Identifying new urban areas
In the previous development plan for Ha Long City, Cua Luc Bay was not excluded from the goal of becoming a new urban area of Quang Ninh province, as this area possesses all the elements necessary for sustainable development both in the short and long term. This was recognized early on by Quang Ninh province and reported to central ministries and agencies for integration into the Quang Ninh Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 80/QD-TTg (dated February 11, 2023), and the Ha Long City Master Plan to 2040, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 72/QD-TTg (dated February 10, 2023).
The plan outlines the expansion of the former Ha Long City to the north, using Cua Luc Bay as a central connecting point, building a multi-polar, smart, green, and integrated urban area with synchronized infrastructure, and developing international-standard marinas to serve tourism and services, and strengthen regional connectivity. According to the new administrative boundary map, the Cua Luc Bay area currently includes parts of the following wards: Bai Chay, Cao Xanh, Viet Hung, Hoanh Bo, and the Thong Nhat commune.
Cua Luc Bay in general, and the northern area of Cua Luc Bay in particular, is a new urban area developing services, ecotourism, cultural activities, entertainment, and high-tech industries; reserving the development of provincial-level public service centers; establishing a system of iconic architectural works; preserving the mangrove forest ecosystem, and addressing existing environmental issues. The area along Cua Luc Bay prioritizes the development of public functions, services, squares, ecological parks, cultural works, and landmark architectural structures to create accessibility for the community.
Specifically, the area east of the Troi River is oriented towards a concentrated urban residential area combined with landmark structures to exploit the landscape of Hoanh Bo ward; developing low-density resort and golf course projects to maximize the ecological landscape of An Bien Lake; a complex of cultural tourism and ecological coastal urban resort in Thong Nhat commune; and a high-end tourism and resort urban complex south of National Highway 279. In particular, the water surface area will be utilized to develop small bays for boat docks and marinas; connecting the waterway network to create an inland waterway transport system that will become a characteristic feature of the Cua Luc Bay urban area.
According to a previous review by the People's Committee of Ha Long City, the northern area of Cua Luc Bay still has significant development potential, with over 3,600 hectares of land currently occupied, including existing residential land, aquaculture ponds, mangrove forests, and tidal flats; and projects that have been and are being implemented. Currently, the northern area of Cua Luc Bay has 24 non-budgetary projects that have been allocated land (10 projects completed, 14 projects under implementation) and 3 projects that have not yet selected investors, with the land area accounting for a small percentage, about 6%; the remaining land consists of natural mangrove forests, vacant land, aquaculture land, and tidal flats with large areas and beautiful scenery, but which have not been exploited rationally and effectively.
To connect the southern and northern areas of Cua Luc Bay, gradually creating an attractive environment for strategic investors, Quang Ninh province has recently invested in two connecting bridges: Binh Minh Bridge and Tinh Yeu Bridge. Both bridges have been completed and put into operation, gradually demonstrating the effectiveness of the investment and creating new development opportunities in the area. According to the approved plan, the province will continue to research and invest in the construction of another bridge across Cua Luc Bay and several connecting roads in the future, creating a strong and synchronized transportation network within the region and inter-regionally, in line with the multi-polar development strategy.
Enhancing the attractiveness of Cua Luc Bay
Despite its significant economic development potential, the Cua Luc Bay area, especially in the north, has yet to attract strategic investors to conduct research and invest in projects. Existing projects in this area are not listed as sustainable, long-term development projects or green growth projects of the province; they are mainly industrial production projects, generating large amounts of emissions and dust into the environment, such as: Thang Long Cement Plant, Ha Long Cement Plant, Thang Long Thermal Power Plant, Hung Long Brick Factory, Binh Duong Brick and Tile Factory, and Hoanh Bo Industrial Cluster.
