Promoting advantages

Dong Thap has a coastline of 32 km and about 5,000 hectares of coastal islets and alluvial flats, giving it significant potential and advantages for marine economic development, with a focus on the fisheries economy.

Accordingly, Dong Thap is one of the localities in Viet Nam with a fairly developed seafood exploitation sector. Currently, the province has nearly 1,000 fishing vessels. In recent years, fishermen have made efforts to venture offshore to fish in distant fishing grounds such as Truong Sa and the DK1 offshore platforms. As a result, fishing activities by Dong Thap fishermen have brought in abundant seafood resources, creating livelihoods, helping fishermen become prosperous, and enhancing the local economic efficiency.

The family of Ho Thi Bich Huyen, residing in Doi Ma hamlet, Gia Thuan commune, Dong Thap province, owns six offshore fishing vessels. Each sea voyage lasts about three months. Each vessel earns a profit of over 300 million VND per trip. Huyen said: “This year, seafood exploitation has been relatively stable, with higher profits than in previous years. When fishing at sea, our vessels do not operate in overlapping waters, are fully equipped with voyage monitoring devices, and strictly comply with regulations on seafood exploitation.”

With about 5,000 hectares of coastal islets and alluvial flats, Dong Thap province has great potential for aquaculture development. Clams raised on tidal flats are mainly harvested by local residents. Currently, the province has about 2,500 hectares of clam farming, concentrated largely in Go Cong Dong commune, of which 350 hectares were certified to ASC standards (international certification) in November 2023. This has opened opportunities for Dong Thap clam products to reach the global market.

In addition to seafood exploitation and clam farming, brackish and saltwater aquaculture is also a local strength. Tan Phu Dong commune has the largest brackish and saltwater aquaculture area in Dong Thap province. The commune has 6,320 hectares of aquaculture, with an output of 44,000 tons.

According to the People’s Committee of Tan Phu Dong commune, in recent times, the locality has focused on developing aquaculture into a key economic sector of the commune, with shrimp farming as the mainstay. In addition to traditional industrial and extensive shrimp farming models, some residents have invested in high-tech shrimp farming, covering more than 140 hectares.

Alongside fisheries development, Dong Thap province has also focused on developing marine tourism. Tan Thanh beach tourism area (Go Cong Dong commune) is one of the highlights in the province’s tourism development. It attracts a large number of visitors for sightseeing and dining, especially on weekends and holidays. In particular, marine tourism has expanded with additional services such as dining and experiential clam digging, creating new attractions for visitors.

One of the important highlights in promoting the marine economy in Dong Thap province is the attraction of renewable energy projects. Currently, Dong Thap has attracted two projects: Tan Phu Dong 1 Wind Power Plant and Tan Phu Dong 2 Wind Power Plant. Tan Phu Dong 1 has a designed capacity of 100 MW, and Tan Phu Dong 2 has a designed capacity of 50 MW. The two plants have a total investment of about 7.5 trillion VND and have been put into operation. On average, the two wind power plants contribute about 107 billion VND annually to the state budget.

Considering marine economy as a key focus

Dong Thap province has oriented its economic space organization into five key economic corridors, including the eastern coastal economic corridor.

This corridor runs along the coastal road and National Highway 50. It is a strategic corridor for marine economic development. Accordingly, the locality will prioritize the development of the coastal economic zone, seaport industries, wind power, resort tourism, coastal urban areas, and land reclamation projects in a dynamic, modern direction adaptable to climate change.

As a coastal locality with significant potential for marine economic development, Tan Phu Dong commune is focusing on leveraging these advantages. Bui Thai Son, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Tan Phu Dong commune, said that in the coming time, the locality will issue an action program to implement the Resolution of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee on marine economic development, with a focus on fisheries. To promote the marine economy, the commune is taking steps to build Phu Tan Industrial Cluster, covering 75 hectares, and implementing solutions to develop high-tech aquaculture along value chains.

To develop the marine economy, a key solution proposed by Dong Thap is to accelerate the establishment of the Go Cong Coastal Economic Zone, complete the coastal road, and issue breakthrough mechanisms and policies to attract strategic investors to this sector.

According to the assessment of the People’s Committee of Dong Thap province, in recent times, the province’s marine economic development has been oriented toward sustainability, closely linking resource exploitation, environmental protection, and the development of modern industries and services.

The locality has focused on building and implementing long-term planning and strategies, prioritizing sectors with high competitive advantages; promoting the development of renewable energy industries, especially offshore wind power projects, in line with trends and local potential.

At the same time, seaport infrastructure and coastal logistics services have been prioritized for investment to effectively connect with industrial parks and clusters, forming large logistics centers; and focusing on developing sustainable high-tech aquaculture models.