Hai Duong strives to develop modern industry and become a key industrial hub of the Red River Delta region. (Photo: VGP)

A Land Where Potential Converges

Hai Duong is located in the Red River Delta, within the Hanoi Capital Region, part of the northern growth engine zone and two key development corridors of the country: the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh economic corridor (the main connection axis of the northern growth engine region, linking the northern midland and mountainous areas with major economic centers and seaports nationwide) and the Kunming – Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh economic corridor (which plays a role in promoting trade and investment cooperation between Vietnamese localities and China’s southwestern region).

Bordering six provinces and cities, Hai Duong is crossed by the Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway and is close to international airports (Noi Bai, Van Don, Cat Bi) and international seaports (Cai Lan, Hai Phong). It also has the Cao Xa railway station, an international intermodal terminal, connecting to the international rail logistics chain leading to Pingxiang (China) and Hekou (Yunnan).

The integrated transport infrastructure facilitates the Hai Duong – Hai Phong merger: Quang Thanh Bridge. (Photo: Dau Tu Newspaper)

In addition to its above-mentioned potential and strengths, Hai Duong is also renowned as a land of outstanding people and spiritual legacy, with a rich history and cultural tradition. The province is home to numerous valuable tangible and intangible cultural heritages, boasting 3,199 historical and cultural relics and scenic spots. Among these are four sites or complexes classified as special national relics: the Con Son – Kiep Bac relic site; the An Phu – Kinh Chu – Nham Duong historical and scenic complex; Mao Dien Temple of Literature; and the Bia Temple – Giam Pagoda – Xua Temple relic cluster. There are also 142 national relics, 271 provincial relics, 11 national treasures, 11 national intangible cultural heritages, and 826 traditional festivals.

Hai Duong is also renowned for its numerous traditional craft villages and famous specialty products that bear distinct regional brands and identities, such as Thanh Ha lychees, Hai Duong mung bean cakes, and Chu Dau ceramics.

Thanh Ha lychee – a specialty of Hai Duong and one of the province’s key agricultural exports to China. (Photo: Hai Duong Portal)

After merging with Hai Phong, Hai Duong will expand its development space, optimize resources, and emerge as a new growth pole, playing a driving role in the Northern Key Economic Region. The province is making urgent preparations to lay the groundwork for becoming a growth engine within the newly established Hai Phong city.

Hai Duong has a wide range of high-quality OCOP products. (Photo: Hai Duong Newspaper)

Advancing toward a modern industrial province

In its development orientation toward 2030, Hai Duong aims to become a locality with a modern industrial base and a dynamic industrial hub of the Red River Delta region, possessing one of the largest economies in the country. The province is striving for a synchronized socio-economic infrastructure system, a green, smart, and modern urban network rich in identity, and to meet several key criteria of a centrally governed city.

Hai Duong province had its provincial planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 1639/QĐ-TTg dated December 19, 2023. According to the plan, the province is permitted to develop 32 industrial parks (IPs) by 2030, with a total planned area of 5,661 hectares.

To date, Hai Duong has established 18 industrial parks, with a total planned construction area of approximately 2,973.3 hectares. The average occupancy rate across these 18 IPs exceeds 60%.

The industrial parks are being developed based on sustainable criteria, ensuring a harmonious balance between the interests of businesses and surrounding communities. They are designed with a long-term vision, prioritizing economic efficiency, social benefits, and environmental protection as the highest goals.

An Phat Complex Industrial Park in Hai Duong. (Photo: Hai Duong Newspaper)

In terms of foreign investment attraction, Hai Duong is among the leading provinces in the country. As of the end of 2024, the province had attracted 601 foreign-invested projects from 27 countries and territories, with a total registered capital of approximately USD 10.95 billion — ranking 6th in the Red River Delta region and 15th nationwide.

In 2024, Hai Duong’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) reached approximately 212.386 trillion VND, an increase of 10.2% year-on-year — placing it among the top six provinces and cities nationwide with the highest growth rates. Following the planned merger, the total GRDP of the new Hai Phong City is projected to exceed 658 trillion VND, positioning the area as one of Vietnam’s three largest economic centers, after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Hai Duong currently hosts 110 Chinese-invested projects, with a total registered capital of over USD 900 million. Among the 27 countries and territories investing in the province, China ranks fourth, accounting for 18.5% of the total number of FDI projects and 8.4% of total registered FDI capital.

Chinese projects in the province span 23 sectors and industries, primarily focusing on processing and manufacturing, mechanical engineering, textiles and garments, hotel services, industrial cluster infrastructure, and commercial services. The average capital per Chinese project in Hai Duong is about USD 8.2 million.

