When Ho Chi Minh City re-established the Department of Planning and Architecture

First of all, it is not simply a matter of combining the three previous plannings of three localities, nor is it simply a planning for Ho Chi Minh City, but also aims at regional connectivity (between the Southeast and Southwest) and more. It is not only a matter of redesigning a unified architecture, infrastructure, urban areas... but also has to be in sync with the city's socio -economic development strategy.

Adjust/establish the general planning of the expanded Ho Chi Minh City while organizing the establishment/adjustment of zoning plans to catch up with the progress of socio-economic development. In particular, the important thing is to gather the attention along with feasible proposals of strategic investors and large investors through specific projects and works.

Complex technical standards will have to simultaneously ensure the "mission" of preserving heritage and creating a new, strong development space that the newly issued policies and resolutions have a liberal nature. This is both the advantage of the "starting line" and a test, assessing the ability and responsibility for the future when the presence of resolutions on urban infrastructure chains such as the North-South railway, urban railway, inter-regional railway or financial infrastructure such as the International Financial Center associated with the "pilot" 57 on science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation. Besides, there is also the marine economic space, free trade zones, national energy centers...

The important issue is not only completing a planning design but also focusing on design capacity and experience; organizing operations, coordinating, handling, and quickly adjusting arising issues; gathering social resources to participate and strongly promoting implementation.

Planning is oriented towards the future but not “drawn out and left there”, it must be feasible and implemented on schedule, synchronously and effectively. Therefore, the mechanism and resources for its operation must also be transparent, complete and invested appropriately, along with a mechanism to monitor, evaluate and adjust the planning in each stage to suit reality.

With the above importance, the Department of Planning and Architecture needs to be re-established as a specialized department, ensuring independence in the planning process, not being dominated or influenced by the tasks of the Department of Construction. This department itself also needs to focus more strongly on the role of implementing and supervising urban development projects in accordance with the planning, ensuring effective implementation.

The specialized and specific nature of the Department of Planning and Architecture compared to other specialized departments also requires both personnel selection and regular connection, work, and interaction with experts, scientists, and professional associations from within the country and internationally. Not to mention the need to constantly "rub" and exchange to practice, learn, and improve knowledge in newly emerging fields.

Typically, promoting the role of technology and data of digital maps in planning, adjusting management and operating current plans. Technology represents real-time issues to help speed up decision-making. Or through big data platforms applying artificial intelligence, it can support the construction of urban - economic - social development scenarios, creating pre-supposed options for policy makers. Of course, it is also necessary to maintain the "interdependence" nature with other sectors and fields, such as: resources, agriculture , construction, architecture - especially land use planning.

A reality that needs to be recognized: through the activities of the Department of Planning and Architecture in the past time and the process of Ho Chi Minh City implementing recent plans, such as: socio-economic planning, construction planning and Thu Duc City planning, it is clear that there needs to be a certain flexible and agile approach to be able to connect, interact, and mobilize different "beneficiary groups", which are increasingly more diverse in society, from investors, business groups to social organizations and people. Both creating and maintaining relationships and effective interaction with research and planning agencies at all levels to exchange in-depth expertise and the appraisal and approval process.

In short, the separation to create an independent department will be the foundation for the planning and development of the city to be able to concentrate deeply, improve the quality of urban planning and management, and maintain a long-term, sustainable vision for the future.

NGUYEN QUAN CAT

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khi-tphcm-tai-lap-so-quy-hoach-kien-truc-post815478.html