Prominent among these is the cultivation of coffee and macadamia associated with low-altitude spatial economic development, which is expected to create a breakthrough in the efficient exploitation of land funds and increase value per unit of cultivation area. Moving beyond mere intercropping, the model aims to reorganize production in depth, linking it to sustainable livelihoods for the residents.

Following Plan No.1850/KH-UBND dated March 16, 2026, the provincial People’s Committee organized the planting of new coffee and macadamia trees alongside testing the low-altitude spatial economic model. In 2026, the province strives to dig more than 21.6 million planting holes, equivalent to 12,000 hectares of crops. This includes 5,930 hectares of coffee and 5,930 hectares of macadamia intercropped at a density of 138 trees per hectare, plus 140 hectares of pure macadamia. Approximately 6,000 households are expected to participate, with each household managing an average of one hectare of coffee and one hectare of macadamia.

To carry forward the Điện Biên Phủ spirit in peacetime, the province is mobilizing the strength of the entire political system and the people to create a widespread emulation movement. Around 14,150 laborers are expected to participate, including 12,000 residents, 900 militia members to assist with coordination in difficult spots, and 1,250 soldiers. On average, each officer or soldier will support five households, prioritizing poor and single-person households in key areas. Localities have established working groups to provide grassroots-level guidance and supervision under emulation slogans such as “Excellent hole-digging soldier-Excellent hole-digging household-Commune finishing early and ensuring quality,” creating a vibrant atmosphere.

Responding to this movement, Na Son commune organized its hole-digging launch on March 18, 2026. While the assigned target for the year was 80 hectares, the locality has set a higher goal of 150 to 200 hectares of coffee and 50 hectares of macadamia to form concentrated production areas. Trần Thanh Kiên, Secretary of the Na Son commune Party Committee, stated that the locality is urging officials and mass organizations to mobilize residents and prepare supplies and seedlings. They are also providing technical guidance for the digging and planting process to ensure completion before July 2026, focusing on high survival rates and long-term economic efficiency.

Implementation at the grassroots level has seen positive feedback, with registered coffee areas reaching 14,384 hectares, far exceeding the planned 5,930 hectares. For macadamia, registration reached over 3,000 hectares out of a 6,070-hectare plan by March 21. High registration rates were seen in communes such as Mường Phăng, Nà Bủng, Mường Pồn, Nà Tấu, Núa Ngam, and Na Son. Regarding seedlings, coffee nursery stocks currently cover 91% of the plan, with additional supplies available from enterprises. However, the three local macadamia nurseries have a limited capacity of 16,000 trees, which is insufficient for the demand of over 857,000 seedlings. Consequently, enterprises are sourcing 200,000 trees from Đắk Lắk and over 500,000 from Lào Cai, with prices ranging from VND 50,000 to VND 60,000 per tree at the garden and approximately VND 70,000 when delivered.

Beyond expanding the area, Điện Biên is taking a new approach by proposing a controlled trial of the low-altitude spatial economic model. The pilot application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on newly planted areas is intended not only to verify practical effectiveness but also to create a scientific basis for perfecting processes before large-scale replication, ensuring safety and suitability for local conditions. Mường Ảng commune, a key coffee-growing region, is pioneering this by aiming to increase its coffee area from 1,800 hectares to 2,300 hectares by 2030. Modern equipment such as GPS, area-measuring devices, and mapping software are being used for precise measurement and management, forming a foundation for the transparent application of technology.

To support these tasks, the province established five working groups to assist communes and wards. Production development support will be implemented according to the 2021-2025 national target programs to ensure transparency. For households not covered by these programs, local budgets may provide a portion of the funding, though the maximum support is capped at VND 50 million per household. While this strategic initiative faces challenges in seedlings and capital, the initial results indicate a correct path. Once these bottlenecks are removed, concentrated production areas are expected to flourish, providing a solid foundation for commodity agriculture and changing the economic face of the province’s rural areas.