New Phu Tho After the Merger – A Growth Driver for the Region

On July 1, 2025, the three provinces of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, and Hoa Binh officially merged, ushering in a new face on the national administrative map. This is not just a change in territorial boundaries, but a manifestation of a grand ambition for the newly-formed Phu Tho to become a growth pole, a driving force for the development of the midland and northern mountainous region of Vietnam.

The central area of Vinh Phuc ward, one of the key urban highlights of the new Phu Tho province

Just two months after the merger, the new Phu Tho has proven that this is not a mere mechanical sum but a powerful synergy. In the first six months of the year, the province’s GRDP reached 186.4 trillion VND, an increase of 10.09% compared to the same period last year, placing it among the top 6 localities with the highest growth in the country. Industry and construction accounted for 46.58% of the GRDP, growing by 15.32%; services grew by 8.2%; and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries remained stable. The economic structure has been reshaped towards industrialization and modernization, asserting its position as the industrial hub of the region.

Alongside this, investment flows have surged. In the first six months, the province attracted nearly 469 million USD in foreign direct investment (FDI); by the end of July, this number rose to 651.7 million USD, including 35 new projects and 45 expanded projects. Domestic direct investment (DDI) also reached over 43,000 billion VND, with Hoa Binh accounting for 38,006 billion VND. The number of new businesses has nearly doubled: 2,976 businesses with a total capital of over 26,000 billion VND; nearly 1,000 businesses have resumed operations. With a domestic market of over 4 million people and an area of more than 9,300 km2, the province has become a prime investment destination.

A comparison before and after July 1 further highlights the transformation. Previously, investment promotion and tourism marketing activities were scattered and overlapping. Now, the new province has rolled out large-scale and more coordinated programs. Key transportation routes, such as the Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway, Hoa Lac – Hoa Binh road, and the Vinh Yen – Viet Tri route, not only connect the old localities but have become the lifeblood of a unified development space.

Notably, the industrial park system is expanding rapidly, with 58 parks covering over 14,000 hectares, and the average occupancy rate has reached 44.3%. The province has 818 projects in industrial parks, including 507 FDI projects with a total capital of more than 9.7 billion USD, providing jobs for nearly 210,000 workers. High-tech industries, electronics, and precision mechanics are gradually becoming the province’s trademarks.

The merger has also brought new vitality to the cultural and tourism sectors. The culture of the Hung Kings' homeland blends with the Muong ethnic identity of Hoa Binh, combined with the modern industrial atmosphere of Vinh Phuc, creating a vibrant picture. From the Hung Kings Temple Festival, the “Going to the Buddha, Returning to the Mother” festival in Tay Thien,

community-based tourism in Mai Chau, to high-end resorts and technology parks, all are complementing each other, opening up integrated tourism products aimed at sustainable development.

Since the milestone of July 1, the new Phu Tho has embarked on a new journey, where growth figures are not just achievements but a commitment to a bright future. With an economic scale of over 318,000 billion VND, double-digit GRDP growth, vibrant investment flows, and thousands of newly established businesses, the new Phu Tho has firmly established itself as a growth driver and a launching pad for the midland and northern mountainous region of Vietnam.

Quang Nam