I. Natural condition, resources and environment

1. Natural condition

1.1. Geographic location

Tien Giang province is located in the left bank of Tien River and borders the East Sea. The part of Tien River which goes through the province is 103 km long. Its coastline is 32 km long. Located in the important transportation axis of the country, Tien Giang is the gateway to Southwestern region. The province is also a place where there are exchanges of a considerable amount of agricultural products as well as goods between Southwestern region with Ho Chi Minh City and Southeastern region.

1.1.1. Geographical coordinates: Tien Giang province is located:

- From longitude 109⁰49'07'' to 106⁰48'06'' E

- From latitude 10⁰12'20'' to 10⁰35'26'' N

1. Administrative boundary: defined as follows:

- Bordering the East Sea to the east

- Bordering Dong Thap province to the west

- Bordering Ben Tre province and Vinh Long province to the south

- Bordering Long An province and Ho Chi Minh City to the north

The total natural area of Tien Giang province is 250,830.33 ha (accounting for 6.17% of that of Mekong Delta), the population is 1,677,986 people (accounting for 10.06% of the regional population). There are 11 administrative units of district level (1 city, 2 towns, and 8 districts) and 169 administrative units of commune level (8 towns, 16 wards, 145 communes). My Tho City (a city of 2^nd rank) is the political, economic, cultural, social center of the province. It has also been the center for exchanging culture, education and tourism of the provinces in Mekong Delta for a long time. The city is 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City to the south and is 90 km from Can Tho City to the north.

Overall, thanks to its geographic location, economic condition, road and waterway transportation, Tien Giang province has various advantages in using natural resources, developing goods production, expanding consumption market for its products, reinforcing its ability of cooperation and exchange in terms of economics, culture and tourism with other provinces in the region, especially Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern Key Economic Zone.

1.2. Topography – geology

Tien Giang province has flat terrain with a slope below 1%, and the altitude varying from 0 m to 1.6 m in comparison with the sea level.  The whole province area is in the lower section of Mekong River. Its current terrain surface and land was created by the accumulation of Mekong river silt during the development process of the modern delta in the marine regression period from the mid-Holocene (about 5,000 – 4,500 years to the present), which is also called new silt.

In general, because the land surface is new silt which is rich in cat dirt and organic matters; the altitude of topography surface is relatively low. Its force-bearing ability for construction is not high. Therefore, ground levelling need to be done and construction projects need to be reinforced. Deep layers are fairly rich in sand and have better geological characteristics for construction. However; the arrangement of layers is very complex and some layers with bad geological characteristics for construction mingle with good ones. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully study them before the construction of large scale or heavy load, etc. is carried out. The whole region does not have a clear slope direction but there are several zones whose terrain is lower or higher than the general terrain.

1.3. Climate

Tien Giang province is in the climate zone of Mekong Delta – the tropical monsoon climate zone whose temperature is high and stable all year round. It is clearly divided into two seasons: the rainy season is from May to November which is at the same time with Southwestern monsoon and the dry season is from December to April of the following year  which is at the same time with Northeastern monsoon.

1.3.1. Temperature: The 10-year average temperature (2000 - 2009) was 26.9⁰C - 0.2⁰C higher than that within 30 years (1980 - 2009). The highest temperature within 10 years was 37.2⁰C which was also the highest temperature within 30 years. It happened on May 6, 2005. The lowest temperature within 10 years was 16.8⁰C - 0.7⁰C higher than the lowest temperature during 30 years. It happened on January 29, 2007. The total annual high temperature was approximately 9,700 - 9,800.

1.3.2. Rainfall (mm): The average rainfall within 10 years (2000 - 2009) was 1,450 mm - 39 mm higher than that within 30 years (1980 - 2009). The highest rainfall was 1,877 mm (in 2008), and the lowest rainfall was 760 mm (in 2002).

Averagely, the rainy season starts on May 11; the earliest rainy season started on March 31, 1999; and the latest rainy season started on October 17, 2002.

Averagely, the rainy season ends on November 9; the rainy season ended on October 17, 2006 at the earliest and on December 18, 2000 at the latest.

1.3.3. Air moisture (%): The average air moisture of many years was 83%, and the lowest moisture was 34% in 2003.

1.3.4. Total number of sunlight hours (hour): The total number of sunlight hours on average within 30 years was 2,533.8 hours, but that within 10 years was 2,330.8 hours. The highest number was 2,940.2 hours (in 1987), and the lowest number was 2,082.4 hours (in 2007).

1.3.5. Evaporation (mm): The total level of evaporation on average within 30 years was 1,101.1 mm, and that within 10 years was 1,037.9 mm. The highest level was 1,391.6 mm (in 1981), and the lowest level was 722.9 mm (in 1999).

1.3.6. Wind: Tien Giang province is influenced by two main monsoons: Southwestern monsoon brings a lot of stream and is in rainy season. Its most common direction is the northeast occupying 50-60% in frequency, then it is the east accounting for 20-30% in frequency. The average speed is 3.8 m/s. From November to April, northeast monsoon blows in the same direction with estuaries, which increases the influence of tide and salinity intrusion through rivers to fields, making sea dike damaged at the same time.

