The Law on Special Cities helps shape the governance model of megacities.

"The Law on Special Urban Areas, once passed by the National Assembly, will be an important legal foundation, shaping the governance model of megacities like Ho Chi Minh City in the new development phase - becoming a regional and international economic, financial, scientific, technological, and innovation center."

This was the point emphasized by Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong at a workshop to consult with experts, scientists , and prominent intellectuals on the draft Law on Special Urban Areas, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on May 22nd.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong speaks at the workshop. Photo: Trung Tuyen/TTXVN

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Ho Chi Minh City is currently receiving many favorable conditions from the central government through resolutions on piloting special mechanisms and policies, thereby achieving many important accomplishments and creating a foundation for effectively exploiting its potential. However, these pilot mechanisms are limited in time and sometimes lack synchronization with the general legal system, failing to form a synchronized, stable, and long-term institutional framework. Therefore, the objective requirement now is to shift from a "pilot" approach to building a superior, stable, and long-term legal framework to form a modern urban governance model, becoming a "breakthrough of breakthroughs" to enable Ho Chi Minh City to make a strong leap forward in the era of national development.

The latest draft of the Law on Special Urban Areas (updated as of May 19th) consists of 9 chapters and 45 articles. According to experts, most of the provisions in the Law on Special Urban Areas are linked to the unique characteristics of Ho Chi Minh City, so limiting its scope of application to only Ho Chi Minh City is appropriate to practical requirements. The specific and detailed provisions in the law are easy to implement without the need for guidance through Government Decrees or Circulars from ministries and agencies. This is an important step forward in the way the National Assembly enacts laws.

Dr. Tran Du Lich, former Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City National Assembly Delegation, gives his opinion on the draft law on special urban areas. Photo: Trung Tuyen/TTXVN

Contributing to the workshop, Dr. Tran Du Lich, a member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council and former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Economics, stated that currently, there are four National Assembly resolutions still in effect regarding specific mechanisms and policies for Ho Chi Minh City: Resolution 98 and Resolution 260 specifically for the city; Resolution 188 on urban railways applicable to Hanoi; and Resolution 222 on the International Financial Center in Vietnam applicable to Da Nang.

According to Dr. Tran Du Lich, the fundamental contents of resolutions related to the decentralization and delegation of power to localities and the authority of localities to issue legal norms should be selected and included in the Law on Special Urban Areas. This Law on Special Urban Areas, applied to Ho Chi Minh City, presents an opportunity to address at the highest level the existing mechanisms of "integrating public services" and "integrating state budgets" between the central and local governments, leading to a "request-and-grant" system. Missing this opportunity would be very regrettable.

Metro train arrives at Rach Chiec station, Line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien. Photo: Hong Dat/TTXVN

Urban planning expert, Dr. Ngo Viet Nam Son, also acknowledged that the development of a Special Urban Law for Ho Chi Minh City in the current context is a case of "favorable timing, location, and human factors," as Ho Chi Minh City, after merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, has become a megacity with expanded space, combining the potential and strengths of the three former localities, creating new opportunities and new growth drivers for the city.

At the workshop, experts and scientists also engaged in in-depth discussions on the mechanisms and policies proposed in the draft law; breakthrough models (including the model of special administrative-economic units within cities, free trade zones, and international financial centers); and the necessary level of excellence and conditions to ensure the effectiveness of these models in practice.

Many experts also suggest that the law should specifically regulate airport city models, university city models, TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) city models, or emphasize the development of marine economy, riverside cities, and reclaimed land cities to clarify the unique nature of Ho Chi Minh City as a special urban area.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/luat-do-thi-dac-biet-giup-dinh-hinh-mo-hinh-quan-tri-dai-do-thi-20260522141727782.htm