BASIC INFORMATION ON BEN TRE PROVINCE

Ben Tre is located in the Mekong Delta Region, South Viet Nam. It is 86 kilometers far from Ho Chi Minh City and 120 kilometers from Can Tho City. Ben Tre borders with Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces. Roadway and waterway transportation are quite convenient. Rach Mieu Bridge is openned in 2009 and be  the gateway to approach Ben Tre province and linked with the Southern Dynamic Economic Zone, near Ho Chi Minh City. Key economic sector of the province is replying mainly on agriculture, including aquacultural and garden-based economy.

IPC photo: Mr. Nguyen Thai Xay - Chairman of PPC granted investment certificate to Malaysian Investor.

• Total natural area: 2,322 km2
• Administration: includes 8 districts and 1 City with 164 communes, wards and district towns
• Provincial capital: Ben Tre City
• Population: around 1,365,297 persons
• Labor force: 64.5% of population
• Gross Domestic Products (GDP): growth rate 9.47% (in 2008)
• Income per capita/year: USD 722 (in 2008)
• Export turn-over: US$ 184 million
• Adult literacy rate: 98%
• Human Development Index (HDI): 27 th over 64 cities and provinces
• Trained and employed human resource: 30,000 persons per year
• Trained labor rate: 38%
• Registered Enterprise: 3,330 (accumulated to June 2009)
• Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI): The 7th over 64 provinces and cities
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Projects: 25 FDI projects
• Total FDI capital: USD 160 million
• Total social investment capital attracted VND 7,965 billion
• Power: use National Grid
• Power use household rate: 96%
• Water supply capacity: 36,000m3/24 hours
• Tourism: 415,000 visitors turn
• Number of Industrial Parks: 2 IPs (An Hiep and Giao Long)
• Colleges: 2
• Vocational training schools and facilities: 69
• Centers of job introduction: 2
• Upper secondary schools: 40 with about 40,000 students
• Provincial hospital: 3
• Phone use density: 57 phones/100 persons
• Internet use density: 5 computers/100 persons
• Main road National road 57 and NR 60
• Fishing port: 3 (Binh Thang, An Thuy and An Nhon)
• River Port: Giao Long Port in Chau Thanh district (planned to be sea and international port)
• Goods loading station: Ham Luong
• Supermarket: there are 2 supermarkets in Ben Tre City
• Commercial center: 2 (small-size center)
• Two plants of supplying surface and underground water satisfy the need of Industrial parks.
• Investment & Business environment of Ben Tre province is grouped in best private economic development provinces.

IPC BEN TRE 2009