Overall, Tien Giang province is in the tropical monsoon climate zone of Mekong Delta which has high and stable temperature all year round and very few storms; therefore, it is very advantageous to develop agriculture. However, during the last 10 years, the hydrological condition has been very complicated. Disaster, flood and storm happen frequently. Fresh water shortages and salinity intrusion are quite serious in the dry season in Go Cong salinity-intruded area and Dong Thap Muoi acid sulfate-affected area in Tan Phuoc district. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to the appropriate planning of plants and animals for farming and investment of socio-economic infrastructure, so that they can promote stable development of these regions and limit some bad influences of the hydrological condition and climate.

1.4. Hydrology

In terms of hydrology, Tien Giang province is divided into 3 areas:

Dong Thap Muoi area: Its  part belonging to Tien Giang province is bounded by Bac Dong Canal, Hai Hat Canal in The north, Nguyen Van Tiep B Canal in the west, Tien River in the south, National Highway 1A in the east.

- Every year, Dong Thap Muoi area is flooded, and the flooded area is about 120,000 ha. It lasts about 3 months (from September to November), and the flood depth varies from 0.4 to 0.8 m.

- About water quality, water in this area usually is affected by acid sulfate from the beginning to the middle period of the wet season; the pH is about 3-4. Besides, salinity intrusion also occurs through Vam Co River whose salinity level is about 2-4% within 2-3 months in eastern part of Dong Thap Muoi area.

- There are various disadvantages in Dong Thap Muoi area, because it is flooded and affected by acid sulfate. However, the deployment of hydrological plans and flood control in the whole Mekong Delta in general and Dong Thap Muoi area in particular have already fostered the development of agriculture and sylviculture for the whole area in total.

The fresh water area between Dong Thap Muoi and Go Cong: is bounded by National Highway 1A and Cho Gao Canal and has advantageous hydrological condition.

- This area is slightly influenced by flood according to tide; the water quality is good, and there are many irrigation possibilities. They all create conditions for the most various development of agriculture.

Go Cong Area: is bounded by Vam Co River to the north, Cho Gao Canal to the west, Cua Tieu River to the south and East Sea to the east. Its general hydrological characteristic is that it is affected by salinity intrusion from 1.5 months to 7 months depending on the position of water intake gate.

- This place is directly affected by semi-diurnal of East Sea. Salinity intrusion is mainly through 2 rivers, namely Cua Tieu River and Vam Co River. The intrusion usually happens early and ends late. There are only 4 or 5 months when there is fresh water; and salinity level is higher from 2 to 7 times than that of Tien River.

2. Natural resources

2.1. Soil resources: According to some programs of soil investigation, soil in Tien Giang province is classified into the following major types:

- Alluvial soil: It accounts for 55.49% of natural area of the province (139,180.73 ha). It occupies a large proportion of the natural area of several districts of Cai Be, Cai Lay, Chau Thanh, Cho Gao, My Tho City and a part of Go Cong Tay district that has fresh water. This is the most favorable soil for agriculture. That area has all been used. In this group, there is one type located along river banks whose mechanical composition is slight, so it is suitable for planting fruit trees.

- Saline soil: It accounts for 14.6% of the total natural area (36,621.23 ha). It occupies a large proportion of the districts of Go Cong Dong, Go Cong Tay and Tan Phu Dong, Go Cong Town and a part of Cho Gao district. In terms of quality, it is as good as alluvial soil, but it is affected by salinity intrusion in some periods of time or regularly.

Cultivation is usually limited in the wet season when there is enough fresh water, except coconut, acerola and sedge which can be resistant from salinity. Cultivation can be continued in dry season in some areas which are supplied with fresh water from other areas or reserve rainwater in ponds. If this soil is salt-washed, it will be suitable for agricultural production of several kinds of plants.

Go Cong Fresh Water Zone Program which prevents salinity intrusion and provides fresh water for the area has created a large area of land for multi-cropping in the dry season or the early dry season. The coastline is particularly suitable for mangrove plantation and aquaculture.

- Acid sulfate soil: it accounts for 19.4% of the natural area (48,661.06 ha). A majority of soil is in the low parts of Dong Thap Muoi area in the north of 3 districts of Cai Be, Cai Lay and Tan Phuoc. This soil forms sediment of swamps along seashore in the marine recession period, so it is rich in organic matters and acid sulfate. At present, aside from melaleuca and terminalia catappa – 2 types of plant can grow in acid sulfate soil, pineapple and sugarcane have already been planted there, producing stable benefits in a remarkably large area. Moreover, winged yam and vegetables are well cultivated at some areas. Rice (2 crops/year) and fruit tree can be grown in the regions where there is enough fresh water and flood can be prevented.

Saline acid sulfate soil which occupies a small area and is distributed along the lower banks is flooded by tide near rivulets and depressions.

- Sandy soil: it only accounts for 3% of natural area (7,524.91 ha) and is scatteredly-distributed in Cai Lay district, Chau Thanh district and Go Cong Tay district. Its biggest area is in Go Cong Dong district. Because sandy soil has high terrain and light mechanical composition, which is suitable for being residential land and growing fruit trees and vegetables.

The rest of the area is mostly river and water surface for specific purposes. Its total area is 18,842.25 ha, accounting for 7.51% of the total natural area and being evenly distributed in districts, towns and city in the province.

