Ninh Binh shapes new growth drivers based on heritage and industry

July 1, 2025 marked the official commencement of operations in new Ninh Binh province, ushering in a new phase of administrative development towards a streamlined, effective, and efficient system, while simultaneously creating a broader development space and making a positive contribution to the overall growth of the country.

With an area of approximately 3,942.61 km2, a population of nearly 4.4 million people, and 129 commune-level administrative units, Ninh Binh is currently one of the most populous provinces in the country.

Located at the southern gateway of the Red River Delta, the province plays a crucial role as a transit hub between major economic regions and possesses a relatively comprehensive regional and inter-regional transport infrastructure, creating a competitive advantage for long-term development.

HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2025

Ninh Binh possesses a diverse development space encompassing plains, mountains, coastal areas, and a rich and unique history and culture. The province currently has over 5,000 inventoried historical sites, most notably the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, and the intangible heritage "Practices of the Tam Phu Mother Goddess Worship of the Vietnamese People," recognised by UNESCO.

Based on this foundation, in 2025, the province's socio-economic development continued steadily, with 18 out of 19 key indicators achieving or exceeding targets. The GRDP growth rate reached 10.65%; the economic scale was estimated at 342.8 trillion VND; and GRDP per capita hit 89.19 million VND.

The economic structure has shifted positively, with industry and construction accounting for 47.05% and services for 34.39%. Industry grew by 14.7%, continuing to be the main driver of growth.

Total social investment reached approximately 175.7 trillion VND, an increase of 23.9%, while the disbursement of public investment capital exceeded the plan assigned by the Prime Minister.

Investment promotion achieved outstanding results with nearly 280 new projects and combined additional capital of over 13 trillion VND and 556 million USD. The new-style rural development programme achieved 100% of communes meeting the standards. The province has 980 OCOP products with 3 stars or higher.

The service sector grew by 9.6% and the tourism industry welcomed over 19.4 million visitors, with estimated revenue reaching 21.20 trillion VND.

The province’s export turnover reached 26.9 billion USD, an increase of 68.2%, creating a large trade surplus. The urbanisation rate reached 36%. The development of social housing completed 4,461 units, meeting the assigned target.

DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH TARGET

In 2026, the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term, Ninh Binh aims to maintain stability while achieving breakthrough growth associated with economic restructuring, digital transformation, green transition, and improving the quality of life for the people.

The province strives to achieve a GRDP growth rate of 11% in 2026, maintaining double-digit growth momentum from the beginning of the term. The focus is placed on unlocking new drivers of growth, with tourism, heritage preservation and promotion, cultural industries, and heritage economy identified as strategic directions.

Simultaneously, Ninh Binh will focus on efficiently utilising resources, expanding development space through comprehensive planning, strengthening regional linkages, investing in strategic infrastructure, and building a modern, proactive administration that prioritises the people and businesses.

The province will prioritise investment in completing the intra-provincial and inter-regional transport systems, developing logistics infrastructure, and accelerating the progress of key projects such as the Ninh Binh Hai Phong expressway, the Day River bridge, the coastal route, and routes connecting economic zones and industrial parks; while also planning investment in an airport, deep-water port, and high-speed rail.

In terms of industry, Ninh Binh will focus on developing key industrial parks and economic zones. The 2026 2030 period is expected to have an additional 36 industrial parks with a total area of over 10,717 hectares, forming new growth poles.

Notably, the province identifies its "multi-layered, multi-tiered" heritage structure as a special competitive advantage, promoting the transformation of heritage values into economic assets, developing cultural industries and creative economy, aiming to become a major tourism centre and a national cultural industry hub.

With a solid foundation in 2025 and clear goals and solutions, Ninh Binh has entered 2026 with a proactive and confident mindset, aiming for rapid and sustainable development and the goal of becoming a centrally-governed city by 2030./.