Unlocking the potential of Tan Chau

With its advantageous position as a "border gateway," the Tan Chau upstream region (An Giang province) is facing a historic opportunity to break through and become a new growth pole for the province. Unlocking its potential, removing bottlenecks, and igniting the aspiration for development is the right approach to maximize its role as a driving force, connecting the upstream region with the Mekong Delta.

Potential, advantages

After the merger, the former Tan Chau town was left with 2 wards and 3 communes: Tan Chau, Long Phu, Tan An, Chau Phong, and Vinh Xuong. These areas possess significant potential in trade, services, border trade , river tourism, and high-tech agriculture. While Vinh Xuong commune has an advantage in border trade, Tan An and Chau Phong communes excel in high-tech agriculture, river tourism, and traditional crafts.

“Tan Chau has a strategic location with the Vinh Xuong international land and river border gate – one of the most important border gates in the southwestern border region. This is a gateway for international trade, creating conditions for the development of logistics, border trade economy, tourism , and traditional crafts. By exploiting this advantage, Tan Chau has developed remarkably,” affirmed Mr. Huynh Quang Ngu – former Standing Deputy Secretary of the Tan Chau (old) Town Party Committee.

As clear evidence, in the first eight months of 2025, export turnover through the Vinh Xuong border gate reached nearly 500 million USD – a figure that affirms the enormous potential of border trade in this area. Mr. Bui Thai Hoang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Xuong commune, said: “In recent times, the province has focused on investing in infrastructure, expanding urban areas, and promoting the development of border trade. Many key projects have been completed, including the Tan An bridge and the regional connecting road.”

In urban and service development, Tan Chau needs to continue implementing a modern and smart urban planning strategy. Photo: MINH HIEN

Despite its many advantages, Tan Chau ward still faces some "bottlenecks" hindering its development. The transportation infrastructure is not yet synchronized, some projects are behind schedule; planning lacks regional connectivity; and the coordination mechanism is ineffective. Social investment resources, especially from the private sector, have not been fully exploited.

Border trade, while vibrant, lacks supporting services such as logistics, warehousing, and quality control. River tourism and traditional craft villages, though diverse, offer fragmented products and lack integrated service chains. Agriculture , despite its strengths in rice, fruit, and aquaculture (especially catfish fingerlings), has low added value and limited technological application, while climate change and riverbank erosion threaten people's livelihoods. Many experts warn that if these limitations are not addressed soon, they will diminish Tan Chau's potential and hinder its goal of becoming a growth hub.

Breakthrough solution

To unlock its potential, Tan Chau needs to implement a comprehensive set of solutions, specifically regarding transportation infrastructure and regional connectivity. The central government should expedite the completion and upgrading of National Highway 80B and the construction of the Tan Chau - Hong Ngu bridge. The progress of the regional connecting road section through Chau Phong commune should be accelerated to connect Long Xuyen, Rach Gia, and Ho Chi Minh City via Route N1; the infrastructure of the Vinh Xuong International Border Gate should be completed, and logistics services and warehousing should be developed.

In urban and service development, Tan Chau needs to continue implementing a modern, smart urban planning scheme, exploiting the night-time economy, and creating a dynamic urban space. It should invest in commercial and service centers linked to border gates and develop civilized border markets.

Regarding agriculture and processing industries, the locality is strengthening the development of high-tech, organic agriculture adapted to climate change. It is investing heavily in the processing of agricultural and aquatic products to increase added value. It is also continuing to develop concentrated pangasius fish breeding areas, as implemented by the Viet Uc Group, to ensure a quality supply for the entire province.

Regarding tourism and culture, the ward will continue to develop riverine tourism products and traditional craft villages associated with border culture. It will strengthen connections between tours and routes with Chau Doc and Tan Hong (Dong Thap province), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to expand the tourism space. Specifically in the field of digital transformation and administrative reform, it is necessary to continue promoting digital transformation in urban management, production, and processing.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Lam Minh Thanh emphasized: "The locality needs to promote investment attraction, administrative reform, and create a transparent business environment; while also promoting the cultural identity of the border region for sustainable development."

Tan Chau is at a crucial moment to assert its position. With its strategic location, abundant potential, and the consensus of the government and people, if it effectively exploits its existing advantages and acts decisively, the locality can completely rise to become a new growth pole of An Giang, contributing to the overall development of the entire region.

"Localities upstream of the Tien River need to have a correct and complete understanding of their position, role, potential, and opportunities in the province's new development space in order to innovate their thinking and vision, identify breakthrough tasks, and build Tan Chau into a worthy central urban area and driving force for development in the northern region of the province," noted Lam Minh Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee.

MINH HIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/khai-mo-tiem-nang-tan-chau-a462330.html