Overall, the majority of land of Tien Giang province is alluvial soil (55%), together with available sources of fresh water. It has been used for growing rice with high yield and specialized fruit. The remaining of 19.4% is acid sulfate soil and 14.6% for saline alluvial soil. In present time, these areas have been reclaimed, expanded and improved and applied with multi-cropping through exploiting and developing programs of Dong Thap Muoi Area and Go Cong Fresh Water Zone Program. Thanks to this, the areas for high-yield rice and specialized fruits have been expanded to eastern districts and industrial tree plantation area in Tan Phuoc district is too.

2.2. Water resources

2.2.1. Surface water: there are 2 big rivers going through Tien Giang province, namely Tien River and Vam Co Tay River and an interlacing system of canals, which is very convenient for waterway transport. Furthermore, the surface water can be used for agricultural production.

- The part of Tien River going through Tien Giang province is about 103 km. The depth of river bottom is from -6m to -16m, the average depth is -9m. Its width is 600-1800m. Tien River is a major source of fresh water for the whole province.

- The part of Vam Co Tay River going through the province is about 25 km. It is 185m wide. The majority of its water is from Tien River and a part of it is from Dong Thap Muoi Area. It is also the main route for salinity intrusion in Tien Giang.

Major canals in the province are:

- Cho Gao Canal, which is a canal of central-level, links Ho Chi Minh City with Rach Gia and Ha Tien.

- Nguyen Van Tiep Canal goes from Vam Co Tay River (Tan An Town) through Tien Giang province to Dong Thap province. This canal is an important one going through Dong Thap Muoi area.

- Horizontal canal system – creating a waterway system of fishbone shape – connects cities and residential areas along National Highway 1A with other areas of the province. They are Co Co canal, canal 28, canal 7, canal 9, canal 10, canal 12, Nguyen Tan Thanh canal, Nang canal and Lo Ngang canal, etc.

2.2.2. Underground water: Tien Giang province has a fresh underground water source with good quality in its Western part and some areas in the eastern part, but it must be obtained at a quite big depth (from 200m to 500m). This is one of the important fresh water sources, contributing to providing fresh water for daily usage and production, especially for saline or acid sulfate, etc. areas.

There are over 1,069 deep drilled water wells with a diameter of 49-60mm and capacity of about 5-8 m³/hour in the whole province. There are 41 drilled wells of industrial scale with a diameter of 110mm and capacity of about 50-100 m³/hour. They mainly serve daily life needs and partly for livestock husbandry, food production and processing and bottled water production. Almost all of the wells get water from Pliocene aquifer and Miocene aquifer at a depth of approximately from 220m to 500m with the temperature of 300⁰C. The water quality water achieves defined standards.

At present, the needs of obtaining and using underground water of offices and manufacturing facilities are greatly increasing. According to the observation data of the Southern Vietnam Association of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, the current underground water level is decreasing very quickly. Particularly, drilled wells located in Tien Giang (at the Pliocene and Miocene aquifer) almost selfran before 1995, but now they are located lower about 4m to 10m from the ground surface than before.

2.3. Mineral resources: according to basic observation and investigation programs, minerals found in Tien Giang include:

- Peat: It is found at Phu Cuong commune (Cai Lay district), Tan Hoa Tay commune and Hung Thanh commune (Tan Phuoc district). Peat with a reserve of about 5 million m³ lies at the depth from 0.5m to 1m and is distributed in an area of about 500 ha. In general, its quality is not high, because it contains a lot of impurities and high sulfur level. Only peat in Tay canal and Tram Sap canal (1.3 million m³⁾ which has humic acid meets the requirement to be foundation substance for producing fertilizer for factories whose capacity is 10,000 tons/year.

- Clay: It is used for industrial manufacture. It is found in both old and new alluvial soil. Clay used for making pottery is discovered along National Highway 1A from Co Co to Ba Lam (Cai Be district), and it can be used for making pottery in a small scale. Clay in Tan Lap whose reserve is about 6 million m³ can be used to make bricks, but the exploitation and the production need applying some kind of methods to isolate the acid sulfate pollution and treat acid sulfate of the top ground layers.

- Sand: sand in Tien River can be exploited to build rural roads and make foundations for construction. The expected reserve is 93 million m³. The amount of sand can be exploited is about 3 – 3.5 million m³/year.

2.4. Creature resources

2.4.1. Flora: besides economic trees which are cultivated by people, Tien Giang province also has 3 flora systems as follows:

- The mangrove forests along the coastline: it can be seen along the coastline and near estuaries in the saline muddy soil flooded by tide. It includes mangrove apple, avicennia marina, red mangrove, beach morning glory, etc.

- The flora system of the brackish water forest: it can be seen in brackish water areas along Vam Co Tay River, Tien River and is usually flooded by tide. It includes nipa frutican, etc.

- The flora system of the wild area of acid sulfate soil: it can be seen in the flooded acid sulfate soil area in Dong Thap Muoi, and includes green grass straw, melaleuca and terminalia catappa, etc.

2.4.2 Fauna: besides domesticated animals, fauna which has high economic value is aquatic creatures. Tien Giang province has an abundant and diversified resource of aquatic creatures including those from fresh water, brackish water and sea water.

