Developing the master plan for the capital city still requires a huge amount of work to complete.

At the conference on the implementation of the Hanoi Capital City Planning, period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, held on the afternoon of July 21st, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh emphasized that the city is at a crucial juncture as it is simultaneously implementing three key tasks: organizing the preparation of the Capital City Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2025; organizing the preparation of the overall adjustment of the Capital City Master Plan to 2045 and a vision to 2065; and coordinating with the Ministry of Justice to draft the amended Capital City Law, all within a very tight timeframe.

Planning the capital city still involves a very large amount of work to complete (Figure 1). — Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi City, Tran Sy Thanh, delivered a speech at the conference.

According to the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, the current workload is enormous to complete all three aforementioned tasks with limited time remaining. The Chairman of Hanoi requested that, after the conference, leaders of relevant units, departments, and districts direct the implementation of assigned tasks within a short timeframe, fully assess the current situation, and provide data so that consulting firms and planning and adjustment units can express the development aspirations of each locality through specific projects and models.

"This is a rare opportunity for each leader and staff member of each unit to contribute to the Capital, to three long-term areas that will shape the future development of the Capital," Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh emphasized.

The Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee also requested that the implementation of the revised Master Plan for the Capital City until 2045, with a vision to 2065, be accelerated so that both planning projects are interconnected, ensuring timely progress, and submitted to the Government for the National Assembly's opinion before consideration and approval of the Master Plan in the near future.

In his report on the work of preparing the Hanoi Capital City Planning, Le Ngoc Anh, Director of the Hanoi Institute for Economic and Social Development Research, reviewed some milestones and progress since the Prime Minister approved the Task of preparing the Hanoi Capital City Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, in Decision No. 313/QD-TTg dated March 7, 2022.

Most recently, on May 31st, the Institute signed a contract with a consulting consortium comprising 7 units, with the National Economics University leading the consortium and 6 leading research institutes from various ministries and sectors. The Institute also chaired, coordinated, and advised the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on organizing nearly 60 meetings, conferences, workshops, and seminars to solicit opinions from leading experts on the planning process.

The Director of the Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research proposed that the Hanoi People's Committee direct relevant departments and agencies; and the People's Committees of districts, towns, and communes to continue coordinating with the Institute and the consulting consortium to accelerate the implementation of activities related to the preparation of the Capital City Planning, ensuring quality and efficiency; at the same time, continue to direct the organization of several important scientific seminars; and coordinate with provinces and cities to organize seminars and discussions on inter-regional and inter-provincial issues…

Planning the capital city still involves a very large amount of work to complete (Figure 2). — The process of developing the Hanoi Capital City Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research)

At the conference, Professor Hoang Van Cuong, Vice Rector of the National Economics University, reported that from June 1st, immediately after the city issued a decision recognizing the consulting unit, the consortium proceeded with the first step and completed it within one month by organizing seven seminars with leading experts and scientists to gather ideas for developing industries and sectors and allocating space.

On behalf of the consulting units, Professor Hoang Van Cuong briefly reported on some key ideas in the planning of the Capital City, in which, defining Hanoi's characteristics as "Cultural - Civilized - Modern," "Green - Smart - Prosperous," and a globally connected city.

The development orientation for economic sectors identifies the service economy as the driving force, with urban services being the main source. Hanoi is oriented towards becoming the air logistics and goods distribution center for the northern region. Culture, heritage, tourism, and entertainment services must become the main resources for development.

Representatives of the consulting consortium also presented ideas regarding the tasks of preserving the Old Quarter and French architectural areas; renovating and upgrading old neighborhoods and old apartment buildings; developing radial urban axes connecting with satellite cities and regional centers; planning railway transportation; planning urban road transportation; planning service spaces on both sides of the Red River; planning a cultural heritage route; planning the exploitation of historical and cultural heritage sites under the PPP mechanism; planning a science city, a tourism-cultural city, and a city attracting elites, along with proposing some specific mechanisms and policies for implementing the Plan.

Associate Professor Tran Dinh Thien, a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Group and former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, emphasized that Hanoi is facing an "extraordinary" opportunity as it simultaneously prepares and adjusts both the Capital City Planning, the General Planning of Hanoi, and completes the amended Law on the Capital City. The workshop organized by the Hanoi People's Committee today demonstrates the city's determination not to miss this opportunity to orient the development of the capital in the new era, with the mission of creating a model and leading the entire country.

Associate Professor Tran Dinh Thien noted that, in order to create a truly meaningful urban plan for Hanoi, it is necessary to assess its unique advantages and potential, and then transform them into Hanoi's strengths. Furthermore, it is crucial to clearly identify and analyze how contemporary trends are impacting Hanoi as the capital leading the nation's development, representing the country's progress towards becoming a leading competitive urban center, and to clearly define Hanoi's mission, role, and function within the country, at the national level.

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