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Investment decisions and strategic cooperation agreements signed at a conference in Lai Châu mark a turning point for the province’s green agriculture development. The deals aim to build value chains, accelerate deep processing, and raise the status of medicinal herbs and endemic agricultural products in a sustainable way.
At the conference “Development of commodity agriculture and medicinal herbs toward a green, sustainable economy” held on April 24, 2026 in Lai Châu, the Lai Châu Provincial People’s Committee approved a series of large-scale forestry and agro-forestry investment decisions, creating prospects for green and sustainable growth.
Green Forestry JSC, represented by Mr. Vu Xuan Toan, received an investment decision for a large-scale forest development project with tea and medicinal herbs in Hua Bum, Pa Tan, and Pa Ui communes. The project covers more than 470 hectares, with total investment of 62 billion VND.
Hakovina Trading and Services Co., represented by Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tu, was approved to invest in a production forest planting project in Bum To, Muong Te. The project covers more than 1,000 hectares, with total investment of 92 billion VND.
Normal One Co., represented by Mr. Khuat Viet Quy, was approved to invest in a high-tech pig farm using a closed-loop model to ensure biosafety. The project covers 16,000 pigs per cycle, with total investment of 96 billion VND, aiming to supply high-quality products to the market and to create jobs while contributing to the local budget.
Linh Dược Thiên Vương High-Tech Technology Joint Stock Company, represented by Mr. Vu Dang Khai, received an investment decision for a project to grow and develop production forests in the Hua Bum area. The project covers over 1,300 hectares, with registered capital of 180 billion VND. The project aims to form a centralized raw material region, raise the value of agro-forestry products, and improve forest cover and livelihoods.
Eleven MOUs were signed to promote the development of commodity agriculture toward sustainability and value addition. The Lai Châu Provincial People’s Committee signed MOUs with the Vietnam Macadamia Association to cooperate on building a raw material region and developing the macadamia value chain, and with the Vietnam Tea Association to support development of a safe tea product chain and branding for Shan Tuyet tea.
The province also signed MOUs with Novagen Farm Lai Châu on investment in a pig and poultry breeding farm; with KMDC Pharmaceutical JSC on committing to invest in a tea area eco-tourism complex and the Trung Dong hot mineral springs covering 100 hectares, and on building a tea processing plant with an anticipated capacity of 4,000 tons per year.
Another agreement was signed with Que Lam Group JSC and the Vietnam Circular Agriculture Association to develop organic and circular agriculture along the value chain, aiming for economic efficiency, reduced emissions, and environmental protection.
In addition, Lai Châu signed MOUs with Loan Truong Ltd., Tri Duc LC and TVOne Vietnam focusing on developing macadamia raw material regions and the macadamia value chain.
In the agriculture sector, Lai Châu’s Department of Agriculture and Environment signed with the Institute of Mountainous Northern Agro-Forestry Science and Technology on research and technology transfer for tea varieties and fruit crops. At the same time, Than Yen Tea JSC signed with the Institute to promote research and technology transfer to advance tea development in the region.
In concluding remarks, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Quoc Tri said Lai Châu must implement four major transformations to create a breakthrough in developing green, sustainable agriculture: shift from a production mindset to an agricultural economy; move from fragmented production to value-chain linkages; move from selling raw products to deep processing; and move from potential to real value.
The deputy minister noted that Lai Châu has advantages in land, climate, forests, biodiversity, and cultural identity, which can support commodity agriculture linked to highland specialties, especially medicinal herbs under the forest canopy. However, these advantages will be difficult to realize without organizing into material regions, value chains, brands, and ensuring stable income for local people.
The conference emphasized that commodity agriculture and green medicinal herbs are not only about restructuring, but also a driver for Lai Châu to achieve higher growth. The province should prioritize products with advantages such as high-quality tea, specialty rice, macadamia, cold-water fish, lake fish, and other highland crops rather than dispersing efforts.
Bottlenecks identified include small-scale production, lack of linkage, limited processing, storage, logistics, and digital transformation. To address these, the deputy minister urged Lai Châu to reorganize production by ecological sub-regions, build value chains with enterprise leadership, and focus on processing, storage, and branding as key breakthroughs.
For medicinal herbs, the deputy minister said development could become a dedicated direction thanks to natural conditions and indigenous knowledge, but must be sustainable. He highlighted the need for planning, standards, quality control, and ensuring local people benefit. A synchronized value chain should be built, with medicinal herb development linked with ecotourism and health care to raise value.
If these directions are implemented effectively, Lai Châu is expected to improve residents’ income, protect forest resources, and serve as an example in the Central Highlands and Northern Mountainous region for green, sustainable commodity agriculture and medicinal herbs.
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