Enhancing the status of the "capital" of the Southwestern region of Vietnam.

According to the report of the People's Committee of Can Tho City at the end-of-year 2025 session of the City People's Council, Can Tho's socio -economic development continued to have many positive aspects in the past year. All economic sectors experienced growth; several foreign investment projects were attracted; social welfare programs were implemented promptly; the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing was completed ahead of schedule; and national security and defense were maintained.

However, according to many opinions, Can Tho 's development, compared to many other localities, is still not commensurate with its potential. Even the city's People's Committee report frankly acknowledges existing shortcomings and limitations, such as economic growth reaching only 7.23% (lower than the target of over 10%); slow disbursement of public investment capital (only 44% of the plan had been reached by December 8th); deteriorating infrastructure in many areas; and slow progress in digital transformation…

Several objective reasons have been cited to explain this situation: the three localities (Hau Giang, Soc Trang , and Can Tho) had different development foundations before the merger; unpredictable weather patterns, storms, and tidal surges; diseases affecting crops and livestock; and volatile export markets, all of which impacted agricultural production; new growth drivers have not yet been fully utilized, while existing drivers have been slow to be addressed.

However, there are also subjective reasons, such as the slow progress of many projects due to a lack of decisive action in land clearance and the weakness of contractors. Urban flooding and deteriorating infrastructure have persisted, partly due to a lack of coordination in project implementation. There are areas that should have played a more significant role, such as the expressway connecting the Southeast region to Can Tho, and the modern and well-equipped Can Tho airport, which are levers for attracting investment and tourists; yet these areas have not seen breakthrough or significant development.

The People's Committee of Can Tho aims to complete the approval of the revised City Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, by 2026, expanding the development space to enhance its role as a regional center. Specific solutions include replanning the central area according to smart city guidelines, implementing a smart city project, and establishing a roadmap for relocating medical, educational, and industrial facilities out of the city center. The plan also includes attracting investors to engage in deep processing to enhance the value of agricultural products and develop the "Made in Mekong" brand. Disbursement of public investment capital is also identified as a key task, prioritizing national key projects and accelerating the progress of large-scale projects.

Another decisive solution emphasized by the Can Tho People's Committee is that 2026 will be the year to tighten administrative discipline, strengthen public service inspections, rectify working methods, and strictly handle cases of stagnation and evasion of responsibility; while prioritizing the training and development of officials. Can Tho has always been the capital of the Southwestern region, but to further develop, enhance its position, make more contributions, and live up to its role as a centrally-governed city, it must not be complacent or "sleepwalk".

As the leaders of the People's Committee of Can Tho City affirmed: "Discipline is the foundation, resources are the driving force, and results are the measure. The city will act decisively and create clear changes to improve the quality of life for its people and build Can Tho into a civilized, modern, prosperous, and beautiful city."

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nang-cao-vi-the-thu-phu-mien-tay-nam-bo.html