Lao Cai targets average annual GRDP growth of at least 10% by 2030
A development plan issued by the Standing Committee of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee on October 30 calls for average annual GRDP growth of at least 10% and an economy exceeding VND 240 trillion by 2030. It prioritizes border trade, logistics and manufacturing, alongside railway, expressway and airport projects.
A development plan issued by the Standing Committee of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee on October 30, 2026, targets average annual gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of at least 10% by 2030. The plan proposes organizing development around “one development axis, two growth poles and three economic zones,” positioning Lao Cai as a growth pole for Vietnam’s northern midland and mountainous region and a trade and economic hub linking Vietnam and ASEAN with southwestern China.
By 2030, Lao Cai Province aims to raise its GRDP at current prices to more than VND 240 trillion, with GRDP per capita reaching VND 136 million a year. It targets a digital economy share of about 20% of GRDP and local state budget revenue exceeding VND 32 trillion. Total social investment in development from 2026 to 2030 is projected at about VND 500 trillion; the province also aims to have more than 18,000 enterprises.
According to Lao Cai Province’s statistics, GRDP grew 10.58% year on year in the third quarter of 2026 and 9.09% year on year in the first nine months. Its third-quarter growth ranked 10th among Vietnam’s 34 provinces and cities. For the first nine months, its growth ranked fifth among nine provinces in the northern midland and mountainous region and 18th nationwide.
The plan identifies border trade, logistics, processing and manufacturing, ecological agriculture and tourism as development priorities, and calls for urban development along the Red River. By 2030, Lao Cai Province aims to receive about 15 million tourist visits and generate about VND 70 trillion in tourism revenue. Centralized wastewater treatment systems at all operating industrial parks must meet environmental standards.
Residents of Trấn Yên, Lao Cai Province, harvest silkworm cocoons.（VietVance）
On infrastructure, the plan calls for coordinating work on the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway, upgrading the Noi Bai–Lao Cai Expressway, building Sa Pa Airport and developing infrastructure in the border gate economic zone. Supporting infrastructure, land clearance and centralized wastewater treatment systems at industrial parks are also among the tasks to be carried out on schedule.
Source: VietVance
