Vietnam's Lam Dong province becomes country's largest and eyes maritime development

The Vietnamese government has merged Lam Dong with Binh Thuan and Đăk Nông, creating the nation’s largest province at roughly 24,239 km². The new province now boasts the greatest forest area in Vietnam (about 1.12 million ha), the largest coffee‑planting region (over 330,000 ha, more than 45% of the country’s total), substantial mineral reserves—including 7 billion t of bauxite and 92% of the nation’s titanium—and a leading high‑tech agricultural sector.

At the Party’s third plenary session, General Secretary and President Tô Lâm signed Resolution 20‑NQ/TW, urging the development of Vietnam as a strong maritime nation. Lam Dong officials, such as Vice‑Chairman Lê Trọng Yên, say the merger creates a new “mountain‑highland‑sea‑island” development space that can drive a dynamic maritime economy. The province already has 192 km of coastline, a large exclusive economic zone, significant oil‑gas reserves and plans for high‑tech sea‑farm cultivation.

The province also anticipates the reopening of Liên Khuông airport in 2026, which will reconnect Lam Dong with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, further supporting tourism and economic growth.