Overpopulation of urban areas problems and solutions

Urban planning is critical to Hanoi's socio-economic and urban development. Hanoi is aiming to achieve a target urbanization rate of approximately 60-62% by 2025, and a further increase to around 65-75% by 2030. The Red river delta. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times Hanoi aims to achieve a target urbanization rate of approximately 60-62% by 2025 and a further increase to around 65-75% by 2030. The objectives include an action program issued by the municipal Party Committee that outlines its efforts to implement the Politburo's Resolution No.06-NQ/TW on the planning, construction, management, and sustainable development of urban areas in Vietnam up to 2030 and beyond, with a vision for 2045. Other key objectives include expanding the urban construction area to about 30% of the total natural land area by 2025 and increasing it to 33-36% by 2030. The city intends to complete all district planning, satellite urban zoning plans, functional area … [Read more...] about Hanoi target urbanization rate of 75% by 2030

Effective planning and construction management are vital to minimizing the impact of natural disasters and reducing disaster risks. Hanoi should prioritize the climate resilience factor in its construction planning for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, according to Dao Ngoc Nghiem, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association for Urban Planning and Development. Climate change becomes an urgent matter A corner of Hanoi. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times Hanoi's residents have become familiar with climate change in recent years, as unusual weather patterns have greatly affected the city's environment and daily life. Even a little rain can cause flooding on many streets, while prolonged heat waves can seriously harm the elderly and children in hospitals. According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, a transition from La Nina (the cool phase) to El Nino (the warm phase) is expected in 2023. It means that the heat will become … [Read more...] about Hanoi should prioritize climate resilience in urban development: Experts

Architect Ngo Doan Duc believes that Hanoi needs to create policies to attract talent and investors to build two new cities in Hoa Lac and Noi Bai. Hanoi Vice Mayor Le Hong Son has assigned the Department of Home Affairs to prepare a task force in charge of building a model of cities belonging to the capital city. The Hanoi People’s Committee will report to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister in March. Photo: Vietnamnet To ease the overload in inner districts, Hanoi is considering a model of cities located in the northern suburban districts of the Red River (Dong Anh, Me Linh and Soc Son) and the western districts (Hoa Lac and Xuan Mai). The new cities in the northern part of the Red River will focus on services and international integration. Noi Bai Airport will be the center of development in the city. The second city is expected to be built in the western part, or Hoa Lac area today. This will be a science-technology and … [Read more...] about Hanoi to build two new cities, creating springboard for Hoa Lac, Noi Bai areas

Vietnam is striving to lure more Japanese investments to digital transformation and green growth, as recommended in the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative (VJI). Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Phase VIII of the initiative, launched in 2003, concluded in March 2023, under which 497 out of the 597 items were completed. To promote its role, the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment proposed building a cooperation programme between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the two countries, focusing on digital transformation, support industry and personnel training. Japanese SMEs have capacity, experience and high tech, and Vietnamese firms have abundant human resources, which is reciprocal during their development cooperation. The ministry suggested the Japanese side take more specific solutions and supplement workforce to further support Vietnamese enterprises in improving their capacity and competitiveness, and participating intensively in … [Read more...] about Vietnam attracting Japanese investments to new areas

The country should have a high level of urbanization comparable to ASEAN and Asia by 2045. Vietnam aims to have at least five cities of international caliber to serve as locomotives for regional and international development networks by 2045, according to an action plan released by the Ministry of Construction (MoC) recently. Under the action plan, the ministry will execute two resolutions, one by Politburo and the other by the Government, on the sustainable development, management, and construction of urban areas in Vietnam by 2030 with a vision for 2045. Hanoi from above. Photo: Huu Thang The country plans to build a high level of urbanization comparable to ASEAN and Asia by 2045. The urban system would be integrated, balanced, and sensitive to climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics, while promoting environmental protection and distinctively modern architecture with green and smart elements, according to the action plan. Other key targets … [Read more...] about Vietnam aims for five international-standard cities by 2045

