Strategic Vision Unveiled to Position Phu Tho as a Hub for Tourism, Culture and Creative Economy

On June 24, Tran Duy Dong, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, chaired a meeting to review a proposed strategic vision for the development of tourism, culture and the creative economy in the province.

The meeting was attended by Phung Thi Kim Nga, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee, together with leaders of provincial departments and agencies, the Hung Kings Historical Relic Site Management Board, and representatives of Dalberg Global Advisors Co., Ltd.

Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong delivers concluding remarks at the meeting.

At the meeting, consultants from Dalberg Global Advisors and Dream Studio presented a development strategy built upon Vietnam’s national tourism orientations and development policies. The proposal seeks to position Phu Tho as an internationally recognized center for tourism, culture and the creative economy, transforming the province from a destination primarily attracting day-trippers into a year-round tourism hub capable of welcoming growing numbers of international visitors by 2030.

The strategy proposes three interconnected development corridors that capitalize on the province’s diverse strengths. The northern cultural heritage corridor would be centered around the Hung Kings Historical Relic Site and the former Viet Tri City, showcasing the nation’s origin story through the Hung Kings era, Mother Au Co and Xoan Singing. The southern nature and wellness corridor would focus on Hoa Binh Lake and Kim Boi, promoting eco-tourism, water recreation, hot spring wellness services and the cultural identity of ethnic minority communities. Meanwhile, the eastern mountain and spiritual tourism corridor would develop high-end mountain resorts centered on Tam Dao, Tay Thien and Flamingo Dai Lai.

To balance conservation with development, the consultants proposed a three-layer concentric development model. The innermost zone would strictly preserve core heritage, natural and spiritual values with minimal commercial activities. The second zone would accommodate supporting infrastructure such as museums, heritage interpretation centers, transport facilities and tourism services, while the outer zone would be dedicated to creative industries, cultural events, pedestrian streets and premium hospitality developments.

Christopher Lewis Malone, Managing Director of Dalberg Southeast Asia, presents the proposed strategy for tourism, cultural and creative economy development in Phu Tho Province.

The strategy also emphasizes close cooperation among strategic private investors, creative economy operators and specialized government agencies to accelerate implementation and commercialization. It further envisions Phu Tho joining UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network in the fields of music or crafts and folk arts.

By 2030, the strategy aims to mobilize between USD 1 billion and USD 1.8 billion from public-private partnerships, government funding and private investment, attract 19–20 million visitors annually, increase the overnight stay rate from 32 percent to 40–50 percent, and generate between 50,000 and 60,000 new jobs. The implementation roadmap is divided into three phases, beginning with catalyst projects during 2026–2028, followed by the completion of core tourism assets through 2030 and expansion into international markets while pursuing UNESCO World Heritage recognition for the expanded Hung Kings Cultural Landscape during 2030–2035.

During the discussion, Vice Chairwoman Phung Thi Kim Nga and representatives of provincial departments highly appreciated the innovative approach of the proposed strategy. Participants agreed that Phu Tho should move beyond traditional heritage tourism to develop an integrated cultural, ecological and creative destination that offers more diverse tourism products, extends visitors' length of stay and delivers greater economic benefits to local communities.

Mr. Duong Hoang Huong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, offers recommendations to further refine the proposed strategy.

Delegates also recommended further studies of successful domestic and international models, stronger development of sports tourism such as marathons, trail running and golf, and greater attention to the nighttime economy. They proposed that large-scale outdoor performances should draw inspiration from Hung Kings legends and the art of Xoan Singing while investment priorities should focus first on flagship tourism products capable of generating wider regional impacts.

Concluding the meeting, Chairman Tran Duy Dong praised the consultants' professional approach and the constructive contributions from provincial departments. He stressed that, following the recent administrative merger, Phu Tho must establish a clear long-term vision defining its future identity. The province’s rich ancestral heritage should be transformed into measurable soft power that directly contributes to GRDP growth.

The Chairman requested the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the consulting team to refine the strategy by incorporating feedback and clarifying Phu Tho’s role within national and regional development planning for the 2026–2030 period with a vision to 2045. He reaffirmed the province’s ambition to become the ancestral homeland of the Vietnamese people, a distinctive tourism destination and a leading center for the creative economy with national and regional significance.

He also directed the development of professional outdoor cultural performances, stronger tourism branding and modern cultural infrastructure. Among the key proposals were commissioning a large-scale multimedia performance on the Hung Kings using advanced lighting technologies and digital applications for regular weekend shows, integrating the performance venue into the planning of the Lo and Red River waterfronts, and upgrading the traditional Hung Kings Temple Festival into a professionally organized international festival featuring drone performances, artistic fireworks and live television broadcasts.

An overview of the meeting.

In addition, the Chairman called for the digital transformation of museums, the development of a modern cultural theatre, theme parks, pedestrian streets and water music shows, while strengthening tourism connectivity among the three core areas of Phu Tho, Hoa Binh and Vinh Phuc as well as major regional tourism corridors linking Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Lao Cai and Thai Nguyen.

Chairman Tran Duy Dong assigned the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work with the consulting team to finalize the report for submission to the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee. He emphasized that the strategy must ultimately be translated into concrete legal frameworks, clearly identifying priorities, locations, investment resources, implementing agencies and implementation timelines. He also requested the inclusion of mechanisms to maximize cooperation with major strategic investors, including Sun Group, which is studying large-scale investment projects in Kim Boi and Van Son, thereby creating new momentum for the sustainable development of Phu Tho Province.

Dinh Vu