Dong Thap: Exploiting advantages to develop border areas

Visit Chala Farm Ecological Garden in Hong Ngu ward.

Contribute to economic development in border areas

At Tan Hoa hamlet, Hong Ngu ward, the model combining agriculture and eco-tourism has been invested by Mr. Dinh Nhut Hoa with more than 10 billion VND (including land, seedlings, landscape...). The garden has 112 date palm trees currently in the fruiting period with an estimated yield of about 800kg.

In addition, the garden has 10 specialized plots of land used to grow clean seasonal vegetables, ensuring the supply of fresh ingredients for the on-site kitchen. The pond area is also invested in raising a variety of specialty fish such as elephant ear fish, striped catfish, snakehead fish, catfish, etc. Investing in the construction of 15 dining-resort tums, renovating the landscape and accompanying service systems.

Mr. Dinh Nhut Hoa started implementing the model in 2022. It will officially open to visitors on August 22. The model is expected to generate two sources of income, including serving tourists with fruit products (dates) and food and beverage services.

“In addition to generating revenue for the tourist attraction, I also hope that my tourist attraction will contribute to promoting the local image and creating a highlight in the border area. I hope that in the near future, in this border area, there will be many people with the same aspirations as me, opening more tourist attractions to be able to link and develop tourism, especially connecting between destinations,” said Mr. Dinh Nhut Hoa, owner of Chala Farm Ecological Garden.

Mr. Hoa is one of the pioneers in tourism with large-scale investment, contributing to the development of the border economy. In addition, in recent times, at border gates, trade exchange activities have been focused on, creating favorable conditions.

Exactly 7 months ago (January 17), the People's Committee of Dong Thap province and the Government of Prey Veng province (Kingdom of Cambodia) held a ceremony to announce the opening of the Thuong Phuoc - Kaoh Roka International Border Gate pair by road and river.

Opening of the pair of international border gates by road and river Thuong Phuoc-Kaoh RoKa.

In the period of 2022-2024, the total import and export turnover of goods across the border between Dong Thap and Prey Veng provinces will reach more than 1.4 billion USD, with the import and export value of each year always higher than the previous year. In particular, the pair of Thuong Phuoc-Kaoh Roka International Border Gate accounts for a large proportion of import and export thanks to its favorable geographical location for waterways and roads.

This pair of border gates is officially operational, trade exchange activities between Dong Thap province and Prey Veng province open up many opportunities for businesses of the two countries, especially small and medium enterprises, strongly increasing import and export activities between the two countries.

In addition, from this border gate, it only takes about 60 minutes to travel by road to the capital Phnom Penh (Kingdom of Cambodia). This is the fastest route, connecting to major cities in Cambodia, creating favorable conditions for Dong Thap province to welcome international tourists traveling by road through ASEAN countries.

According to Thuong Phuoc International Border Gate, currently, there are about 130 vehicles entering and leaving the delivery area at the gate every day; the amount of imported agricultural products is about 7,000 tons; inland waterway vehicles enter and exit the country 200 times/day. The import and export tax revenue from the beginning of the year to date is more than 300 billion VND. The combined forces have divided and arranged personnel for shifts day and night, ensuring the flow of goods and ensuring the safety and security of the border gate.

Need to focus on exploiting potential well

According to the People's Committee of Thuong Phuoc commune, in the period of 2025-2030, the commune strives for annual economic growth of 8.5%; average income per capita by 2030 reaching 120 million VND; annual state budget revenue in the area reaching the assigned target.

To achieve the above targets, Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Phuoc Commune Huynh Thanh Phu said: In the coming time, the commune will build and focus on calling for investment in key projects to develop urban areas and borders, promote trade and services and border economy; develop science and technology, protect the environment. Promote the development of small-scale industry, trade and services, continue to renovate and expand urban and border spaces, and implement key projects in the area.

Rearrange markets towards urban civilization; encourage organizations and business households to diversify types of trade and services. Manage and effectively exploit sand dune beaches associated with ecological areas to serve tourists.

The commune actively supports and facilitates production and business households and start-up models to expand and develop industries and products serving tourism. Implement the national target program on new rural construction, striving to have at least 5 OCOP products by the end of 2030.

The commune continues to implement the Project on restructuring the agricultural sector, encouraging the development of high-tech agriculture, biotechnology, clean agriculture, and organic agriculture; mobilizing farmers to convert ineffective rice-growing land to growing fruit trees and crops with high economic value.

After the reorganization, Hong Ngu Ward continues to be the economic center of the border area, one of the economic development poles of the new Dong Thap province. Regarding economic development, the ward has built 7 urban agricultural models, established 1 cooperative, 2 guilds and 4 cooperative groups.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee Le Quoc Phong visited and learned about the tourism model in Hong Ngu ward.

Comrade Le Quoc Phong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Dong Thap province, assessed: Hong Ngu Ward has many advantages after the merger, inheriting many values and results of the former Hong Ngu urban area and city.

If exploited well, Hong Ngu will quickly become a leading center of trade, services, tourism and high-tech agriculture in the border area. He said that Hong Ngu must become a driving force for economic and social development for the cluster of 6 communes and wards in the border area of the province.

The Secretary of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee also hopes that Hong Ngu Ward needs to have solutions to mobilize and effectively use resources. The Ward needs to call for and strongly attract investment, focusing on the stages and fields that have been identified as the ward's spearheads: Urban development, industrial development, trade, and services. Focus on maximizing the advantage of the location connecting with border gates and international trade, building a modern border trade center. Strongly develop warehousing services, freight forwarding, financial-banking services, and e-commerce. The Ward needs to focus on strongly promoting the application of science, technology, and comprehensive innovation in all fields, focusing on agriculture, the key industry of tra fish.

According to nhandan.vn

Source: https://baoapbac.vn/kinh-te/202508/dong-thap-khai-thac-loi-the-de-phat-trien-vung-bien-gioi-1048309/