In 2025, Hai Duong aims to attract at least USD 1 billion in FDI. To achieve this goal, the province has actively reformed administrative procedures, addressed investor concerns, and supported businesses throughout the investment process. Notably, Hai Duong has intensified investment promotion efforts targeting large-scale, high-tech FDI projects — especially in processing and manufacturing industries, electronics, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, hydrogen technology, and more.

The province’s industrial parks prioritize investment in sectors such as semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, component design and production, flexible electronics (PE), semiconductor materials, and high-tech product manufacturing.

Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee Tran Duc Thang received Liu Jie, Member of the Standing Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the People's Government of Foshan City, Guangdong Province (China), in November 2024. (Photo: Hai Duong Newspaper)

Ready to collaborate with Chinese partners

Cooperation with Chinese localities has always been a top priority for the leadership of Hai Duong province. The province actively promotes such collaboration through trade and investment promotion delegations to various Chinese localities, as well as by warmly welcoming and engaging in cooperative exchanges with delegations of Chinese local leaders visiting Vietnam.

In November 2024, during a visit by a delegation from Foshan City, Guangdong Province (China), led by Mr. Liu Jie, Member of the Standing Committee of the Foshan Municipal Party Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the People’s Government of Foshan, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation and friendly exchange between the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee and the government of Foshan City. This agreement stands as a testament to the province’s ongoing efforts to deepen its connections with Chinese localities.

With its potential, strengths, and strategic orientation, Hai Duong hopes to work closely with Chinese localities in the near future to implement a wide range of cooperative activities—fostering development and prosperity for both sides and the peoples of the two nations.

Leaders of the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee and the delegation from Foshan City, Guangdong Province (China) held talks on November 6, 2024. (Photo: Hai Duong Newspaper)

In the field of investment, Hai Duong aims to attract high-tech, clean, and environmentally friendly projects with large capital investment—projects capable of producing competitive, high-export-value products for international markets, while making significant contributions to the provincial budget. Therefore, the province hopes to connect with Chinese investors interested in exploring opportunities in Hai Duong, particularly high-tech industrial development, including energy technology, biotechnology, new materials and nanotechnology, electronics and digital technology, manufacturing, and automation; supporting industries, such as mechanical engineering support, and electrical-electronic support industries.

In the field of trade, the province seeks to enhance connectivity and promotion activities to boost the export of Hai Duong’s key agricultural products, handicrafts, and OCOP (One Commune One Product) goods. These include rice, fruits, agricultural produce, mung bean cakes, jelly, honey, ceramics, footwear, embroidery, wooden crafts, and other potential products to the Chinese market.

In the field of culture, Hai Duong and Chinese localities can promote cultural exchange, people-to-people diplomacy, and youth engagement through the exchange of art troupes for performances featuring traditional music, folk and contemporary dance. These cultural activities will help showcase traditional identities and the value of cultural heritage at major events and festivals held by both sides.

Both sides also need to strengthen cooperation and exchanges in the fields of fine arts, photography, and exhibitions—such as organizing art and photography exhibitions featuring works by both professional and amateur artists, handicraft displays, and photo exhibitions showcasing Hai Duong’s landscapes, scenic spots, and historical-cultural relics.These activities will help promote the province’s tourism potential, strengths, and cultural appeal.

In terms of sports, Hai Duong boasts many talented young athletes who have achieved success in sports such as table tennis, badminton, shooting, wushu, and martial arts. Therefore, the province is well-positioned to organize experience-sharing and training exchange programs with Chinese localities.

In tourism, Hai Duong always facilitates opportunities for tourism associations and businesses from both sides to engage in exchanges, cooperation, surveys, and the development of two-way tourism products.

Clearly, Hai Duong’s potential, strengths, and development orientation open up significant opportunities for cooperation with Chinese localities. Proactive and dynamic efforts to connect and foster breakthroughs in cooperation across all fields between Hai Duong and Chinese counterparts will bring about tangible benefits and prosperity for each locality and their people, contributing to the joint building of a strategically significant Vietnam–China community with a shared future.

The Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee and the administration of Foshan City, Guangdong Province (China) signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation and friendly exchanges in November 2024. (Photo: Hai Duong Newspaper)

It is hoped that the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations and the Year of Vietnam–China Humanistic Exchange will not only hold special significance for bilateral ties, but also mark the beginning of a new phase in Hai Duong’s cooperation with Chinese localities.