Overview of the natural condition and the socio economic development of Vinh Phuc province

I. The natural condition

1. History

Vinh Phuc is the cradle of the ancient Vietnamese, with famous archaeological Dong Dau. Vinh Phuc province was established in 1950, with the combination of the two provinces of Vinh Yen and Phuc Yen. After many changes in administrative boundaries, Vinh Phuc province was officially re-established in 1997.

Up to 2015, the total areas of Vinh Phuc province is 1.235,13 km2 with the population of 1.054.492 people, the population density is about 854 people/km2.

2. Geographical location

Vinh Phuc province is situated in the Red River Delta, the Northern key economic zone and Ha Noi capital, sharing border with Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang in the North, Phu Tho in the West, Adjacent to Ha Noi Capital in the Southeast.

Vinh Phuc province is located in the National Highway no 2 and the railway line Hanoi –Lao Cai which is a connecting bridge between midland mountainous zones of the Northern and Ha Noi capital; adjacent to Noi Bai international airport, through the National Highway 5 with the port of Hai Phong and roads 18 to the deep water port of Cai lan. The advantages of economic geography gave Vinh Phuc became an integral part of the industrial development belt in the Northern Vietnam.

3. Topography

Vinh Phuc is located in the transition region between hilly midland and the Red River Delta zones. Therefore, the terrain is low gradually from Northwest to Southeast and divided into three ecological zones: Lowland, midland and mountainous region.

This mountainous region has the natural areas of 65.500 hectare; the midland next to mountain, spreading from the Northwest to Southeast with the total areas of 25.100 hectares; the plain covers areas of 33.500 hectares.

4. Climate and hydrograph

In Term of climate: Vinh Phuc Province is located in the tropical monsoon climate, hot and humid. The average temperature of 23.20C – 250C , rainfall 1,500 – 1,700 ml, average humidity is 84-85%, with the sun shining hour of 1,400 – 1,800 hours per year. Prevailing wind direction is Southeast blows from April to September, Northeast winds blows from October to March of the following year, accompanied by hoarfrost. Particularly Tam Dao Mountain is cool climate all year round (average temperature of 180C) along with lush mountain forests, suitable for the development of tourism activities, leisure and entertainment.

Hydrograph: Vinh Phuc province has many rivers flowing through but hydrological regime depends on two main rivers is that Red River and Lo River. Red river flows through Vinh Phuc with the length of 50 km bringing the fertile alluvial for soil. Lo River runs through Vinh Phuc province with the length of 35km, the terrain is hilly, narrow river-bed, plentiful of waterfalls.

5. Natural resources and Minerals

The natural resources of Vinh Phuc province includes: Water resources, land resources, forest resources, mineral resources, tourism resources.

Water resources: Including groundwater and surface water.The surface water of the province is quite plentiful thank to two main rivers, Red River and Lo River and other small rivers system such as: Pho Day River, Phan River, Ca lo River, and reservoir series (Dai lai, Xa Huong, Van Truc, Dam Vac…) reserving huge amount of waters, enough to serve the production and living of people. Groundwater reserves are not large, reaching about 1 million m3/day and night.

Land resources: The province has two main land groups: alluvium and hilly land. The current use land up to 2015: the total areas are 123,513 hectares; agricultural land of 92,920 ha account for 75.23%; Non agricultural land 29,311 ha accounting for 23.73%; non use land is 1,282  ha accounting for 1.04%.

The forest resources: In 2015, Vinh Phuc province has about 32.12 thousand ha of forestry land, in which forest production was 14.12 thousand hectares, protection forest is 2.95 thousand hectares and specific use forest is 15.05 thousand hectares, the most significant forest resources in the province is Tam Dao National Park with more than 15 thousand hectares, is place to conserve animal genetic resources (more than 620 herd species, 165 species of birds and animals) in which, there are several of precious rare written in the red like ink as civet, flying squirrel, ape. Vinh Phuc’s forest is not only the conservation of flora and fauna genetic resources but also having a role regulating water resources, climate and being able to serve for the development of visits and tourism services.

