Discussion on general planning orientation and place identity for Lam Dong province (new)

After the merger, Lam Dong province (new) has many added values, creating comparative advantages with other localities in the country, opening up many opportunities and motivations for favorable, fast and sustainable economic development. Photo: Chinh Thanh

IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF LAM DONG PROVINCE (NEW)

In the roadmap of merging from 3 provinces, Lam Dong province (new) has outstanding features in many fields; in which, in terms of planning and development, there are 3 important pillars. These are:

(1) About ranking: Top in natural area, 8th in population size and 13th in GRDP value compared to other localities in the country...

(2) Regarding geographical features and cultural values: Integrated from many places, areas and works with outstanding values ​​in terms of geography, economy, society, historical relics, cultural heritage... typical of the region, worthy of the national and regional level, even including many tangible and intangible values ​​of international stature...

(3) Regarding the advantages of the development site: With the natural terrain structure (including: mountains, plains, deltas and islands), it forms 2 different climate sub-regions in the same province (temperate of the Central Highlands and tropical of the Southeast). From there, it creates the largest agricultural land fund in the country (more than 1 million hectares); ensures the ecosystem on the basis of high-tech agricultural development, produces typical commercial vegetables, flowers and fruits; crops and livestock (on agricultural and forestry land) are very rich and catch aquatic and marine species (from rivers, lakes, seas) with high reserves... At the same time, in terms of environment and forest resources, there is a highly diverse flora and fauna system, with potential suitable for the development of forest economy, green and ecological tourism; adapts to climate change, has the ability to provide clean water sources from nature and contributes to improving local microclimates...

Regarding the current urban and rural systems of the 3 provinces, integrated into 3 different economic zones; most of them have been developing rapidly in terms of economic growth, construction scale, environmental improvement and improving the quality of life of the community... In particular, regarding the architectural appearance of each urban area, the values ​​brought from the architectural works to the urban space, are crystallized from 3 ethnic cultures (Central Highlands, Cham and Vietnamese); combined with the typical French architecture of Da Lat city in more than 130 years of formation and development; can be expanded to the entire Lang Biang plateau (according to the geographical structure) and adjacent satellite cities (according to the general planning orientation of Da Lat and its vicinity from previously approved projects)...

With the above general notes, it is certainly not complete, but it can be affirmed that: After the merger, Lam Dong province (new) has many added values, creating comparative advantages with other localities in the country, due to the addition of many resources (in terms of: geography, natural conditions, typical products, cultural and human heritage...), opening up many opportunities and motivations for favorable, fast and sustainable economic development.

Of course, in the initial stage “after the merger”, there will be significant obstacles and challenges. Notably, once the State structure model changes, legal documents related to the process of establishing - appraising - approving the system of construction planning projects (QHXD) will be partially adjusted or cease to be effective in their entirety (such as: Construction Law, Planning Law, Urban and Rural Planning Law, Construction Planning Standards, standards for classifying new urban and rural areas, etc.). Therefore, the "new" Lam Dong province will not be able to apply or utilize the system of urban and rural planning projects that have been and are legally effective (approved before May 2025) of the 3 current provinces, such as: Provincial planning "period 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050", district planning, general planning of new rural communes and a series of projects such as general planning of Da Lat city and surrounding areas, zoning planning, detailed planning, Urban architecture management regulations (approved or awaiting approval)... in each locality of the 3 provinces, because there is no longer a model of city, town, township and communes, wards (under district-level government) and now they have been merged and converted into grassroots-level administrative units (under the province)...

The above difficulties, when thinking about the goal of economic development, attracting investment to increase resources... must immediately think of one of the important management tools. That is the general planning maps (from the whole to specialized fields, from economic zones to models of affiliated administrative units)...

GENERAL PLANNING ORIENTATION AND CREATION OF UNIQUE IDENTITY

In order for Lam Dong province (new) to have the fastest and most suitable urban planning projects, meeting the development policies and strategies in line with the goal of "double-digit growth" - in the first 5 to 10 years before the New Era (2025 - 2035); each of us must think about establishing a general planning orientation for the new province, so that there is a basis for thoroughly understanding and guiding provincial departments, branches and "grassroots authorities" after integrating into the country's administrative apparatus from the central to local levels.

