The merger of Dak Lak and Phu Yen is more than a geographic combination; it represents a strategic linkage between the two regions whose strengths naturally complement each other.

A novel development space

The former Dak Lak province - long known as a  coffee hub of the Central Highlands - possesses fertile basalt soil, diverse forest resources, and key agricultural products such as pepper, rubber and durian. The former Phu Yen province, meanwhile, offers an extensive coastline, abundant marine resources, potential seaports and a rapidly expanding tourism sector.

PPC Chairman Ta Anh Tuan discussing the province’s development potentials with investors, particularly in coastal tourism.

According to comrade Ta Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee cum PPC Chairman, the new Dak Lak province is a large locality with a strategically important position in national defence, security and socio-economic development. The province now covers more than 18,000 km2, ranking third nationwide by area, a population of over 3.3 million people, a 71-km border and a 189-km coastline. Previously, the former Dak Lak was the centre of the Central Highlands, while the former Phu Yen was a central locality of the South Central Coast  - an important transport junction connecting the North - South axis and linking the Central Highlands to the coastal region. This gives the province vast development space. It now has favourable conditions to expand the marine economy, particularly high-value sectors such as metallurgy, petrochemicals, renewable energy and big data infrastructure. Tourism and services associated with forests, sea and local cultural identity are also expected to develop into key economic pillars.

With extensive agricultural land, favourable climate conditions and improving processing and logistics infrastructure, the new Dak Lak province is poised to attract high-tech agriculture projects and closed-loop value chains. Signature products such as coffee, pepper and tropical fruit can be produced at higher quality and more easily exported through coastal ports.

Dual advantages for investors

The merger has created a larger administrative entity with highly diverse terrain and resources, expanding investment opportunities across sectors. Investors can now approach a more integrated development landscape, enabling cross-regional projects that leverage both marine and forest advantages.

Modern, well-developed investment infrastructure is becoming one of the province’s major advantages in attracting investors

The combination of highland eco-tourism and distinct Central Highlands culture from the former Dak Lak with coastal tourism, resort services and heritage exploration from the former Phu Yen opens the door to unique tourism products appealing to domestic and international visitors. Investments in tourism infrastructure, eco-resorts and integrated entertainment complexes are expected to gain strong momentum.

The province’s abundant agricultural, forestry and seafood resources, together with access to seaports, will further drive the processing industry. Agro-processing, seafood processing and wood-processing facilities can be located in industrial parks near ports to optimise logistics and export costs. Simultaneously, the logistics sector will expand to connect raw-material areas with processing and export centres.

The province also holds significant potentials in renewable energy - solar power in the former Dak Lak and coastal wind power in the former Phu Yen - making it a promising field for investors pursuing sustainable development and energy transition.

Translated by KHUONG THAO