Convergence for development

After the merger, the new Phu Tho province is not simply an expansion of administrative boundaries, but more deeply, it is the crystallization of three potential cultural - geographical - economic spaces. A sacred origin, a central land, a new growth pole is gradually taking shape on the national development map.

The land of spirituality - the birthplace of the nation

Phu Tho Province is a sacred land in the minds of Vietnamese people. It is no coincidence that this place was chosen as the place where the Hung Kings founded the country thousands of years ago. The name "Dat To" is not only a cultural symbol but also a unique political and social identity, representing the origin and spirit of national solidarity. The Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, held annually at the Hung Temple Relic Site, has gone beyond the festival framework to become a major national festival. From Phu Tho, traditional cultural values have spread widely, becoming a spiritual support for many generations of Vietnamese people in the journey of building the country.

Now, with the merger of the two provinces of Hoa Binh and Vinh Phuc, the national origin has been expanded both in space and content. Not only is it the birthplace of the Van Lang state, Phu Tho is also the place connecting three major cultural spaces: the Northern midlands, the Northwest and the Red River Delta. This is a historical convergence, not only creating a new administrative unit, but also shaping a cultural and social entity with depth, identity and long-term development.

Strategic location – transit point of the Northern dynamic region

One of the outstanding advantages of the new Phu Tho province is its geographical location. Located in the center of the midland and mountainous region of the North, bordering the capital Hanoi and many other developed provinces such as Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Son La, Ninh Binh and Thai Nguyen, the new Phu Tho is considered a strategic link in connecting the Northwest region with the Northern Delta. This is the intersection of major economic and transport development corridors such as the Hanoi - Lao Cai - Kunming corridor, the National Highway 6 corridor connecting Hanoi with the Northwest, as well as the Red River corridor from upstream to downstream.

Synchronous transport infrastructure, connecting along the Red River corridor from upstream to downstream is an important advantage of the province in socio-economic development.

This location makes Phu Tho become a transit point for goods, trade and services of the whole region, a gateway to a large market with nearly 30 million people around the region, and a promising investment destination in the future. Planning experts highly appreciate the province's potential as a logistics center, a satellite urban development area and a strategic industrial support area for major industrial centers in the North.

Multimodal transport infrastructure – a lever for development

With a well-invested transport infrastructure system, Phu Tho currently possesses the strongest connecting axes in the region. The Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway runs along the province from the southeast to the northwest, directly connecting with the capital Hanoi and the Lao Cai border area, acting as the backbone for economic development and logistics services.

The national highway system includes National Highway 2, National Highway 6, National Highway 32, National Highway 70, National Highway 21 and National Highway 32C, forming a complete network, effectively connecting district and town centers in the province with neighboring areas. The Hanoi - Lao Cai railway runs through Viet Tri, Phu Tho, and Ha Hoa, allowing convenient transportation of goods and passengers. Inland waterways on major rivers such as the Red River, Lo River, Da River, and Bua River play an important role in the circulation of goods and the development of river tourism.

In addition, with a distance of only about 60km to Noi Bai airport, combined with fast connecting routes to the capital, the province has favorable conditions to access international markets, attract foreign investment and develop open economic sectors.

Diverse economic space – from organic agriculture to modern industry

Not only having the advantage of transportation, Phu Tho also possesses a diverse and potential economic space. The eastern region (formerly belonging to Vinh Phuc) is becoming the pole of industrial - service - urban development with large industrial zones such as Thang Long Vinh Phuc, Ba Thien, Nam Binh Xuyen, Nam Phuc Yen... The electronics, automobile, precision mechanics, logistics and supporting industries are developing strongly, contributing greatly to the budget and creating jobs.

Phu Tho has great potential for high-value agriculture such as Tan Son tea, famous in the North.

Meanwhile, the central area of Phu Tho (Viet Tri ward and surrounding areas) plays the role of the administrative - political - cultural center of the province. Urban infrastructure, education, health care, and culture are invested synchronously, gradually building a model of a smart, livable city with regional influence.

The western and southwestern regions (former Hoa Binh area and mountainous districts of Phu Tho) are identified as areas for agricultural, forestry, medicinal and eco-tourism development. This is a place with favorable natural conditions for developing organic agriculture, growing precious medicinal plants, exploiting hot mineral water (such as Kim Boi, Thanh Thuy) and developing community tourism models associated with the ethnic identities of Muong, Dao, Tay...

Spiritual land creates sustainable development

Phu Tho is one of the rare localities that has a harmonious combination of natural resources, people and cultural heritage. In terms of nature, the province has diverse terrain from plains, midlands to high mountains, temperate climate, abundant water resources. Mineral mines such as limestone, clay, kaolin, brown coal, especially hot mineral water sources can be exploited for a long time to serve the production of construction materials, pharmaceuticals and resort tourism.

Living in the birthplace of the nation, Phu Tho people have a tradition of ardent patriotism, bravery in fighting to protect the country's borders, and repelling foreign invaders; a dynamic, creative, and enthusiastic spirit in work with many typical examples throughout history.

Tourism is considered the province's outstanding strength.

The province also has a rich network of cultural heritage with a system of folk festivals, traditional craft villages, unique cultural spaces of ethnic minorities and hundreds of historical and cultural relics that have been ranked. These values not only create the foundation for tourism development but also play an important role in building a new provincial identity.

New administrative model – towards modern service government

The formation of a two-level local government model after the merger is being implemented synchronously and flexibly by Phu Tho province. From the beginning of July 2025, the entire commune and district government system has been reorganized according to a streamlined, efficient model, focusing on serving people and businesses. Commune-level public administration service centers have been put into regular operation, applying digital technology, reducing procedures, and increasing the efficiency of document processing. Indicators of online application submission rate, on-time processing rate, and people's satisfaction level all tend to increase sharply.

In addition, the province is also making efforts to resolve difficulties arising during the transition period such as completing the IT infrastructure system, connecting software, granting accounts and digital signatures to officials, and standardizing internal processing procedures. The participation of specialized departments and branches, the initiative of local authorities, and the support of the people are helping the new administrative model to stabilize soon.

New growth pole of the North

All the above advantages and potentials are creating new momentum for Phu Tho to strongly rise up and become a new growth pole of the Northern midland and mountainous region. In the context of the whole country moving towards rapid, sustainable and comprehensive development, Phu Tho is a typical example of convergence - in terms of geography, culture, resources and development thinking.

With the aspiration for modernization, with a profound historical and cultural foundation, with a dynamic and creative staff and people, the new Phu Tho province will not only be a place to preserve the nation’s roots but also a place to create the future. A future where the past and the present go hand in hand, where identity and integration blend together, where every citizen has the right to expect a prosperous, happy and sustainable life.

Quang Nam

Source: https://baophutho.vn/hoi-tu-de-phat-trien-236906.htm