Hanoi's goal for 2023 is to secure the city's socio-economic performance and further develop a cultured, modern, and civilized society. Hanoi aims to constantly improve the leadership of the Party Committee and the sense of responsibility of government officials and Party members, especially the heads of government agencies, to fulfill all the socio-economic growth tasks set for 2023. Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, talks to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper about the plans and actions the city expects to carry out on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Hanoi Party Committee. Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee. Photo: The Hanoi Times As head of the Hanoi Party Committee, could you share some of Hanoi's achievements in the first half of 2020-2025? Hanoi has endured many international impacts in the past two and a half … [Read more...] about Innovation-centered approach boosts Hanoi’s performance in socio-economic growth

Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park J.V. Co. (VSIP) on Saturday signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with nine Vietnamese provinces to develop smart and sustainable industrial parks (IPs). VSIP is a joint venture between Becamex IDC Corporation, under the People’s Committee of Binh Duong, just outside Ho Chi Minh City, and Sembcorp Development Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries, a leading energy and urban solution provider. The signing ceremony was part of the 'Binh Duong: Initiation - Connection - New Development' program, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, leaders of ministries, agencies and localities, and hundreds of investors. It was also an expansion of a broader MOU between Becamex and Sembcorp Development inked during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s state visit to Singapore early last month. Smart and sustainable IPs will be considered in nine provinces, including Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, … [Read more...] about VSIP joins hands with 9 Vietnamese provinces to develop smart IPs

Selex Motors, a Vietnamese start-up developing a smart electric scooter ecosystem in Vietnam, has helped define ‘Made-in-Vietnam’ electric vehicles (EVs), specifically electric scooters, as its products are completely manufactured in the Southeast Asian nation. Selex Motors co-founders are Nguyen Huu Phuoc Nguyen, Nguyen Trong Hai, and Nguyen Dinh Quang. Both Nguyen and Hai earned a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and worked for many companies in both the U.S. and Vietnam. Meanwhile, Quang is an expert in software engineering and the Internet of Things (IoT), and has developed complicated national defense systems for enterprises in Israel. Since late last year, Selex Motors’ first smart electric scooters have run on the streets in Hanoi. The company has been expanding its ecosystem to many large cities, heading toward exporting the ecosystem to other Southeast Asian countries. An event to experience Selex Motors’ electric scooters. … [Read more...] about Start-up realizes dream of ‘made-in-Vietnam’ electric scooters

After motorbike-taxi driver Nguyen Van Nam dropped off his passenger at No. 60 Truong Dinh, he received an angry call from the person for dropping them off "at the wrong address." There was another No. 60 on the same road. He says: "It is also on Truong Dinh Street, half of which is in District 1 and the other half in District 3. Numbers are duplicated, which led to the confusion." The 50-year-old has been driving his motorbike on the streets of Saigon for over a decade. Nam says he is familiar with the main streets in the downtown area but did not expect the bizarre numbering system. It took him half an hour to finally find the right place and drop off the passenger. Motorbike-taxi drivers are most wary about Phan Xich Long Street, which spans three wards in Phu Nhuan District, due to its chaotic numbering, he says. "Each house has at least two numbers assigned to it. Two houses can be right next to each other, but their numbers can be very far apart. There can be two … [Read more...] about Saigon’s addresses are a riddle wrapped in a mystery

ROUNDTABLE: Seeking a boost for inbound tourism Speaking at the opening of the roundtable discussion, VIR's Editor-in-Chief Le Trong Minh shared, " Tourism is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing economic sectors in the world today. Its importance in creating jobs and promoting growth is addressed in some of the Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations Development programme." He cited statistics showing Vietnam's tourism created more than 1.3 million direct jobs in 2019, contributing 9.2 per cent of the country's total GDP (equivalent to $32.8 billion). This is a significant number, but it remains low compared to the global average. Vietnam has yet to unlock the full potential of its tourism industry. "Despite the economic volatility, the recovery of inbound tourism will bring many advantages, such as creating jobs and improving labour mobility. As the manufacturing industry is struggling due to a shrinking export market, tourism is a viable on-site … [Read more...] about VIR’s rountable discussion sheds lights on the recovery of inbound tourism