Minerals resources: In general, Vinh Phuc province is located in the transition location between the mountainous areas and lowland region therefore, the province is very poor in the minerals sources. The commercial valued minerals in the province only included some types such as: building stone, kaolin, peat but not large reserves and limited exploitation conditions.

Tourism resources: Vinh Phuc has great potential for natural and cultural tourism development. There are Tam Dao Mountains bow is 50 km long, 10 km wide with beautiful natural scenery, fresh air, cool. Especially, there is Tam Dao National Park and adjacent areas of primary forest have many types of plants and animals preserved relatively intact. Besides Vinh Phuc has river and lakes systems relatively rich, beautiful location service can produce valuable both for tourism development, such as Dai Lai, Di Nau, Van Truc and Dam Vac, Dam Dung, Thanh Lanh…. Natural potential for tourism development in combination with the values (resources) cultural traditions will be important resources for socio economic development in Vinh Phuc province.

6. The administrative units

Vinh Phuc province has 09 administrative units, including Vinh Yen City, Phuc Yen town, the districts of Binh Xuyen, Lap Thach, Lo River, Tam Duong, Tam Dao, Vinh Tuong, Yen Lac.

The township of Vinh Phuc is Vinh Yen city, 50 km away from Hanoi Capital and 25 km away from Noi Bai International Airport.

7. Population and Human resources

In 2015, the average population is 1,054,492 people, in which the male population is about 518,559 accounting for 49.18%, female  population is 535,933 made  up 50.82%. The natural population growth rate is 13.6%. The working ages population rate account for 60%, the high skilled training of working age population accounted for 63%, The population working in public sectors accounted for 10.6%, working for private sectors  made up 78.6%, working in the foreign investment sectors accounted for 10.8%.

Up to 2015, The province has 567 schools and Institutions, including 183 of Kindergarten, 174 of Primary school, 146 of Lower and secondary schools, and Regular Educational Centre;13  universities and colleges, 13 secondary schools and vocational training with the number of 270.900 students. In the province, there are 49 vocational training (05 vocational colleges; 02 vocational schools; 09 colleges and professional vocational training; 27 vocational training centers; 06 vocational training basis); in the period of 2010 – 2014 trained  over 132.983 people, there are 26,000 students  graduates  each year to meet the labour needs of all economic sectors.

In addition, the province has many mechanisms and policies to support businesses providing vocational training for businesses; Along with population growth rate, in the coming years the labour force will increase significantly due to the rising of the population entering working age. Annually, the province has over one thousand people into the age of the working. It is abundant human resources for socio economic development.

II. Socio economic development

  • GRDP growth rate: Average growth rate of 18 year (1997-2014):14,8% per year

    Scale of total Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP): 70- 75 thousand billion Dong, equivalent to 3,2 USD billion (expected in 2015)

    Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) per capita: 70 million Dong / person/year (expected in 2015).

    Economic structure (expected in 2015):

    • Industry – Construction: 62,1%
    • Trade – Service: 28,5%
    • Agriculture – Forestry – Fishery: 9,4%

    Export – Import Turnover (Total value)

    • Export: 1,5 -2 USU billion ((expected in 2015)

    Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI)

    – In 2010: 61.73 points; ranked 15th; Good operating group

    – In 2011: 62.57 points; rank 17th; good operating group

    – In 2012: 55.15 points; rank 43th; Fair operating group

    – In 2013: 58.86 points; rank 26th; Fair operating group

    – In 2014: 61.81 points; rank 6th; Good operating group

    Domestic direct investment (DDI): up to February, 2015

    – Number of projects: 578 projects

    – Total registered investment capital: over 40.000 VND Billion

    Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Up to end of Feruary, 2015

    • Number of projects: 189 projects
    • Total registered investment capital: 3,15 USD billion

    The targets for socio economic development to 2020:

    By 2015, the construction of Vinh Phuc province has become a full basic element of an industrial province. By 2020 Vinh Phuc province became an industrial province, is one of the centers of industry, services, tourism and the whole country, improving significantly the people’s living, the environment was sustainable protection, ensuring solid on defence and security; towards and  becoming Vinh Phuc City in the 20 years of the 21st century.