Da Lat 34 years after liberation

      Thirty-four years ago on April 3, the Central Highland resort city of Da Lat in Lam Dong province was liberated. Once an impoverished town, Da Lat has now become a first-tier city with bright prospects for development.
Da Lat is famous for the romantic beauty of the Central Highlands, with green pine trees, winding hilly roads and ancient villas hidden behind large shady trees. However, the city has undergone a facelift, with concrete houses replacing run-down wooden cottages and many upmarket hotels, restaurants, villas and tourist sites. Many flower farms have grown and flourished, applying advanced technologies to make a good profit.
Statistics show that the city’s GDP growth rate has increased significantly in recent years, from 14.2 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2006 and 17.2 percent in 2008. Its budget revenue has also risen considerably from VND960 billion in 2007 to VND1,000 billion in 2008, with GDP per capita reaching US$1,000 per year.
Located in the eastern part of the city, Xuan Truong commune has nearly 4,000 households with 11,400 residents, most of them working in the agricultural sector. Thanks to the application of advanced technologies and crop restructuring, the commune earns between VND100-250 million/ha from farming.
According to Ha Phuoc Ta, chairman of the communal People’s Committee, 15 percent of its households earn more than VND150 million a year, 60 percent pocket VND80 million or more and 20 percent get somewhere between VND50-80 million.
In recent years, the city has focused on increasing its tourism/service ratio and reducing its reliance on agriculture and forestry. It has dealt with issues such as urbanisation and crop restructuring in a pragmatic manner, which has ensured social stability.
However, Da Lat has yet to tap into its full potential. To achieve a steady and sustainable growth, the municipal people’s committee has prioritised the completion of its legal system to create a firm foundation for the city to attract more investors and tourists.
“The city will make full use of any support from central government, provincial authorities and investors to build up its infrastructure such as the transport network, waste treatment and drainage systems, as well as public works, meeting the criteria of a first-tier city,” says Doan Van Viet, chairman of the municipal people’s committee. “The city will stimulate investment in the local economy, especially in tourism and service industries.”
Da Lat is set to jump on the tourism wagon in the hope of turning the city into one of the leading tourist centres in the region, while boosting the production of high-quality fruit and vegetables for local consumption and export.