Through surveys, there are 157 algae, 66 bottom species in inland areas and 227 algae and 152 bottom species in coastal area. Moreover, there are about 198 types of fish with the average yield of about 50-115 kg/km² (coastal area) and about 12-97 kg/km² (inland areas), 8 kinds of cuttlefish with the average whose yield is about 8-139 kg/km². About mollusk, There are about 3,500 ha where clam can be raised and 500 ha (out of 3,500ha) for clam broodstock farming whose yield is about 135-540 tons/year.

II. Planning stages of land usage

1. Planning stages in terms of area for land of different usage purposes

- Agricultural land: in the first five-year planning stage (2011-2015), the area of agricultural land remains 182,028.82 ha, accounting for 72.57% of the total natural area, decreasing by 9,296.50 ha in comparison with 2011. In the final five-year planning stage (2016-2020), the area of agricultural land will continue to decrease by 6,819.82 ha and be 175,209 ha in 2020, accounting for 69.74% of the total natural area. In short, for the whole period, the total area of agricultural land will decrease by 16,116.32 ha in which the decreasing area of the final stage is less than that of the first one by 2,476.68 ha.

- Non-agricultural land: in the first five-year stage, the area of non-agricultural land increases by 14,471.33 ha until 2015 in comparison with 2010, reaching 64,597.07 ha, and accounting for 25.75% of the total natural area. In the final five-year stage, the area of non-agricultural land will increase by 8,711.07 ha, reaching 73,308.13 ha in 2020, accounting for 29.18% of the total natural area.

The total area of non-agricultural land for the whole stage will increase by 23,182.40 ha in comparison with 2010. The area of the first stage is 5,760.27 ha higher than that of the final stage. This shows the pioneering role of non-agricultural land in the first stage to create momentum for growth and economic structure transition of Tien Giang province in the next period.

Table: Planning stages in terms of area for land of different usage purposes

In the period of 2011-2020 of Tien Giang province

2. Planning stages in terms of area of land whose usage purposes are converted

2.1. Agricultural land which is converted into non-agricultural land

- The area of agricultural land converted into non-agricultural land will be 22,282 ha (14,321 ha in the first stage and 8,561 ha in the final stage):

+ The area of rice cultivation land converted into non-agricultural land will be 6,182 ha (3,362 ha in the first stage and 2,820 ha in the final stage).

+ The area of land for perennial plant plantation converted into non-agricultural land will be 14,381 ha (9,431 ha in the first stage and 4,950 ha in the final stage).

+ The area of protective forest land converted into non-agricultural land will be 299 ha (295 ha in the first stage and 4 ha in the final stage).

+ The area of productive forest land converted into non-agricultural land will be 57 ha (in the first stage).

+ The area of water surface land for fishing converted into non-agricultural land will be 643 ha (215 ha in the first stage and 428 ha in the final stage).

2.2. Conversion of Structure for land usage of agricultural land group

+ The area of land for specialized wet rice cultivation converted into land for perennial plant cultivation land will be 2,953 ha, (2,002 ha in the first stage and 951 ha in the final stage).

+ The area of land for specialized wet rice cultivation converted into water surface land for fishing will be 198 ha (in the final stage).

+ The area of productive forestland converted into agricultural land will be 1,517 ha (in the first stage).

Table: Planning stages in terms of area of land whose usage purposes are converted

In the period of 2011-2020 of Tien Giang Province

Unit: ha

3. Planning stages in terms of area of unused land which will be put into use in the period of 2011 – 2020

The stages in each period are as follows:

- The area of unused land converted into agricultural land will be 6,381 ha, 5,025 ha in the first stage and 1,356 ha in the final stage, including:

+ 1,637 ha will be converted into protective forest land (1,480 ha in the first stage and 157 ha in the final stage).

+ 3,366 ha will be converted into productive forest land (2,795 ha in the first stage and 571 ha in the final stage).

+ 1,378 ha will be converted into water surface land for fishing (749 ha in the first stage and 629 ha in the final stage).

- The area of unused land converted into tourism land will be 300 ha (150 ha in the first stage and 150 ha in the final stage).

III. Plan for land usage of the first stage (2011 – 2015)

1. Major targets of developing economy – society – environment

Based on Resolution No.02/2011/NQ-HDND of provincial People's Council about socio-economic development plans in 5 years (2011 – 2015) which includes some following key targets:

1.1. Economic targets

- Average GDP growth rate will be 11 – 12%/year. The 1^st area will increase by 4.3% – 4.5%, the 2^nd area by 16.1% – 18.2%, the 3^rd area by 12.5% - 13.3%.

- Average income per capita based on current price until the end of 2015 will be $2,130 – 2,230, an increase of 2 times compared to 2010.

- Economic structure until the end of 2015: continuing the transition which will increase the proportion of the 2^nd area and the 3^rd area, and slightly decrease that of the 1^st area. Proportion of the 1^st area will decrease to 35% - 36.6%, that of the 2^nd area will grow up to 31.2% - 32.6%, and the 3^rd area to 32.2% - 32.4%.

- Turnover of export and import: the export turnover of goods and services until 2015 will be $1,040 – 1,140 million; average growth rate of export turnover will be 16% - 18% per year in the period of 2011 – 2015.

