and offered free internet access in tourist spots. It has built the Ninh Binh tourism website in three languages and developed communications on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, and Twitter. The department has also posted more than 1,160 articles on and images of Ninh Binh on websites and digital platforms.
After visiting Ninh Binh province at the weekend, US tourist Sam Krueger told the Vietnam Law & Legal Forum magazine that “I liked Ninh Binh a lot. I thought it was beautiful and I just wanted to stay there. I went to Hang Mua, the ancient capital and Bich Dong pagoda. I also went on two boat rides to see the caves and lotus flowers. It was beautiful.”-
| Provincial facts Land area: 1,387 sq.km Administrative units: Ninh Binh and Tam Diep cities and six districts of Nho Quan, Gia Vien, Hoa Lu, Yen Mo, Yen Khanh and Kim Son Population: more than 1 million (the 2021 statistics) Ethnic minority groups: the Muong, Tay, Thai, Nung and Dao Socio-economic figures: - Foreign direct investment (FDI): 92 FDI projects totaling nearly USD 1.6 billion[1] - Import turnover: USD 2.28 billion (in eight months of 2022) - Export turnover: USD 2.1 billion (in eight months of 2022) - Gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate: VND 22.5 trillion (USD 940.4 million) or an increase of 3.53 percent in the first half of 2022 - Products bearing geographical indications: + Ninh Binh mountain goat meat + Dong Giao pineapple Tourism: - Must-see tourist attractions: + Cuc Phuong National Park (Asia’s Leading National Park honored by World Travel Award for the fourth consecutive year since 2019) + Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve (Vietnam’s ninth Ramsar site and the 2,360th Ramsar site in the world) + Trang An Landscape Complex - the world cultural and natural heritage site recognized by UNESCO) - covering Tam Coc-Bich Dong scenic spot and Hoa Lu ancient imperial capital + Thung Nham bird park + Yen Thang freshwater lake + Bich Dong pagoda - an ancient pagoda with classical oriental architecture + Phat Diem cathedral - also known as Phat Diem stone church + Mua cave complex - an area with cave systems and limestone mountains - Folk music genres: Ca tru - ceremonial singing (a world intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO); hat xam - blind busker’s singing; hat van - spiritual singing - Craft villages: Ninh Van (stone carving); Van Lam (embroidery); Kim Son (sedge mat weaving); and Phuc Loc (carpentry) - Tourists received: 2.47 million (including 28,700 foreign holidaymakers) in eight months of 2022 - Tourist accommodations: 695 hotels, guest houses, homestays - Festivals: + Hoa Lu festival - an annual ritual to mark the anniversary of the establishment of Dai Co Viet - the country’s first feudal state, and commemorate national heroes Le Dai Hanh and King Dinh Tien Hoang who built and defended the country + Trang An - Quy Minh Dai Vuong Festival - a ritual to commemorate saint Quy Minh Dai Vuong, a general under the reign of the 18th Hung King, and Tran Kings for their significant roles in founding and defending the nation (Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn and https://sodulich.ninhbinh.gov.vn) |
