Developing defence potential is a strategic line of our Party and State, aimed at proactively preparing and mobilising all resources to keep enhancing defence strength for firmly protecting the Socialist Fatherland. Building on its encouraging results, Lai Chau continues to synchronously implement a wide range of solutions to realise this strategic line, contributing to building and defending the Fatherland in the new era.
Outstanding achievements
Lai Chau is a mountainous, border province in Northwest Vietnam, holding a strategic position in terms of defence and security. It is an area of rugged mountainous terrain, sparse population density, underdeveloped socio-economic conditions, and many difficulties in the people’s lives; its political security still faces destabilising factors. In recent years, the Party Organisation, authorities, armed forces, and ethnic groups in the province have made great efforts, effectively tapping potential and promoting socio-economic development, thus laying a foundation for consolidating defence potential and achieving many important accomplishments. The political system has been streamlined effectively as a solid basis for leadership and direction over the implementation of the Party’s lines and policies. At present, 100% of villages and hamlets have party organisations, and there is “no area without any party members”. The two-tier local government model has operated in an orderly, smooth, effective manner. The Fatherland Front and unions have effectively performed their role of supervision and criticism. As a result, the people’s solidarity and faith and posture of “people’s hearts and minds” have been cemented.
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| Provincial leadership visit training models for the training season of 2026 |
Economically, despite many difficulties, Lai Chau has maintained a relatively good growth rate; in 2025, GRDP growth reached 7.52%, meeting the growth scenario assigned by the Government; state budget revenue reached VND 3,574 billion, the highest level ever recorded; national target programmes within the province have been actively implemented and gained positive results; the programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has been carried out decisively and brought about clear improvements in social welfare. These efforts have significantly contributed to improving living standards of the people, especially ethnic minorities.
Additionally, local military and defence work has always been closely led and directed. The provincial armed forces have strictly maintained combat readiness, closely monitoring situational developments, promptly handling contingencies to avoid passivity and surprise; they have provided absolute security for key targets and important political events. All targets for military recruitment has been reached; many exercises have been successfully organised, thereby enhancing relevant forces’ leadership, command, management, and combat readiness capacity.
These achievements are vivid evidence of the sound leadership of the Provincial Party Organisation and the efforts of the entire political system and the people; at the same time, they constitute an important premise for Lai Chau to continue strengthening defence potential to meet its task requirements in the new situation.
Strengthening defence potential associated with “green, rapid, sustainable” development
To keep effectively building defence potential and meet the requirements of Fatherland protection in the new situation, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Council, and the Provincial People’s Committee continue to focus their leadership and direction on the Action Programme for the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress (2025 -2030 tenure), with emphasis placed on the following key tasks.
First, building strong political and spiritual potential as the foundation for defence potential. Grasping the guiding viewpoint: “… ensuring the smooth, synchronous, effective operation of the new apparatus of the political system, enhancing the Party’s leadership and ruling capacity and combativeness …”, recognising political - spiritual potential as the foundation of defence strength, the province attaches special importance to improving the leadership capacity and combativeness of party organisations and the effectiveness and efficiency of management of all-level authorities. To that end, it promotes innovation and flexibility in leadership and direction, enhancing the capability in making forecasts and identifying appropriate measures, maintaining the principle of democratic centralism, upholding the exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members, especially leaders. At the same time, administrative reform is accelerated, with increased application of information technology and digital transformation.
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| Giving encouragement to new soldiers of the province in 2026 |
Building on the success of the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2026 - 2031 term, Lai Chau continues raising the quality and effectiveness of operation of authorities at all levels, strengthening supervision of law enforcement, especially policies on defence and security, promptly concretising and implementing Central mechanisms and policies in line with its practical requirements and the building of strong, modern all-people national defence, stepping up decentralisation and delegation of authority coupled with strict inspection and supervision to ensure that all tasks, especially defence and military tasks, are carried out uniformly, smoothly. Besides, efforts are intensified in defence and security education for target groups and the entire population, especially along the border. The Provincial Military Command promotes its core role in mass mobilisation to raise awareness and a sense of responsibility among cadres, party members, and citizens in performing local military and defence work, firmly safeguarding border sovereignty, and maintaining political stability and social order and safety right at grass-roots level.
