General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Tô Lâm urged Thái Nguyên to build synchronised infrastructure, modern governance and improve people's quality of life ahead of its 200th founding anniversary in 2031. He made the call at an October 30 ceremony marking the province's 195th anniversary, dated November 4, 1831. The ceremony included the presentation of the first-class Labour Order and the opening of the Thái Nguyên International Tea Festival 2026.
He said the province should look beyond its 195th anniversary towards its bicentenary and the country's development aspirations for 2045. Future growth must rely on labour productivity, scientific and technological capacity, innovation and quality of life as the advantages of low-cost labour diminish and environmental requirements become stricter.
He called for a clean and strong provincial Party organisation, better public services and stronger public trust. The two-tier local administration model must work smoothly, with stronger commune-level capacity, particularly in mountainous areas. Long-term targets should become annual tasks with clear responsibility and public oversight.
The province should strengthen industrial autonomy by putting science, technology and human resources at the centre of its strategy. It should help domestic businesses upgrade technology, meet standards and join supply chains. Development should balance industry, urban areas and ecology, while planning addresses energy, housing, waste treatment and flood drainage.
Lâm stressed the need to preserve traditional values while raising the international profile of Thái Nguyên tea. Knowledge and skills for cultivating and processing Tân Cương tea and other local varieties should pass between generations. Cooperatives, businesses and households should receive support to apply technology, protect geographical indications, prevent origin fraud and develop products while preserving the tea's distinctive qualities.
The international tea festival should connect growers, artisans, businesses and foreign partners to exchange knowledge and expand markets. Success should be measured by brand recognition, market expansion and higher producer incomes, not event scale. Industrial growth must also improve workers' housing, education, healthcare and living conditions. Mountainous areas need better access to essential services, vocational training and employment, while disadvantaged children need education and skills.
At the ceremony, the top leader presented the first-class Labour Order to Thái Nguyên's Party organisation, authorities and ethnic communities for their achievements in attracting investment and contributing to national socio-economic development. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lâm Thị Phương Thanh presented a certificate recognising Thái Nguyên tea cultivation and processing as part of the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Sources: Viet Nam News