At this time, it is difficult to have precise recommendations for the research method for the general planning project for construction of Lam Dong province (new); but it is possible to set out the following necessary orientations:

Regarding the planning viewpoint and objectives: The provincial planning solution must aim at the goal of forming and developing the overall “new” Lam Dong province, becoming a common brand that is representative, unified and diverse for the regions, areas and localities in the province. The general planning project should not erase the unique identity of the 3 typical economic sub-regions, crystallized from 2 climate sub-regions and forming different cultural foundations from the 3 old provinces - so that when merged, there will still be typical and outstanding values, helping people and tourists easily recognize the identity of the place of a new place named “Lam Dong”, in the regions, the place name becomes old with many lingering memories.

Regarding the general planning structure and the model of arranging administrative units: Currently, the arrangement of the model of wards, communes, and special zones of the province is considered to be stable. The provincial planning solution needs to classify and delimit administrative units into Suburban areas, satellite cities or counterweight cities; in order to share functions for the main urban area, reduce construction density, balance the ratio of residential land, agricultural land and non-agricultural land in each administrative unit, or reasonably distribute the population size and number of tourists to economic zones and central tourist areas...

In the method of making urban planning projects, the system of projects has different scales, research contents at different levels (from general, to zoning and regional details); so it is impossible to have a general planning project of the province, which is both comprehensive at the macro level and detailed to each administrative unit, to then assemble into an overall picture with 124 separate pieces, with zoning functions (whether similar or different). Therefore, from the Climate Sub-regions, Economic Sub-regions, to the Adjacent Regions, Satellite Cities (mentioned above), it is necessary to arrange to form Sub-regions (or Sub-zones) with each specific function. For example: Administrative and Service Center Sub-area (Da Lat, Duc Trong), Border Gate Urban Sub-area (bordering Dak Nong), Gateway Urban Sub-area (bordering provinces and cities nationwide), Sea tourism sub-area (Phan Thiet), Forest eco-tourism sub-area (Bidup - Nui Ba, Ta Cu ...), New Urban - Tourism Area (Tuyen Lam Lake, Dan Kia - Suoi Vang Lake, Ta Dung Lake ...), Conservation and Heritage Sub-area (Bao Dai Dynasty Area, Champa Ancient Tower Heritage Area ...), new urban areas associated with TOD model (from the current railway line, North - South high-speed train line, cogwheel railway from Da Lat to Ninh Thuan, National expressway system and Phan Thiet seaports), Agricultural and rural tourism Sub-areas from 3 economic sub-regions ... Phu Quy Island alone needs to quickly form a Special Urban and Marine Economic Zone, aiming towards a model of an international complex urban area, with modern urban architecture and diverse identities...

Regarding the creation of diverse and distinctive architectural identities: The new Lam Dong Province Urban Planning Solution needs to determine the rankings, such as: Priority zoning, key areas, key projects, urban areas with high urbanization levels, or rural areas that need concentrated development... (depending on the national, provincial, regional or area level) for each Economic Zone, Urban Sub-zone and rural area. From there, issues that need to be clarified are raised, such as: Orientation on urban and rural architectural space; architectural trends; cultural and ethnic forms in architecture; highlight projects for each Sub-zone, or architectural symbols typical of each region with different cultures... before determining planning and architectural indicators for the area or project (regarding: land use structure, construction density, number of floors and height...).

In terms of the architectural appearance of each old urban area, it is undeniable that the value of creating the identity of the place through the process of formation and development (such as: Da Lat, Di Linh, Bao Loc of Lam Dong, Phan Thiet, Phan Ri of Binh Thuan and Gia Nghia of Dak Nong ...). Although in the near future, provincial and district-level urban areas will no longer carry the title of "city, town, town", those place-name brands will contribute significantly, creating motivations to attract investment and goals in urban economic development strategies, promising to continue to suggest, create distinct, symbiotic and eternal marks in the unity of a new land "Lam Dong".

The above are personal thoughts and suggestions, there may be many things that need to be discussed, adjusted or supplemented; but when discussing planning and development, it is impossible not to have concerns and wishes: Lam Dong Province (new) will quickly integrate and develop sustainably; with the motto: Innovation, creativity and science; so that 20 years later, all Lam Dong people will be proud to stand shoulder to shoulder, rise up with the nation and the Fatherland on all historical stages of the New Era - New Era, joyfully welcoming the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country (September 2, 1945 - 2045).

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xa-hoi/202505/ban-ve-dinh-huong-quy-hauach-chung-va-ban-sac-noi-chon-doi-voi-tinh-lam-dong-moi-e682cd3/