Brian Jeffrey
During the National Science Conference titled “A New Vision, New Opportunities for Building a Civilized, Modern, Global-Connected Hanoi” on October 7, various experts shared their insights for the future of Hanoi.
Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, formerly at the Vietnam Institute of Economics, pointed out that despite Hanoi’s significant progress and potential, there are crucial questions regarding whether it meets its own expectations and fully capitalizes on its role as the central capital. He challenged the city to reflect on how it can achieve its full capabilities for national leadership.
Thien emphasized Hanoi’s unique convergence of national strength, integration, and talent, claiming that no other region in Vietnam can match these assets. However, he cautioned that to translate these advantages into real power, conducive environments and solutions are necessary.
A key concern he raised was Hanoi’s dependence on historical features and its failure to prioritize dynamic intellectual capacity—essential for modern competition.
“To harness Hanoi’s potential, the strategy must be future-oriented, emphasizing progress rather than past achievements,” said Thien. He urged the central government to empower Hanoi with special rights to innovate and establish itself as a prominent city.
Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Ngoc from the Vietnam Association of Historical Science echoed similar sentiments, recalling nearly eight centuries of Dai Viet civilization where the country accomplished significant advancements in economic and cultural revival, along with defending against foreign threats.
“Historically, Thang Long (also known as Dong Do and Dong Kinh) has always been the political, cultural, and economic center of the nation,” Ngoc remarked.
He stressed the importance of human resources in Hanoi, highlighting that they are a critical asset for its future growth. Ngoc insisted that fostering the civility, sophistication, and overall development of Hanoi’s populace—while balancing traditional and modern principles—will be pivotal for the city’s advancement.
From a different angle, Architect Tran Ngoc Chinh, the Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, discussed the necessity for continuity in urban planning. As Hanoi updates its capital plan and adjusts its master strategy, he noted the significance of maintaining coherence and ensuring alignment with the national comprehensive planning.
He highlighted that while the capital plan looks ahead to 2050, the master plan’s adjustments extend to 2065, which could create disparities in development goals. Chinh stressed the need for population and labor projections to match land and infrastructure demands.
To tackle these issues, Chinh proposed strategies to alleviate population density in Hanoi’s historical core and encourage the growth of satellite cities. He also recommended implementing a city-within-a-city concept, offering specialized governance and frameworks to foster new development areas in the capital.
He specifically highlighted the potential for the Phu Xuyen satellite city, positioned close to the southern airport, to emerge as a new urban center for southern Hanoi.
