Bai Bang, is a small city about 120 km northwest of Hanoi, Bai Bang is the site of the largest Swedish humanitarian projects. It was here it was decided to build a paper mill "As part of the Swedish solidarity with the Vietnamese people." In 1969 it was decided that Sweden would support Vietnam with humanitarian and reconstruction aid to the war torn North Vietnam. A part of this effort was the construction of a paper mill in Bai Bang. Construction began in 1974, but not until eight years later, after many problems, delays and changes the mill was finished. It reached its full capacity in 1996. The project was also considerably more expensive than planned. Sweden also had to contribute with a comprehensive operational support to the mill. Now the mill is going very good. Bai Bang is supplying some 40 percent of all writing paper in Vietnam and is one of the largest manufacturers of toilet paper in the country. In 2008, produced 110 000 tones of paper, twice as much as planned (55 000 tons). This makes the Bai Bang Paper Co. the largest pulp mill in Vietnam in this also for when we visited the Bai Bang in August 2008 we met the deputy director and he told us proudly that the Bai Bang Paper Co. is being integrated into a larger group in a process of preparing for privatizing. This is a part of of a plan to make Vietnamese paper industry interesting for foreign investors for an even greater expansion later on. The paper is made of bamboo, eucalyptus and acacia
Around 2 000 people work at the mill today. This investment has contributed to the standard of living in society around Bai Bang has increased substantially. The village has grown into a small town with about 20 000 inhabitants. Gymnasiums and schools have been built. There are many Swedes, Scandinavians and others who worked here for several years and are keen to return to visit the factory and see the old camp where they lived. if you Are planning the trip in time, it will usually be able to arrange a guided tour around the factory. It is difficult today to recognize Bai Bang as Bai Bang has became so large. Of the Swedish camp there are only a few houses left. The area around the Canteen, the pool and tennis court is the same. Schools, medical, shop, library etc. are torn down. If you go here, there is only one hotel to stay in, Bai Bang Paper Hotel, they have good rooms and really good food. There is a pool in the park and even indoors, and tennis court. The market is located just next to the hotel and it is also walking distance to the factory. The road here from Hanoi has become much better and reminds you long distances on a motorway. | 