- While the total state budget revenue in the period will reach VND38,008 billion. Total revenue collected from local economies will be VND19,603 billion, accounting for 6.33 %/GDP. The total state budget expenditure in the period will be VND37,337 billion, accounting for 12.1% GDP. Local budget spent on development investment will be about VND12,000 billion.

- The total social investment according to current price within 5 years is expected to be is about VND120,000 – 130,000 billion, accounting for 39% - 41% of GDP.

- 29 communes will achieve standards for new rural areas

1.2. Social targets

- Until 2015, the proportion of students within school age mobilized to go to school in comparison with population will be as follows: 75% in nursery school, 100% in primary school, 99% in junior high school and 55% in senior high school. The proportion of schools in each level reaching national standards up to 2015 will be: 40% for pre-school, 50% for primary school, secondary school and high school consecutively.

- Each year, jobs are created for about 24,000 workers. Rate of trained workers will be 45% in 2015, 36% of whom have vocational training. Rate of unemployment in urban areas will be under 4% in 2015.

- The average rate of population growth will be around 0.8%/year, and annual birth rate will decrease by 0.1%.

- The proportion of poor family until 2015 will be 4.5% - 5%.

- Until 2015: 100% medical stations of communes will have doctors. There will be 6.7 doctors per 10,000 people and 26.5 sickbeds per 10,000 people. The proportion of malnourished children under 5 years old will be under 14%; 100% communes, wards and towns will achieve national health care standards.

- Until 2015, average density of telephone usage will be 33 subscribers per 100 people. That of rural area will be 13.2 subscribers per 100 people. Density of Internet usage will be 4.85 subscribers per 100 people.

1.3. Environment targets until the end of 2015

- 96.5% of rural households will use hygienic running water.

- 90% of solid wastes will be collected and treated.

- 80% of production establishments, businesses and service agencies of waste treatment will meet the requirements of environmental standards.

Based on the targets and tasks about socio-economic development, national defense and security of the province until 2015; actual situation of land usage and implementation result of  land usage plans for the period of 2006 – 2010; plan for land usage  until 2020; plan for land usage within 5 years (2011 – 2015; the demand of land usage for sectors and localities in the province up to 2015, plan for land usage for each type of land is built to satisfy the needs for land to conduct plan for socio-economic development, national defense and security within 5 years of 2011 – 2015:

Table: plan for land usage in the first period (2011 – 2015)

Unit: ha

2. Targets for land usage according to usage purposes in each year

2.1. The area of land apportioned by higher authorities

2.1.1. Agricultural land: until 2015, the area of agricultural land of the province apportioned by higher authorities will be 180,284 ha. After considering the needs of land usage of the province until 2015, the area of agricultural land needed will be 182,028.82 ha, which is 1,744 ha higher than the apportioned area. It is as follows:

- Rice cultivation land: until 2015, the area of rice cultivation land allocated by higher authorities will be 81,984 ha, decreasing by 4,864 ha in comparison with 2010. The area of rice cultivation land whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 76,586.86 ha. Its decreasing area is because it will be converted into some other major kinds of land such as land for perennial plant cultivation (2,002.03 ha), land for other annual plants cultivation (221.45 ha), and non-agricultural land (3,361.81 ha). Simultaneously, the area of rice cultivation land will be supplemented with 4.87 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation and 716.42 ha from productive forest land.

- Protective forest land: the area of protective forest land until 2015 will be around 2,965 ha, 41 ha higher than the apportioned area (because 106.82 ha of ecological reserve land based on the statistics of agricultural sector will be converted into protective forest land), increasing by 1,542.08 ha in comparison with 2010. The area of protective forest land whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 1,127.64 ha. Its decreasing area will be 295.28 ha because it will be converted into non-agricultural land. At the same time, it will be supplemented with 1,837.36 ha from productive forest land (250 ha), specially-used forest land (106.82 ha) and unused flat land (1,480.54 ha).

- Specially-used forest land: There will be not any specially-used forest land until 2015, which is 41 ha lower than the apportioned area by higher authorities. In this period, the area of specially-used forest land will decrease by 106.82 ha because it will be converted into protective forest land (Dong Thap Muoi ecological reserve at Thanh Tan commune, Tan Phuoc district).

- Productive forest land: the area of productive forest land until 2015 will be about 5,633 ha, which is equal to the apportioned area, increasing by 855.98 ha in comparison with 2010. The area of productive forest land whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 2,773.59 ha. Its decreasing area will be 2,003.43 ha, because it will be converted into land for perennial plant cultivation (536.39 ha), rice cultivation land (716.42 ha), land for other annual plants cultivation (263.78 ha), protective forest land (250 ha), water surface land for fishing (80 ha), other agricultural lands (100 ha) and non-agricultural land (56.84 ha). Besides, its increasing area will be 64.25 ha because annual plant cultivation land and 2,795.16 ha of unused land will be converted into it.

- Water surface land for fishing: until 2015, the area of water surface land for fishing of Tien Giang province will be about 7,812 ha, which is equal to the apportioned area, increasing by 631.95 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 6,961.36 ha. The increasing area will be 850.64 ha (21.50 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation, 80 ha from productive forest land, 749.14 ha from unused flat land). The decreasing area will be 218.69 ha (1.81 ha will be converted into to land for perennial plant cultivation 1.50 ha into other agricultural lands and 215.38 ha into non-agricultural land).

