Under the General Urban Master Plan to 2050, Buon Ma Thuot aims to become a “Global Coffee Capital”, in line with its orientation towards an ecological and smart city. Building on a multi-polar spatial structure, the city is working to transform indigenous knowledge coupled with agricultural value chains into a broad-based economic ecosystem.

Dak Lak currently has more than 210,000 hectares of coffee plantations, with annual output ranging from 520,000 to 600,000 tonnes, accounting for approximately 30 - 35% of the national total production. A key foundation for realising its ambition to achieve global prominence lies in protecting and promoting the core values of the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Geographical Indication.

Mr. Trinh Duc Minh, Chairman of the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, affirmed: “The Buon Ma Thuot Geographical Indication for green coffee beans and deeply processed coffee has been protected domestically since 2005 as well as is now protected internationally in 32 countries, making it an important asset for enhancing origin-based value.” However, to build genuine and sustainable competitiveness, the core value lies not only in natural advantages but also in the living body of knowledge held by coffee-growing communities.

High-quality coffee processing at Aeroco Coffee Farm.

A shift towards quality-oriented agricultural practices is spreading across production areas. Farmers are paying greater attention to preliminary processing and controlled fermentation to preserve the finest nuances of flavour. Coffee-growing communities in key production areas such as Cu M’gar, Krong Pac, Krong Nang, Krong Ana combined with Ea H’leo have continued to adapt to the stringent demands of global markets.

Affirming position

Buon Ma Thuot’s General Urban Master Plan to 2050 clearly outlines a shift in economic structure built around three strategic pillars, with a particular focus on developing processing industries linked to high-tech agriculture and building an international brand.

In order to realise this vision, local businesses are proactively repositioning their brands through deeply processed products. One instance is Aeroco Coffee Co., Ltd., based in Ea Kao Ward, which has completed international organic certification for 2.5 hectares of Arabica and Robusta coffee, meeting the standards of four major markets: the United States, Canada, Japan combined with the European Union (EU).

Company Director, Mr. Le Dinh Tu said that in October 2026, the company signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with South Korean businesses, GONGSO Co., Ltd. and NPCGEN. These agreements open up significant opportunities for product development cooperation, access to the beverage market along with in-depth knowledge exchange on cultivation techniques, pest and disease monitoring, while processing methods.

Alongside efforts to boost exports, the development of a coffee-themed cultural and commercial space in the urban core is also being prioritised to promote the “on-the-spot export” model. The Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Street project, proposed by Dak Lak September 2 Simexco One Member Co., Ltd., is a breakthrough initiative in this direction. Covering 6,337 sq.m. around the stadium area, the project has a proposed total investment of VND 35 billion as well as is slated for a 62-month pilot operation from 2027 to 2032. It is expected to begin operations during the 10th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival in 2027.

Mr. Trinh Duc Minh, Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association Chairman, said that by closely combining longstanding indigenous knowledge, coordinated urban spatial planning and the ambitions of pioneering businesses, Buon Ma Thuot is steadily advancing towards becoming a comprehensive service hub worthy of its status as the global coffee capital.

Translated by HAI LOAN