Brian Jeffrey
On October 3, the Ministry of Construction (MOC) organized a conference to present the urban and rural development plan for 2021-2030, which received approval from the Prime Minister in late August.
Pham Thi Nham, the Deputy Director of the National Institute of Urban and Rural Planning, noted that currently, there are two major urban centers: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In the coming years, this number is projected to rise to four, which will include Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho.
The development of Vietnam’s urban areas will adopt a framework that encompasses urban regions and central cities at various administrative levels, such as national, regional, provincial, and district.
At the national level, key urban centers will consist of special cities and first-class urban areas that serve as primary growth drivers for socio-economic development, security, and economic restructuring.
The plan outlines the establishment of four urban areas in the future.
The Hanoi metropolitan area will include Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Ha Nam, Thai Nguyen, Hoa Binh, and Phu Tho.
The Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area is set to consist of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Long An, and Tien Giang.
The Da Nang metropolitan area will cover Da Nang, Hue, and adjacent areas in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Binh Dinh provinces.
For the Can Tho metropolitan area, it will encompass Can Tho City and neighboring regions from An Giang, Kien Giang, Vinh Long, and Dong Thap provinces.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are positioned as vital growth hubs under this planning scheme.
According to the development plan, the urbanization rate is expected to exceed 50% by 2030 and reach 70% by 2050, facilitating the creation of 1,000-1,200 urban areas across the country, with a few rising to regional and national prominence, aiming for high average incomes that place Vietnam among the top four ASEAN nations.
Additionally, urban economies are anticipated to contribute to 85% of the national GDP.
The country also aims to establish intelligent cities with strong national and regional connectivity, recognizing 3-5 cities as significant regional and international players by 2030.
Other targets include achieving a traffic land ratio of 16-26% in urban construction, with an average housing space of 32 square meters per person in cities.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Viet Hung emphasized that the urban and rural planning aims to quicken urbanization, promote sustainable development of urban networks, effectively organize urban and rural areas, and ensure infrastructure remains synchronized, modern, and environmentally friendly.
The vision for Vietnam includes interconnected urban areas that create a balanced network, resilient to climate change, possessing distinct architectural styles, with a focus on modernity and eco-friendliness.
Efforts will also be made to enhance rural areas comprehensively, ensuring development aligns with urbanization, improving infrastructure and social services while preserving local cultural identities.
Rural development will focus on creating environments that harmonize with urban areas, fostering clean, beautiful, and culturally rich communities, with rural incomes becoming closer to urban standards.
Tran Thu Hang, director of the Department of Planning and Architecture at MOC, remarked that urban and rural planning serves as a crucial framework for localities to design their development cohesively.
Previously, urban development plans received Prime Minister approval in 1998, but the 2024 plan marks the first time it is formally incorporated into national strategic planning.
A notable aspect is the simultaneous planning for both urban and rural area development, with the urbanization rate anticipated to increase from the current 42% to 55% in the near future.