2.1.2. Non-agricultural land: until 2015, the area of non-agricultural land of the province apportioned by higher authorities will be 64,588 ha. After considering the needs of land usage until 2015, the needed area will be 64,597 ha, 9 ha higher than the apportioned area. It is as follows:

- Defense land: until 2015, the apportioned area of defense land will be 715 ha, increasing by 15.80 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 551.03 ha. The increasing area will be 163.97 ha from the conversion of 109.66 ha of rice cultivation land and 54.31 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation. Besides, the decreasing area will be 148.16 ha because it will be converted into other kinds of land, such as: land for transportation, education land and other non-agricultural lands.

- Security land: the area of security land until 2015 will be about 1,601 ha which is equal to the apportioned area, increasing by 43.40 ha in comparison with 2010. Its area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 1,551.64 ha. The increasing area will be 49.86 ha (2.80 ha from rice cultivation land, 47.04 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation and 0.02 ha from non-agricultural land). Besides, the decreasing area will be 3.46 ha because of its conversion into other types of land, namely land for offices and non-profit agencies, land for transportation, cultural land and other non-agricultural lands.

- Industrial zone land: until 2015, the area of industrial zone land will be 1,500 ha (equal to the apportioned area). Its area will increase by 399 ha in comparison with 2010 because of the establishment of Binh Dong industrial cluster (212 ha) and a part of Tan Phuoc 1 industrial zone (187 ha). The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 1,201 ha. The increasing area will be 399 ha because of the conversion of other types of land: 98.37 ha from rice cultivation land, 221.87 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation, 71.13 ha from water surface land for fishing, 7.63 ha from non-agricultural land.

- Land for infrastructure development: until 2015, the apportioned area of land for infrastructure development will be 19.828 ha. After considering the needs of land usage until 2015, the needed area will be 19.816 ha, lower than apportioned area by 12 ha and increasing by 2,808.18 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 16,969.93 ha. The increasing area will be 2,884.38 ha (672.38 ha from rice cultivation land, 1,931.56 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation, 68.52 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation, 27.65 ha from forestry land, 22.68 ha from water surface land for fishing, 0.02 ha from other agricultural lands and 73.12 ha from non-agricultural land.

The decreasing area will be 76.20 ha because of its conversion into agricultural land (0.29 ha) and other types of non-agricultural land (75.91 ha). Until 2015, the area of infrastructure development land will be 19,816 ha. Its main types are as follows:

+ Land for cultural establishments: until 2015, its area will be 129 ha which is equal to the apportioned area, increasing by 76 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 52.77 ha. The increasing area will be from the conversion of other types of land, such as: 8.69 ha from rice cultivation land, 0.7 ha from land for annual plant cultivation, 0.4 ha from forestry land, 1.50 ha from water surface land for fishing and 15.05 ha from non-agricultural lands. Besides, the decreasing area will be 0.58 ha because it will be converted into transportation land and irrigation land.

+ Land for medical establishments: until 2015, area of land for medical establishments will be 68 ha which is equal to the apportioned area, increasing by 14 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 52.02 ha. Its increasing area of 15.98 ha is because of the conversion of other types of land such as: 2.43 ha from rice cultivation land, 13.32 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation, 0.2 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation and 0.03 ha from non-agricultural land. Besides, because of its conversion into other non-agricultural lands, its decreasing area will be 1.86 ha.

+ Land for education and training establishments: until 2015, the area of land for education and training establishments will be 943 ha which is equal to the apportioned area, increasing by 530.62 ha in comparison with 2010. Its area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 400.39 ha. The increasing area of this land will be 542.61 ha because of the conversion of other types of land such as: 58 ha from rice cultivation land, 461.94 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation, 3.17 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation, 1.27 ha from productive forest land, 5.79 ha from water surface land for fishing and 12.43 ha from non-agricultural lands. Besides, because it will be converted into other non-agricultural lands, the decreasing area will be 11.99 ha.

+ Land for sports establishments: Until 2015, the area of land for sports establishments will be 312 ha which is equal to the apportioned area, increasing by 230.6 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes area unchanged will be 76.12 ha. Its increasing area will be 235.88 ha (51.55 ha from rice cultivation land, 152.56 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation, 2.5 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation, 4.25 ha from water surface land for fishing and 25.02 ha from non-agricultural lands. Besides, because of its conversion into other non-agricultural lands, the decreasing area of this land will be 5.28 ha.

- Land for relics and scenic spots: until 2015, the apportioned area of land for relics and scenic spots will be 27 ha, increasing by 14.57 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 12.38 ha. The increasing area will be 14.62 ha because of the conversion of other types of land such as: 3.35 ha from rice cultivation land, 9.59 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation, 0.2 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation, 1.33 ha from water surface land for fishing and 0.15 ha from non-agricultural lands. Besides, because of its conversion into land for offices, the decreasing area will be 0.05 ha.

- Land for hazardous waste treatment and dumping: Until 2015, the apportioned area of land for hazardous waste treatment and dumping will be 88 ha, increasing by 61.79 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 5.46 ha. The increasing area will be 74.47 ha (0.43 ha from rice cultivation land, 26.43 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation, 0.13 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation, and 0.48 ha from non-agricultural land. Besides, because of its conversion into other non-agricultural lands, the decreasing area will be 12.68 ha.

