Enterprise Support Policies and Investment Attraction

During the 2025-2030 period, Dien Bien aims to make a strong breakthrough in investment attraction based on three pillars: comprehensively improving the business and investment environment, completing strategic infrastructure, and implementing outstanding incentive mechanisms to mobilize maximum external resources. These efforts are expected to drive rapid and sustainable growth in the new development context.

Ministry of Science and Technology and the Dien Bien People’s Committee co-host a conference to promote trade, investment, and digital technology for Northwestern businesses, December 2025

Overview of potential, strengths, and investment orientation

Located in the Northwest region, Dien Bien holds an important geopolitical and economic position in connecting trade within the Greater Mekong Subregion. With a border of over 455 kilometers, including more than 400 kilometers with Laos and over 40 kilometers with China, the province enjoys favorable conditions for developing border-gate trade, import-export activities, and logistics. The Tay Trang International Border Gate is being upgraded, while the expansion of the A Pa Chai-Long Phu access route is forming a seamless cross-border trade corridor, opening wide gateways for regional economic exchange.

Dien Bien is the only northern mountainous province that currently operates a commercial airport with direct connections to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The completed expansion of Dien Bien Airport now accommodates A320 and A321 aircraft, paving the way for new domestic and international routes. This marks a major boost for tourism, logistics, and investment attraction.

The province covers more than 9,539 square kilometers and has a population of over 673,000 from 19 ethnic groups with diverse cultural identities. Over 94% of its land area is agricultural, providing significant potential for developing high-tech agriculture, agroforestry processing industries, and concentrated raw material zones, as well as promoting forest-based economic models linked to sustainable development.

In line with the goal of sustainable economic growth and enhancing provincial competitiveness, Dien Bien’s investment attraction strategy focuses on: Prioritizing projects with broad spillover effects, high technology application, and efficient resource use; Selecting strategic investors with proven experience and strong financial capacity; oncentrating on sectors where the province has advantages, including high-tech agroforestry combined with deep processing; cultural, ecological, and high-end resort tourism; border-gate economy and logistics services; renewable energy and clean industry; and urbanization and technical infrastructure development.

The province has publicly announced a list of investment opportunities in various fields, such as urban and commercial services, key tourism infrastructure (including Dien Bien Phu-Muong Phang), golf courses, renewable energy, and new industrial parks. This transparent and accessible information enables investors to explore potential projects proactively. For more details, visit: http://ttxtdt.stc.dienbien.gov.vn/portal/Pages/default.aspx.

Dien Bien invests heavily to upgrade its public administration service centers

Investment incentives and enterprise support policies

To effectively realize its investment attraction goals, Dien Bien has been implementing strong support and incentive policies to create a favorable and appealing investment environment. The policy framework includes:

- Corporate income tax: For new investment projects in priority sectors with significant socioeconomic impact, the province will coordinate with the Government to apply a preferential tax rate of 10% throughout the project’s operational period.

- Import tax exemption: This applies to imported goods used to form fixed assets for investment projects. A five-year tax exemption is granted from the start of production for imported raw materials, supplies, and components used in manufacturing.

- Land and water surface use incentives: Land or water surface rent is fully exempted for projects in specially encouraged sectors; exempted for 15 years for projects in encouraged sectors; and exempted for 11 years for other sectors, starting from the date of operation. Projects located in the Tay Trang Border Gate Economic Zone are entitled to an additional 50% reduction in land or water surface rent after the exemption period ends.

- Support for technology transfer and innovation: The province encourages projects involving the transfer of advanced and core technologies that create new high-quality products, improve production efficiency, and conserve fuel, energy, and natural resources.

- Administrative reform and investment environment: Dien Bien continues to streamline administrative procedures related to business registration and investment licensing. The province operates an electronic one-stop service, ensures transparency in all processes, and maintains regular dialogue with businesses. This proactive and friendly approach reinforces investor confidence in the local government.

These incentives are not merely “on paper” but represent Dien Bien’s firm commitment to accompany and support investors in successfully implementing their projects.

Sustainable growth based on four pillars

The 2025-2030 period marks a pivotal phase for Dien Bien to accelerate development. The province’s economic strategy focuses on four main pillars:

1. Transportation infrastructure - expanding new development space

A series of major infrastructure projects are being implemented, including the expansion of Dien Bien Airport; the construction and upgrade of National Highways 279 and 12, and the Muong Lay-Nam Nhun route; as well as a pre-feasibility study for the Son La-Dien Bien-Tay Trang Expressway. Once the inter-regional transport network is completed, large-scale urban, commercial, service, and tourism centers will be activated, significantly enhancing investment appeal.

2. High-tech agriculture linked to processing and consumption chains

The province is transforming its agricultural model by developing macadamia as a key crop, targeting 100,000 ha by 2030. It is expanding material zones for coffee, rubber, medicinal herbs, and Dien Bien rice (a national brand), while attracting deep-processing enterprises and building agricultural logistics chains. The goal is to create a high-value agricultural economy that accelerates poverty reduction for ethnic minorities and protects the ecological environment.

3. Tourism and modern urban development

Tourism is identified as a spearhead economic sector, capitalizing on its many advantages: the Dien Bien Phu Battlefield (a Special National Relic), the majestic landscapes of Muong Phang, Pu Don, and Muong Nhe, and the rich cultural heritage of the Thai, Mong, and Kho Mu ethnic groups. The province prioritizes developing historical-cultural-spiritual tourism, eco-resort tourism, and adventure experiences.

At the same time, urbanization is being actively promoted: upgrading Dien Bien Phu City to a Class II urban center, developing new urban areas and commercial-service hubs, and improving landscapes and living standards for residents.

4. Renewable energy and green-smart economy

Dien Bien is focusing on developing sustainable energy sources, including small hydropower, solar and wind power on hydropower reservoirs, and biomass industries linked to agriculture.

In parallel, the province is applying digital transformation in management and promoting a green economy to reduce emissions and preserve natural resources and the province’s unique landscapes.

These four pillars are closely interconnected: strong infrastructure supports logistics, tourism, and urban growth; high-tech agriculture provides inputs for processing, export, and domestic supply; urbanization expands business and service spaces; and renewable energy ensures a clean and stable foundation for sustainable development.

By Duy Anh, Vietnam Business Forum