Vietnam/ From 400 to 902 cities: the spectacular expansion of the urban network in 40 years of Renewal
Forty years after the launch of Dôi Moi (Renewal), Vietnam is reaping the rewards of sound urban planning and management, propelling Vietnam into a new era of development and injecting it with unprecedented momentum, said architect Dào Ngoc Nghiêm, vice-president of the Association for Urban Planning and Development of Vietnam, affiliated to the National Union of Scientific and Technological Associations.
According to the expert, industrialization and modernization over the past forty years have always been closely linked to urbanization. The Political Bureau's adoption on January 24, 2022 of Resolution N°06 on the planning, construction, management and sustainable development of Vietnamese cities by 2030, with a vision to 2045, is a historic step that confirms the fundamental role of urban space in the structure of national development.
Recalling the early days of the Renewal, Dào Ngoc Nghiêm recalled that Vietnam's urban network was very modest at the time, numbering fewer than 400 centers. Today, this number has soared to over 902 cities, classified according to clearly defined categories.
With an urbanization rate of 42.7%, the urban economy now contributes 70% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Urbanization has acted as a catalyst for the tertiary sector, becoming a magnet for talent and technological advances, he insisted.
In an in-depth analysis of the results achieved, Dào Ngoc Nghiêm emphasized that major infrastructure projects have become the "arteries" that facilitate economic flows and link dynamic regions. Quality of life and social well-being have improved considerably, with the national average living space index reaching almost 29m2 per person.
At the same time, Vietnamese cities have begun to strike a harmonious balance between heritage preservation and development, adapting flexibly to climate change and steadily improving their world ranking.
In general, Hanoi, the capital, is considered a pioneer in urban planning. Since 1954, its urban plan has undergone nine phases of elaboration and readjustment. It is the only city in the country to have adopted a law on capital cities, which came into force on January1, 2025. Following the extension of its administrative boundaries in 2008, Hanoi covers an area of 3,349 km2, with an urbanization rate of over 50% and a target of 65% to 72% by 2030.
To realize its urban vision, Hanoi is focusing its resources on key infrastructure projects, such as bypasses 4 and 5 and light rail lines, to tackle the root causes of traffic congestion in the city center.
The architect expressed his conviction that, on the strength of forty years of renovation and supported by the Capital Cities Act, Hanoi, thanks to proactive planning and implementation carried out with strong political will, will be able to achieve its goals.The architect expressed his confidence that Hanoi, through proactive planning and implementation with strong political will, will realize its vision and become a dynamic, liveable, sustainable metropolis, pioneering the new national era.
Source: lecourrier.vn/