- Residential land in urban areas: until 2015, the apportioned area of residential land in urban areas will be 1,096 ha, increasing by 297.75 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 758.95 ha. The increasing area will be 337.06 ha (61.40 ha from rice cultivation land, 271.40 ha from land for perennial plant cultivation and 4.26 ha from land for other annual plants cultivation.

2.2. The apportioned area of land for the needs of socio-economic development of the province

To satisfy the demands of land usage of the province, apart from the apportioned area, the province has made a land planning as follows:

1. Agricultural land

- Land for perennial plant cultivation: the area of perennial plant cultivation land until 2015 will be 78,484.76 ha, decreasing by 5,507.95 ha in comparison with 2010; the area of agricultural land whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 74,561.64 ha. The decreasing area will be 9,431.08 ha because it will be converted into non-agricultural land. The increasing area will be 3,480.94 ha because 2,002.03 ha of land for wet rice cultivation, 1,382.61 ha of land for other annual plants cultivation, 94.21 ha of productive forest land, 1.81 ha of water surface land for fishing, 0.29 ha of non-agricultural land will be converted into it.

- Other kinds of agricultural land

+ Land for other annual plants cultivation: until 2015, its area will be 4,982.41 ha, decreasing by 1,949.19 ha in comparison with 2010. Its area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 4,497.18 ha. Its decreasing area will be 2,434.42 ha because it will be converted into rice cultivation land (4.87 ha), land for perennial plant cultivation (1,382.61 ha), forestry land (64.25 ha), water surface land for fishing (21.50 ha) and non-agricultural land (961.19 ha). Its increasing area will be 485.23 ha from 221.45 ha of land for rice cultivation and 263.78 ha of productive forest land, all of which will be converted into it for growing winged yam and vegetables.

+ Other agricultural lands: until 2015, it will be about 163.28 ha, increasing by 101.45 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 61.78 ha. Its increasing area will be 101.50 ha (100 ha of productive forest land, 1.50 ha of water surface land for fishing) and its decreasing area will be 0.05 ha because of its conversion into office land.

2.2.2. Non-agricultural land: until 2015, the area of non-agricultural land will be 64,597 ha – 09 ha higher than the apportioned area (64,588 ha), accounting for 25.75% of natural area, increasing by 14,471.33 ha in comparison with 2010. It includes:

- Land for offices and non-profit agencies: until 2015, its area will be 313.51 ha, accounting for 0.49% in the area of non-agricultural land and increasing by 62.09 ha in comparison with 2010. Its area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 239.32 ha. The increasing area will be 74.19 ha from 21.40 ha of rice cultivation land, 42.82 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 1.53 ha of forestry land, 0.89 ha of water surface land for fishing, 0.41 ha of lands for other annual plants cultivation, 0.03 ha of agricultural land and 7.11 ha of non-agricultural land, all of which will be converted into it. The decreasing area will be 12.10 ha because of its conversion into other types of non-agricultural land.

- Industrial cluster land: Until 2015, the area of industrial land will increase by 558.75 ha (including land of industrial parks and clusters under the administration of the province) in comparison with 2010. The increasing area will be from 44.06 ha of rice cultivation land, 429.83 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 12.54 ha of land for other annual plants cultivation, 44.74 ha of water surface land for fishing and 27.58 ha of non-agricultural land.

- Infrastructure development land:

+ Transportation land: Until 2015, its area will be 7,183.77 ha, increasing by 1,272.97 ha in comparison with 2010, accounting for 36.25% of the area of infrastructure development land. The area of land whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 5,897.54 ha. The increasing area will be 1,286.24 ha because 381.13 ha of rice cultivation land, 768.65 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 31.17 ha of land for other annual plants cultivation, 18.09 ha of forestry land, 6.22 ha of water surface land for fishing and 80.97 ha of the other non-agricultural lands will be converted into it. Its decreasing area will be 13.26 ha because of its conversion into land for office, industrial zone, irrigation and other types of infrastructure development land.

+ Irrigation land: until 2015, the area of irrigation land will be 11,032.17 ha, increasing by 626.26 ha in comparison with 2010, accounting for 55.67% of the area of infrastructure development land. Its area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 10,367.08 ha. The increasing area is from the conversion of other types of land, such as: 146.88 ha of rice cultivation land, 449.22 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 28.53 ha of land for other annual plants cultivation, 7.88 ha of forestry land, 5.37 ha of water surface land for fishing, 0.02 ha of other non-agricultural land and 27.20 ha of non-agricultural land. The decreasing area will be 38.83 ha because of the urbanization and industrial development in Tan Phuoc district, Go Cong Dong district, Go Cong town and My Tho city.

+ Land for energy transmission: the area of energy transmission land until 2015 will be about 27.62 ha; increasing by 12.42 ha in comparison with 2010, accounting for 0.14% of the area of infrastructure development land, the area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 15.20 ha. The increasing area will be from 12.09 ha of land for wet rice cultivation and 0.33 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation.

+ Land for post and telecommunications constructions:  its area until 2015 will be about 7.80 ha; increasing by 2.04 ha in comparison with 2010, the area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 5.71 ha. Its increasing area will be from the conversion of 1.85 ha of agricultural land and 0.19 ha of non-agricultural land. Its decreasing area will be 0.05 ha because of its conversion into land for transportation and irritation.

