With over 409,000 hectares of natural forest, more than 8,300 hectares of planted forest, and a forest coverage rate exceeding 44%, Điện Biên is well-positioned to participate in and benefit from the carbon credit market- a key economic tool regarded as a “new resource” for green development. Selling carbon credits from forests not only generates stable revenue but also incentivizes ecosystem protection and restoration, boosting the capacity to absorb greenhouse gases.

At the 2024 workshop titled “Green and smart urban and industrial park development linked to Điện Biên’s carbon credit market” organized by the Department of Construction in collaboration with research institutes and green growth and digital transformation enterprises, experts shared important recommendations. To maximize advantages and proactively develop the carbon market, the province needs to establish detailed plans aligned with sustainable forest development, quantify CO₂ absorption capacity, and expand reforestation efforts. These measures will help Điện Biên build a green value chain, reduce emissions, and secure stable income streams.

Based on expert guidance, local sectors and authorities have been gradually concretizing carbon market development strategies, integrating them into urban, industrial, and renewable energy growth plans. According to the Department of Construction, carbon credit market policies open significant opportunities thanks to favorable factors: high forest coverage, low urbanization and industrialization rates, making the province ideal for realizing green growth tied to digital transformation.

In line with Vietnam’s COP26 commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Điện Biên is implementing coordinated solutions focusing on renewable energy, green transportation, circular agriculture, and sustainable urban development. The 2025- 2030 plan has approved over 900 MW of solar power, more than 1,000MW of wind power, and 400MW of pumped-storage hydropower- natural “batteries” for energy storage. These projects are slated for areas including Mường Ảng, Tuần Giáo, Na Son, and Tủa Chùa.

Vũ Hồng Sơn, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, said the province is reviewing and adjusting projects under the Power Development Plan VIII to ensure alignment with sustainable energy development. The industry and trade sector is also actively addressing obstacles to accelerate ongoing hydropower projects and cooperating with investors to launch two wind power projects totaling 300MW.

Alongside energy, the transportation sector is gradually “greening.” To date, the province has nearly 600 electric cars and over 4,000 electric motorbikes; three out of eight taxi companies have switched to clean energy vehicles. The province encourages more electric bus routes, develops charging infrastructure, and promotes transitioning logistics and freight transport to renewable energy.

Along with energy shifts, Điện Biên is prioritizing green infrastructure and urban space development. The Department of Construction is studying an ecological urban model and plans to pilot residential areas using solar energy, ecological drainage, and non-fired building materials during 2025- 2040.

In agriculture, Điện Biên is expanding environmentally friendly, smart farming models. For example, the low-emission rice production model is seen as a major step forward, increasing crop value, adapting to climate change, and protecting the environment. The model, carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Environment in partnership with NetZero Carbon JSC, BSB Nanotech, and Spiro Carbon (BNS), covers nearly 86 hectares across Điện Biên, Mường Ảng, and Tuần Giáo districts on rice varieties like Đài thơm, Séng Cù, and J02.

After one crop cycle, with strong support from agricultural staff and farmers’ efforts, the smart rice cultivation model has yielded positive results. Đài thơm rice reached about 7.46 tons per hectare (over 0.3 tons higher than traditional methods), and Séng Cù exceeded 5.1 tons per hectare (over 0.5 tons higher). The model reduced 172 carbon credits, helping protect farmland environments. Farmers earned an additional income of approximately VND 880,000 per hectare from carbon credit incentives, boosting total extra earnings by VND 4.8 to 9.3 million per hectare.

Trần Minh Tiến, CEO of NetZero Carbon, said the company will continue supporting Điện Biên in applying technology to rice production, especially in the Mường Thanh fields. They commit to expanding the smart rice model and turning Điện Biên into the Northern region’s hub for low-emission rice production. Regarding carbon credit rewards, the company is finalizing procedures for transparent and prompt payments to participating farmers.

With abundant forests, the province sees forest protection and development as central to its green growth strategy. Since 2021, Điện Biên has nurtured over 66,000 hectares for natural regeneration, planted nearly 2,600 hectares of new forest, and maintained around 4,000 hectares. Six sustainable management plans have been approved for more than 78,000 hectares of special-use, protection, and production forests.

By 2030, Điện Biên aims to save 7% of total energy demand, reduce electricity losses to 5.5%, and replace all urban lighting with LED bulbs. The province will also develop sustainable, eco-friendly construction materials.

Vietnam’s road to net-zero emissions by 2050 remains long, but it presents an opportunity for Điện Biên to shape a new development model that links economic growth with natural resource and environmental preservation. From lush forests and renewable energy projects to low-emission rice fields, the province is gradually taking on a fresh identity as a green, sustainable Điện Biên.