Thai Nguyen Province is one of the political and economic centers of the Viet Bac region in particular and the northeastern midland and mountainous region in general. To the north, it borders Bac Kan Province, to the west, it borders Vinh Phuc and Tuyen Quang provinces, to the east, it borders Lang Son and Bac Giang provinces, and to the south, it borders the capital, Hanoi.

Thai Nguyen Province is an important transportation hub in the industrial production-supply chain in the North, with a fan-shaped network of roads, railways, and waterways connecting to neighboring provinces.

Notably, the Ring Road 5 and the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen Expressway have shortened the distance from Thai Nguyen to Noi Bai International Airport to just 40 minutes (45 km), and to downtown Hanoi to 50 minutes (65 km), quickly connecting to major electronics and automotive projects in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, and Tuyen Quang provinces.

Moreover, with 31 universities, colleges, and vocational schools, Thai Nguyen is the third-largest human resource training center in the country, providing nearly 100,000 workers annually.