+ Land for market: Until 2015, the area of land for market will be 98.81 ha, increasing by 40.90 ha in comparison with 2010, accounting for 0.5% of the area of infrastructure development land. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 53.56 ha. Its increasing area will be 44.65 ha because of the conversion of other types of land such as: 10.99 ha of rice cultivation land, 32.76 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 0.9 ha of land for other annual plants cultivation, 0.6 ha of land for offices. Its decreasing area will be 4.35 ha because of its conversion into 1 ha of land for manufacture and business and other infrastructure development lands.

- Land for religious belief: its total area of land until 2015 will be about 257.16 ha; increasing by 28.29 ha in comparison with 2010. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 226.64 ha. Its increasing area will be 30.52 ha (from 0.3 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 30 ha of forestry land and 0.22 ha of land for education and training establishments). In this period, its decreasing area will be 2.23 ha because it will be converted into land for offices and industrial parks and infrastructure development land.

- Land for cemeteries and graveyards: until 2015, the area of land for cemeteries and graveyards will be 874.77 ha, increasing by 61.08 ha in comparison with 2010, accounting for 1.35% of the area of non-agricultural land. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 798.46 ha. Its increasing area will be 76.32 ha because of the conversion of other types of land such as: 59.97 ha of rice cultivation land, 10.61 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 0.69 ha of land for other annual plants cultivation, 0.56 ha of water surface land for fishing, 2.29 ha of non-agricultural land. Its decreasing area will be 15.23 ha because of the conversion of some graveyards in My Tho city, Go Cong town, Cai Lay district into residential land in urban area, land for infrastructure development.

- Other non-agricultural lands:

+ Land for manufacturing facilities and businesses: until 2015, its area will be 1,401.48 ha, increasing by 995.77 ha in comparison with 2010, accounting for 2.17% of the area of non-agricultural land. The area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 393.46 ha. The increasing area will be 1,008.02 ha (from 234.12 ha of rice cultivation land, 182.39 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 277.94 ha of forestry land, 74.05 ha of water surface land for fishing, 150 ha of unused flat land and 45.30 ha of non-agricultural land). Its decreasing area will be 12.25 ha because of its conversion into land for offices, industrial zone land and infrastructure development land.

+ Residential land in rural areas: until 2015, its area will be 8,673.31 ha, increasing by 412.50 ha in comparison with 2010, accounting for 13.43% of the area of non-agricultural land. Its area whose usage purposes are unchanged will be 8,203.85 ha. The increasing area will be 469.47 ha because of the conversion of other types of land such as 156.49 ha of rice cultivation land and 260.82 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation. The decreasing area will be 56.96 ha because of its conversion into industrial zone land and other kinds of land.

2.3. Urban land

The area of urban construction land until 2015 will be about 7,846.26 ha (the natural area to set up and expand wards and towns will be about 10,777.82 ha), increasing by 2,152.74 ha. Its increasing area will be because of establishing the following wards and towns of Long Chanh, Long Hoa, Long Thuan (Go Cong town); Thanh My, Binh Tao, Trung Luong, Dao Thanh (My Tho city); expanding My Phuoc Town (Tan Phuoc district); establishing wards of Cai Lay town, Binh Phu town (Cai Lay district); expanding Cai Be town, establishing 2 more towns of An Huu and Thien Ho (Cai Be district); expanding Tan Hiep town, establishing Cho Giua town, Long Dinh town (Chau Thanh district), establishing Cho Dinh town (Go Cong Tay district), expanding Tan Hoa town (Go Cong Dong district) and expanding Cho Gao town (Cho Gao district).

3. The area of land whose usage purposes are converted must be under annual permission in the stage of 2011 – 2015.

To serve the targets of socio-economic development in the period of 2011 – 2015, the following is the lands whose usage purposes need to be converted:

- Converting agricultural land into non-agricultural land, which must be under permission: in the first stage (2010 – 2015) the area will be 14,321 ha (3,362 ha of land for wet rice cultivation, 9,431 ha of land for perennial plant cultivation, 215 ha of water surface land for fishing, 295.28 ha of protective forest land, 57 ha of productive forest land. The average converted area is 2,864 ha/year. The converted area/year is as follows:

+ 117 ha in 2011

+ 2,715 ha in 2012

+ 3,198 ha in 2013

+ 3,720 ha in 2014

+ 4,571 ha in 2015

- The conversion of some types of agricultural land into other types of agricultural land is as follows:

+ Wet rice cultivation land converted into land for perennial plant cultivation: 2,002 ha

+ Productive forest land converted into agricultural land: 1,517 ha

Table 25: Plan for converting usage purposes of land in the period of 2011 – 2015

Unit: ha

4. The area of unused land put into use in years

- In the first stage of land usage plan, it is estimated that the total area of unused land which is put into use will be 5,175 ha. Its area put into use in years is as follows:

+ 182 ha in 2011

+ 264 ha in 2012

+ 1,351 ha in 2013

+ 1,534 ha in 2014

+ 1,694 ha in 2015

- The area used for different purposes is as follows:

+ For agricultural purposes: 5,025 ha.

+ For non-agricultural purposes: 150 ha.