In the most favorable scenario, Ho Chi Minh City's GRDP growth in 2026 will reach 11%.

1.hoinghithanhuytphcm15-12.jpg — Conference scene. *Photo: Nguyen Le*

On the afternoon of December 15th, the second meeting of the Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, term 2025-2030, discussed solutions for socio -economic development in 2026. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, chaired the meeting.

Reporting at the conference, the Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Development Research Institute, Truong Minh Huy Vu, stated that the city aims for a GRDP growth rate of 10-11% in 2026.

According to Mr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, the city has set three growth scenarios for 2026. Specifically, the baseline scenario projects GRDP growth of 8.5-9%; the favorable scenario projects GRDP growth of 9-10.5%; and the most favorable scenario projects GRDP growth of 10.5-11%.

Ho Chi Minh City is facing unprecedented development opportunities with a series of new mechanisms. *Photo: Nguyen Le*

To achieve the most favorable growth rate, starting from the beginning of 2026, the city is urgently implementing the amended Resolution 98 recently passed by the National Assembly through major, key projects such as the urban railway system, the ring road, and the expressway connecting the city center to Long Thanh airport.

The city is also accelerating the disbursement of public investment capital starting from the beginning of 2026. Land clearance is the most difficult stage; however, through the application of special mechanisms from the amended Resolution 98, this stage will be shortened and progress will be faster. As a result, public investment capital is expected to achieve a high disbursement rate in the first months of the year.

Simultaneously, the city will establish "special teams" such as a "task force" for land clearance and a "task force" for digital transformation to promote strong socio-economic development starting from the beginning of 2026.

Regarding the establishment of a two-tiered local government system, there is currently a shortage of specialized personnel at the commune level. On this issue, Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Hien, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Internal Affairs, stated that based on the actual situation in communes, wards, and special zones, the department will continue to study appropriate personnel allocation plans to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the administrative apparatus in all localities.

2.hoinghithanhuytphcm15-12.jpg — Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang delivers a speech at the conference. Photo: Ha Khanh

In his remarks at the conference, Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang affirmed that, up to this point, the two-level local government has initially operated effectively. Thanks to changes in institutions and regulations from the central government, decentralization, delegation of power, and specific mechanisms, there have been initial positive changes in localities.

Regarding the tasks for 2026 and subsequent years, City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang requested the City People's Committee to immediately develop an action plan to implement the revised Resolution 98. Comrade Tran Luu Quang emphasized that the institutions and mechanisms are already in place; the remaining task is to put them into practice. The city must carefully manage its time and act decisively from the beginning of the year with two overarching goals: improving the quality of life for its citizens and creating a better environment for businesses to invest, produce, and operate.

Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang also suggested that the city government propose a special mechanism within the city's authority (and the central government's authority if applicable) to thoroughly resolve outstanding issues, promoting the tradition of dynamism, creativity, and proactiveness. Comrade Tran Luu Quang emphasized that, while prioritizing the interests of the people, appropriate policies must be formulated, and the city must also be decisive and not shy away from addressing long-standing and pressing issues.

The head of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee also requested the City People's Committee to complete the new master plan (after the merger) by the end of 2026. While this master plan is still under development, the existing plan must be adjusted rationally and flexibly, based on the vision of the new plan.

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