Second, fostering economic development to generate material resources for defence. With its strengths in water and mineral resources, Lai Chau boosts the development of industries, especially hydroelectricity, agro-forestry processing, and mineral exploitation and processing, rationally utilising resources for socio-economic development in association with defence and security consolidation. In the coming period, it focuses development on “one axis - two regions - three pillars”1. Priority is given to building dual-use infrastructure, especially transport and communications systems to serve both economic development and national defence in all situations. To realise the goal of double-digit growth and green, rapid, sustainable development and become a moderately developed province in the Region, the province restructures its economic sectors towards sustainability and maintains stable GRDP growth, with emphasis on developing synchronous, modern, dual-use infrastructure such as Bao Ha - Lai Chau expressway (CT.13), road tunnels through Hoang Lien and Khau Co passes, upgrading key national highways (4H, 4D, 12), building infrastructure for Ma Lu Thang Border Gate Economic Zone under a “digital, smart border gate” model, and planning Lai Chau Airport, thereby boosting trade, meeting the requirements of manoeuvre and combat in defensive zones, and ensuring that economic resources can be promptly mobilised for defence tasks when necessary.
Third, accelerating science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation, creating breakthroughs in building defence potential. Closely following the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW, dated 22 December 2024, the province increases investment in science and technology, especially in key technologies, digital infrastructure, and databases. Building on its initial results in digital transformation and administrative reform, it steps up the application of technology in border management and area surveillance, effectively assisting competent forces in controlling border lines and markers, early detecting threats to sovereignty, and preventing transnational crime.
In order to combat wrongful, hostile viewpoints, protect the Party’s ideological foundation, and popularise legal knowledge right at grass-roots level, Lai Chau focuses on disseminating digital skills and enhancing communication on social platforms, developing virtual assistant systems and AI applications to automate scanning, detection, and early warning of harmful information flows. It continues to build shared digital data repositories on historical materials and border-related laws, combined with multimedia platforms to deliver defence education content in a vivid and visual manner; at the same time, it trains a contingent of “digital soldiers” at grass-roots level capable of using data analysis tools to guide public opinion accurately and opportunely.
Fourth, building strong military potential and enhancing the overall quality and combat strength of local armed forces. Grasping the Party’s lines and viewpoints on military affairs, national defence, and Fatherland protection in the new situation, the province concentrates on mobilising and effectively using resources to build strong defensive zones and local armed forces. Notably, to successfully achieve the goal of successfully organising a provincial defensive zone exercise in 2027 and a civil defence exercise in 2029, set by the 15th Provincial Party Congress, it directs the Provincial Military Command to review and complete the system of operational documents and posture planning in defensive zones, and strengthen the construction of military works, border patrol roads, and commune-level military command headquarters to effectively serve training and combat readiness and meet the requirements of defensive combat. Great value is attached to raising the quality of training militia and self-defence and reserve forces, and developing standing militia units in border communes and key defence and security areas.
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| Improving the quality of training new soldiers |
In addition, to mobilise international resources for socio-economic development associated with defence and security, the province effectively implements the Politburo’s Resolution 59-NQ/TW, dated 24 January 2025, the Secretariat’s Directive 15-CT/TW, dated 10 August 2022, and provincial action programmes on foreign affairs and international integration in the new situation. It actively signs and realises cooperation agreements with foreign partners in the fields that it has great potential and growing need. It proactively accesses investment and aid capital sources for development, including non-governmental aid programmes in areas still facing difficulties. It expands comprehensive cooperation with Yunnan Province (China), northern provinces of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and localities of the Republic of Korea.
Bringing into play the achievements after more than 20 years since its re-establishment, Lai Chau continues strengthening its defence potential to contribute to successfully fulfilling local military and defence work and creating a favourable environment for “rapid, green, sustainable” development in the new era.
HA QUANG TRUNG
Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee
Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee
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1 - One axis: the general development axis of the province. Two regions: Economic Region 1 fosters eco-tourism, electricity production, construction materials, agro-processing industry, urban development, and border trade economy; Economic Region 2 develops industrial crops, medicinal plants (especially Lai Chau ginseng), and electricity production. Three pillars: services, industry, and agriculture.