Inter-regional connectivity infrastructure: A prerequisite to shorten the development gap in mountainous areas

In the development journey of each country, infrastructure plays a pivotal role, is the key to connecting resources and opening up development opportunities for people.

For Vietnam, especially in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, infrastructure is not only a matter of roads, electricity, water or telecommunications, but also an important driving force to break the "divided terrain", shorten the socio -economic gap and create conditions for the highland people to access essential services.

Infrastructure – a vital condition for mountainous areas

Ethnic minority and mountainous areas account for more than three-quarters of the country's area, stretching from the Northwest, Truong Son to the Central Highlands. The rugged terrain, long distance from the center and complex natural conditions make infrastructure investment here challenging. However, the development of transport infrastructure, electricity grid, communications and irrigation systems are the decisive conditions for people to rise up.

The State continuously allocates large resources to invest in inter-commune roads, border patrol roads, people's bridges, and the national power grid.

This is also the reason why, over the years, the State has continuously devoted large resources to investing in inter-commune roads, border patrol roads, bridges, national grid electricity, schools, medical stations and small irrigation works. The expansion and smoothness of roads helps agricultural products no longer be "stuck" in the mountains and forests, tourists can access villages more easily, and people can conveniently travel, study, receive medical treatment and trade.

This change has created a big change in many localities. While previously it took a whole day to get goods from the village to the district market, it can now be done in just a few hours. Children in the highlands no longer have to walk dozens of kilometers to school. People have timely access to information on natural disaster forecasts, helping to minimize risks and protect production.

No longer confined to each province or district, inter-regional infrastructure is becoming a new direction in the development strategy of mountainous areas. The connecting routes from the Northwest to Hanoi, from the Central Highlands to the Central Coast or from the mountainous areas of Quang Nam - Kon Tum to international border gates have opened up a wider economic space for the people.

When regional linkages are promoted, agricultural products are no longer consumed within a narrow range but can be brought into large supply chains, even exported. For example, products such as bananas, mangoes, coffee, macadamia nuts, etc. have found a wide market thanks to a convenient transportation system. Enterprises have also boldly invested in processing factories right in the raw material area, helping to reduce transportation costs and increase product value.

In addition, inter-regional infrastructure helps promote tourism development more strongly. Tourists can easily travel from major centers to community tourism destinations. Cross-regional tours, linking between provinces, begin to form, creating a diverse product chain and attracting a large number of visitors.

Along with infrastructure development is the strategy of planning and population arrangement. Many mountainous areas that were previously heavily affected by natural disasters such as flash floods and landslides have built safer resettlement areas with electricity, clean water, schools and basic living services. Stabilizing the population not only helps people feel safer, but also creates conditions for them to attach to the new land, invest in their livelihoods and develop their family economy.

Many new residential areas are also planned near concentrated production areas to facilitate production and trade. This helps to form small economic clusters, promoting the advantages of each region such as growing medicinal herbs, fruit trees, developing livestock, or providing tourism services.

Information infrastructure – an indispensable factor in the digital age

In addition to roads and bridges, telecommunications infrastructure and digital transformation also play an important role in the highlands. The popularity of 4G and the upcoming 5G is helping people access market information, learn technology through videos, register for public services online and promote products through social networks.

The popularity of 4G and the upcoming 5G is helping people access market information.

E-commerce has become a new "door" for highland agricultural products to enter the national market. From plums, Shan Tuyet tea to brocade products, handicrafts, etc., millions of customers have been reached through e-commerce platforms. This opens up great opportunities to increase income and develop household economies.

Despite many achievements, the development of mountainous infrastructure still faces many difficulties: high investment costs, complex terrain conditions, frequent natural disasters and limited local resources. Some roads are quickly damaged by floods; some clean water projects have not been effective; digital transformation infrastructure is not yet synchronized.

These challenges require stronger engagement from the State, businesses and the community. There needs to be a diverse capital mobilization mechanism, prioritizing urgent projects, combining public-private investment and focusing on maintenance and upgrading of works after completion.

The reality in many ethnic minority areas shows that wherever there is developed infrastructure, people's lives improve significantly. Income increases, people have easier access to education and health services, children can go to school fully and employment opportunities expand. This change not only helps reduce poverty but also creates a foundation to avoid falling back into poverty.

Infrastructure also contributes to preserving cultural identity and developing sustainable tourism. When tourists come to the village more conveniently, people have the opportunity to introduce traditional culture and promote community values.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/ha-tang-ket-noi-lien-vung-dieu-kien-tien-quyet-de-rut-ngan-khoang-cach-phat-trien-mien-nui-20251203145716107.htm