Lam Dong: 50 years of rising from a poor province to a bright spot in the development of the Central Highlands

Post-war reconstruction

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, the Party Committee and the people of Lam Dong steadfastly held on, mobilized the people to carry out political struggles, carry out military and enemy agitation work and step up armed struggles. During the 20 years of fighting the US, the great victory of the army and people of Lam Dong - Da Lat was to turn the enemy's rear into our rear. Cadres held on, the people dug secret tunnels to hide cadres and soldiers, stockpiled weapons and food, cared for wounded soldiers, provided manpower and resources for the resistance...

On April 3, 1975, the revolutionary flag flew over the Tuyen Duc Governor's Palace - now the headquarters of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee - marking a historic event: Lam Dong was completely liberated. This victory was not only significant for the locality, but also a strategic springboard, contributing decisively to the victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign - completely liberating the South and unifying the country.

In a short time after the liberation, the administrative organization of the two provinces of Lam Dong (old) and Tuyen Duc changed many times. On September 20, 1975, the Politburo issued a Resolution on abolishing the zones and merging provinces; the provinces of Lam Dong, Tuyen Duc, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan , and Binh Tuy were merged into Thuan Lam province, with the provincial capital located in Phan Rang town.

On January 6, 1976, the Central Party Secretariat issued a Resolution on dissolving Thuan Lam province and merging Lam Dong, Tuyen Duc provinces and Da Lat city into Lam Dong province.

Then, together with the whole country, Lam Dong immediately embarked on the task of overcoming the consequences of war, building and developing the local socio-economy. Lam Dong faced numerous difficulties such as small-scale production, poor technical infrastructure, and a seriously degraded road system that had not been repaired or maintained during the war.

The economic base has over 6,000 hectares of tea, nearly 30 tea processing facilities; coffee growing area is about 1,000 hectares; there are nearly 3,000 hectares of vegetables, flowers and fruit trees; nearly 2,000 hectares of food crops produced locally to meet the food needs of the people. Industry and handicrafts have some small-scale mechanical repair and processing facilities in Da Lat and Bao Loc, while most other localities have not developed. Industrial technical facilities are poor, with only two porcelain factories and some wood sawmills with outdated machinery and equipment.

With the support of the Central Government and the right policies of the locality, since the early 2000s, the province has transformed strongly. Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee has focused on socio-economic development, focusing on developing the agricultural economy in a multi-sector and multi-field direction based on the competitive advantages of key crops; at the same time, developing tourism, identifying it as a driving economic sector in the local economy...

Da Lat city is the Flower Festival city of Vietnam.

With that determination, solidarity and effort, the socio-economic development situation in Lam Dong province has achieved important results, becoming a fairly developed province in the country. The material and spiritual life of the people has been constantly improved, the average GRDP per capita reached 103.6 million VND; the average labor productivity growth rate reached 21%. The agricultural sector continues to be the pillar of the economy, increasing by 5.1%, ensuring the supply of food for domestic consumption and export. Budget revenue reached 13,100 billion VND.

Tourism continues to be a bright spot in Lam Dong's socio-economic development. Many large-scale festivals, events, national-level sports competitions, especially the successful 10th Da Lat Flower Festival, continue to affirm Da Lat city as the Flower Festival city of Vietnam, a creative city in the field of music by UNESCO and a city in the Group of 5 impressive Festival cities in Asia.

Entering the era of growth

One of the province's strategic breakthroughs is the decision to invest in the Bao Loc - Lien Khuong expressway (phase 1) under the public-private partnership model, with a total investment of more than 17,700 billion VND. This is a symbol of the local spirit of connection - development - integration. Lien Khuong airport was upgraded to an international airport; the public transport system was expanded, contributing to shortening travel time between regions in the province and to Ho Chi Minh City, convenient for people and tourists.

The province has also announced the Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050; key projects and works are being prioritized for investment capital; the emulation movement "The Party Committee, government, army and people of Lam Dong province unite, determined to overcome difficulties, rise up with the country" is being strongly implemented, which is a condition to unleash new resources, promote the socio-economic development process in the period 2021 - 2025, create a breakthrough for 2025 and lay the foundation for the period 2026 - 2030; aiming to build Lam Dong province into a destination worth visiting, worth living, affirming its position and role in the Central Highlands and the whole country.

Implementing the Politburo's Conclusions and the Government's Resolution on administrative unit arrangement, Lam Dong province plans to arrange 137 communes and wards into 51 commune-level administrative units.

According to Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Tran Hong Thai, after merging the three provinces of Lam Dong, Binh Thuan and Dak Nong, they will become the province with the largest area in the country, converging forests, seas, borders and islands. After the merger, the new Lam Dong province will have the 8th largest GRDP in the country, with key economic sectors such as coffee, durian, silk, cold-water fish... accounting for the leading proportion. In particular, the world's second largest bauxite mine here is expected to create a breakthrough development for Lam Dong province. "This is a huge potential and advantage to make Lam Dong the leading developing province in the country", the Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee expected.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Tran Hong Thai pointed out the advantages of the province.

The past 50 years have laid a solid foundation for Lam Dong to enter a new stage of development. With the right direction and consensus of the Party, government and people, the province is affirming its position as the economic and social center of the Central Highlands and the whole country.

From a land that suffered many losses due to war, Lam Dong has risen strongly, becoming one of the bright spots of development in the country. 50 years is a journey of persistent efforts, laying the foundation for a new era: the era of aspiration, integration and breakthrough.

Trinh Ninh

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/lam-dong-50-nam-vuon-minh-tu-tinh-kho-khan-den-diem-sang-phat-trien-vung-tay-nguyen-post547008.html