07 provinces and cities oriented for development as National Central Urban Areas in Vietnam

On August 22, 2024, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Decision 891/QD-TTg approving the Plan for the System of Urban and Rural Areas for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. It included the development orientation of the National Central Urban system (special and rank I urban areas), consisting of central-affiliated cities, special urban areas, and rank I urban areas.

07 provinces and cities oriented for development as National Central Urban Areas in Vietnam

According to Clause 3, Article 1 of Decision 891/QD-TTg, the National Central Urban Areas, defined as special urban areas (mega-cities) and rank I urban areas (large cities) in the plan, play the role of dynamic urban areas and primary growth poles in the development of the country's economy, society, national security, and defense, shifting the economic structure of the entire national territory or inter-provincial regions.

The development orientation for the National Central Urban system (special and rank I urban areas) includes central-affiliated cities, special urban areas, and rank I urban areas as follows:

(1) The Capital Hanoi

- Develop and build the Capital Hanoi into a city that is “Civilized - Modern,” with a prominent position in Southeast Asian culture and history; a dynamic center promoting development in the Red River Delta, the Northern Key Economic Region, and the whole country; deeply integrated internationally, highly competitive in the region and the world, striving to develop on par with the capitals of developed countries in the region. Build satellite cities linked with the central urban area to form the nucleus of the Hanoi urban region.

- Plan Hanoi as a global city, smart, dynamic, and creative; a leading urban area in culture, innovation, science and technology of the entire country; an international transaction center in high-quality education, training, healthcare, finance, and banking services; a crucial transportation hub of the region and the world. Utilize the Red River's advantages to establish an urban brand image. Focus on building modern urban infrastructure, especially in transportation and drainage, to quickly address congestion and flooding. Expedite the completion of urban railway projects; construct more bridges over the Red River and Duong River. Manage and utilize underground spaces to enhance the efficiency of urban land use.

- Develop district-level towns within Hanoi, district-level towns, districts, satellite urban areas, and affiliated urban and rural administrative units with synchronized infrastructure and urban utilities and services connected conveniently to the center, decreasing the load on the inner city and expanding Hanoi's development space.

(2) Ho Chi Minh City

- Develop and build Ho Chi Minh City to be a prominent economic and innovative center in Southeast Asia; attract financial institutions and international economic groups to become a dynamic center promoting regional development in Southeast, the Southern Key Economic Region, and the whole country; deeply integrated internationally; aiming to develop on par with major global cities, becoming the financial and service center of Asia; build satellite cities linked with the central urban area to form the nucleus of the Ho Chi Minh City urban region.

- Plan Ho Chi Minh City as a global, modern, dynamic city; quickly transition to high-quality services, becoming an international financial center competitive in the region; lead in high-tech industry, science, technology, innovation, education, advanced healthcare, and act as an international trade hub. Utilize the advantages of the Saigon River and Dong Nai River to establish an urban brand image. Focus on exploiting underground spaces to utilize urban land resources effectively. Explore and utilize the potential and advantages to develop the Thu Duc and Can Gio areas into new growth drivers for Ho Chi Minh City.

(3) Hai Phong City

Develop and build Hai Phong City to become one of the leading cities in the national industrialization and modernization efforts; a development driver for the Northern Region and the whole country; with modern, smart, and sustainable industry; synchronized and modern transportation infrastructure conveniently connected domestically and internationally via roads, railways, sea, and air; a key logistics service hub; an international center for education, training, research, application, and development of science and technology, maritime economy; continuously enhance the material and spiritual life of the people to reach the level of exemplary cities in Asia; ensure social order and safety, maintain security and national defense.

(4) Da Nang City

Develop and build Da Nang City into a major socio-economic center of the country and Southeast Asia with the role of a center for entrepreneurship, innovation, tourism, commerce, finance, logistics, high-tech industry, information technology, and supporting industry; a cultural, sports, high-quality education-training, healthcare, science, and technology development center of the country; a venue for regional and international events; an international seaport city with the position of a nucleus of the urban chain and growth pole of the Central Key Economic Region and the Central Highlands; becoming an ecological, modern, and smart city; a livable city with a strong party organization, a pioneering government in innovation and development, people with one of the highest living standards in the country, good quality of life, friendly, happy, and creative; ensuring strong national defense, security, and sovereignty over seas and islands.

(5) Can Tho City

Develop and build Can Tho City as an ecological, civilized, and modern city with a distinctive Macong Delta culture; a regional center for services, commerce, tourism, logistics, high-tech processing industry, high-tech agriculture, education and training, specialized healthcare, science and technology, culture, sports; the nuclear urban area of the Mekong Delta region.

(6) Thua Thien Hue Province

Develop and build Thua Thien Hue Province into a central-affiliated city as a national heritage urban area with cultural characteristics, heritage, ecology, Hue identity, intelligence, coastal orientation, adaptability, and sustainability; a major urban area with a high level of economic development in the country; a festival city, a center for culture-tourism, education, science and technology, and specialized healthcare in the country and Asia; a safe, friendly, happy destination; combine Thua Thien Hue - Da Nang - Northern Quang Nam to form an urban area for ecological tourism, beach resorts, and world cultural heritage tourism with high international standards in Asia-Pacific.

(7) Khanh Hoa Province

Develop and build Khanh Hoa Province into a central-affiliated city based on maximizing the potential and advantages of the sea, an intelligent, sustainable, and international urban area with a distinctive identity; an international marine tourism service center; a growth pole, the center of the South Central Coast, Central Highlands, and the country in the maritime economy, high-tech industry, science and technology, innovation; gradually build and develop an international seaport service urban chain linked with the development of Van Phong and Cam Ranh ports to serve tourism and national defense.

08 provinces oriented to become central-affiliated cities in Vietnam

08 provinces in Vietnam are oriented to become central-affiliated cities according to Decision 891/QD-TTg:

- Thua Thien Hue Province: to become a rank I urban area by 2030.

- Khanh Hoa Province: to become a central-affiliated city by 2030;

- Bac Ninh Province: to meet rank I urban criteria and become a central-affiliated city by 2030;

- Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province: to meet the basic standards of a central-affiliated city by 2030;

- Quang Ninh Province: to become a central-affiliated city by 2030;

- Ninh Binh Province: to basically meet the criteria of a central-affiliated city by 2030;

- Hai Duong Province: to meet some of the basic criteria of a central-affiliated city by 2030; to become a central-affiliated city by 2050;

- Binh Duong Province: to become a central-affiliated city by 2030.

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