To contribute to enhancing the value of the Cua Luc Bay area, create momentum for investors to invest in the locality, and concretize the plans approved by the Prime Minister, Quang Ninh province has directed relevant departments and agencies to research and propose investment in a series of transportation infrastructure projects connecting the Cua Luc Bay area. Initially, proposals include the investment in the construction of a coastal road project in the northwest of Cua Luc Bay, connecting from Troi 2 Bridge to Tinh Yeu Bridge, linking to National Highway 279, and a coastal road project extending from Tran Quoc Nghien Street (near pillar P4 of Bai Chay Bridge) through Binh Minh Bridge to Bang Bridge. Currently, the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee have reported these two projects to the Provincial Party Committee for guidance to complete the necessary investment procedures according to regulations.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tu, Director of the Department of Construction, stated: "Investing in these two projects is necessary to gradually complete a synchronous and modern transportation infrastructure system, expanding the province's urban space, creating momentum to attract investment in the development of new urban areas in the northern part of Cua Luc Bay, and rationally exploiting the potential and advantages of land resources, promoting socio-economic development and strengthening national defense and security. These two projects are considered 'seed capital' to encourage investment from private economic sectors in this area."
It is known that these two projects will be implemented in the period 2025-2028, with a total expected investment capital from the provincial budget of 5,478 billion VND. Specifically, the project for the coastal road in the Northwest of Cua Luc Bay, connecting from Troi 2 Bridge through Tinh Yeu Bridge and linking to National Highway 279, has a length of approximately 8.3km, a design speed of 60km/h, and a total investment of 2,860 billion VND; the project for the coastal road extending from Tran Quoc Nghien Street (near pillar P4 of Bai Chay Bridge) through Binh Minh Bridge to Bang Bridge, has a length of over 7km, a design speed of 60km/h, and a total investment of 2,618 billion VND.
Mr. Vu Tien Kien (Area 4A, Cao Xanh Ward) said: "I am very happy that the province is allocating resources from the state budget to invest in more roads connecting urban areas and dynamic zones, expanding new development spaces in the Ha Long area, with Cua Luc Bay as the center. Hopefully, after the investment, Cua Luc Bay in general and the northern part of Cua Luc Bay in particular will attract investors to come and research and promote investment in urban infrastructure and service projects, creating a comprehensive breakthrough for the entire region."
Cua Luc Bay is facing new development opportunities, potentially rivaling or even surpassing the Bai Chay area – a region with a complete, modern, and nationally-standardized infrastructure for services and tourism – if the province implements a strong and appropriate investment promotion and attraction strategy. The northern part of Cua Luc Bay has significant potential for development from its surplus land, creating a more integrated and upscale urban, service, and tourism zone. Therefore, the province will soon direct relevant departments to finalize the revision of the Cua Luc Bay zoning plan to align with the two-tiered local government model, serving as a basis for attracting investors; issue preferential policies and support for businesses investing in smart city projects, ecotourism, and social infrastructure; and promote public-private partnerships (PPP) to mobilize resources for infrastructure investment.
Besides investing in infrastructure and researching and issuing policies to attract investment, the province will also regularly direct departments, agencies, and localities to strengthen inspection, supervision, and environmental impact assessment, resolutely eliminate existing projects with high risks affecting the ecosystem in the area, and have a roadmap to terminate and close down industrial production projects that are no longer suitable for the new development context.
Mr. Truong Manh Hung, Head of the Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, stated: Before deciding to invest in a particular area, urban infrastructure and service investors, in addition to considering favorable policies and available land, also carefully examine the environmental factors in the area. Investors are not keen on investing when a factory next to their project discharges waste and produces a lot of smoke and dust, reducing the true value of the project. This is an issue that the provincial departments and agencies will research and propose solutions to ensure a harmonious balance of development interests for businesses investing in the same area.
In line with the province's development orientation, on August 25, 2025, during a meeting with the leaders of Quang Ninh province, the Pacific Construction Group (China), in addition to exploring and researching investment options and forms for the road tunnel project across Cua Luc Bay, also expressed its desire to conduct a comprehensive study of the planning for the northern area of Cua Luc Bay. This is a positive sign, showing the attractiveness of the Cua Luc Bay area in the context of Quang Ninh province's new development.
Developing the new urban area of Cua Luc Bay is not only about expanding urban space but also a strategic step for Quang Ninh to affirm its position as a comprehensively developed, sustainable, civilized, and modern province. With proactive identification of potential, determination to overcome challenges, and synchronized solutions, Cua Luc Bay promises to become a "new growth pole" of Quang Ninh in the era of urbanization.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/mo-rong-phat-trien-vung-do-thi-moi-vinh-cua-luc-3373846.html
Comment (0)