Phu Tho and the aspiration to create smart urban space

After the merger, Phu Tho entered a development phase with outstanding scale and potential. From the strategic location advantage, diverse economic resources to favorable regional connection corridors, the province is holding a "golden opportunity" to realize the aspiration of creating a smart urban space - modern, green, rich in identity, towards a sustainable future.

Hoa Binh Ward is one of the largest urban areas with the largest population in Phu Tho province today.

Opening up space for continuous development

In the strong development flow of the country, Phu Tho - the land of the nation's origin - is entering a new and promising phase. From a midland and mountainous province with a strategic position, Phu Tho has now taken on a new stature after merging the three provinces of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc and Hoa Binh, becoming a locality with an area, population and economic potential among the leading groups in the Northern region. This is a condition for upgrading urban classification, thereby accessing higher urban development support policies, mobilizing more resources for infrastructure development in general, digital infrastructure in particular and urban services.

The urbanization process in Phu Tho is formed and developed year by year. By July 2025, the overall urbanization rate of the province is estimated to reach 33%; the number of recognized urban areas in the province is 58 urban areas of all types. However, after merging 3 provinces according to the new administrative unit after merging urban areas (including 15 wards), the urbanization rate in Phu Tho is currently only about 17.7%. Thus, the urbanization target of the whole province in 2025 is recalculated to decrease from 33% to 17.7%; the number of recognized urban areas decreases from 58 to 15 (a decrease of 43 urban areas). The reason for the decrease is that after the arrangement of provincial-level administrative units according to Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15 dated June 12, 2025 of the National Assembly, and the arrangement of commune-level administrative units according to Resolution No. 1676/2025/QH15 dated June 16, 2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Phu Tho province only has 15 urban areas (only ward-level is considered urban).

New day in Vinh Phuc ward, the urban area has a favorable location in traffic connection and economic development, attracting many industrial projects and logistics infrastructure.

Before the merger, each province had its own strengths: Phu Tho was the cultural and administrative center of the Ancestral Land; Vinh Phuc developed high-tech industry and services; Hoa Binh was famous for its natural landscape and tourism potential. Now, these three pieces converge, creating a space for continuous development, rich in identity and possessing all the economic, infrastructure and human resources factors to make a breakthrough.

At the working session, exchanging cooperation in the field of investment, construction, operation and planning for urban infrastructure development in the province with Pacific Construction Group in July 2025, Provincial Party Secretary Dang Xuan Phong emphasized: The merger not only helps increase the scale but more importantly, creates a synchronous development structure, closely linking the centers. With the current space and land of Phu Tho, the province pays special attention to planning work to create new space for development. Building a smart city is not a distant goal, but an action orientation from today, to gradually improve the quality of life of the people.

Fireworks to celebrate Independence Day September 2nd in Viet Tri ward.

The merger is not only a change in administrative boundaries, but also opens up opportunities to rebuild the entire urban structure. At the same time, forming new growth poles, adjusting administrative boundaries can create new central urban areas, or clarify the role of central urban areas at the commune and provincial levels, thereby opening up opportunities to plan industrial parks, urban areas, service areas, logistics... This is an opportunity to orient the development of new economic "poles" and dynamic regions in a more sustainable and modern direction. Large centers and satellite urban chains are now part of a common plan, connected by a modern transportation network and digital infrastructure. This helps to distribute the population reasonably, reduce pressure on each area, and at the same time create economic spillover momentum.

Developing urban areas along the Da River with a transportation system connecting regions with tourism and service potential.

Blending the identity of the homeland and modern life

Resolution No. 06 - NQ/TW dated January 24, 2022 of the Politburo has clearly defined the goal of developing a modern, synchronous, competitive and climate-resilient urban system in Vietnam. For Phu Tho, this resolution is a "strategic map" to implement planning, construction and urban management in a sustainable and smart direction. According to the spirit of the resolution, Phu Tho urban space needs to develop in a network, connecting central areas, specialized functional areas, riverside - lakeside urban areas and economic - technical corridors. The technical infrastructure system, smart traffic, green space, and urban management based on digital data will be the foundation for improving the quality of life, optimizing resources and attracting investment.

After the merger, Phu Tho owns a rare connecting position: It is the gateway from the capital Hanoi to the Northwest, and is located between important highways and national highways. The diverse terrain from plains, midlands to mountains helps the province have a large land fund to develop new urban areas, industrial parks, tourist areas and large-scale infrastructure.

Viet Tri Ward is an urban area with many historical and cultural values, and is also the political and administrative center of Phu Tho province.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Quang - Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Construction affirmed: Developing smart cities is a way to develop digital economy, urban economy, contributing to improving the quality of life of the people. The strength of Phu Tho is that it has both developed industry and services, and rich cultural and natural resources. It is completely possible to develop a green - humane smart urban model, balancing technology, environment and people.

In recent times, with many efforts in developing smart cities, some achievements have been made in areas such as: Forming an Intelligent Operation Center (IOC), urban data on GIS platform, smart transportation, some convenient services on healthcare, education and especially online public services. Smart urban development has brought practical benefits to people, businesses and the state. For people, it is to have access to smart utilities, transparent information on planning, healthcare, transportation, education. For businesses, it helps open up investment opportunities, more transparent and effective business with online public services. For the state, it creates breakthrough tools to help operate, manage effectively, make decisions faster and more accurately. However, in the coming time, it is necessary to focus on standards and criteria for smart urban development; research on urban development associated with digital transformation; Research on regulations for selecting pilot communes and wards to build smart cities as a basis for replication, while encouraging industrial development to serve smart urban development.

In urban development of Vinh Phuc ward, Phu Tho province always pays attention to increasing the ratio of green space.

The draft Political Report submitted to the 20th Provincial Party Congress clearly identifies the determination to build and develop a smart, green, modern urban system; synchronously connect infrastructure; improve the quality of life; preserve and promote the cultural values ​​of the Ancestral Land; develop a sustainable urban economy associated with environmental protection. To aim for an urbanization rate of 35% by 2030 (according to the draft Document submitted to the Phu Tho Provincial Party Congress, term 2025 - 2030), in the coming time, Phu Tho province will develop a plan to upgrade about 22 communes into wards or urban areas that play a role in promoting local socio-economic development (according to Resolution No. 66.1/2025/NQ-CP dated July 18, 2025 of the Government).

On that basis, the province will complete urban space planning in the direction of smart grid, invest heavily in strategic transport infrastructure and digital infrastructure, and develop new urban areas integrating energy-saving technology, renewable energy and modern water and waste treatment systems. Increasing the proportion of green space and people's satisfaction index with urban services will be considered a measure of the success of the development process.

Green urban space in Viet Tri ward.

Phu Tho's aspiration for a smart city is inseparable from its identity. Phu Tho does not trade the environment or cultural identity for development speed, but building a smart city must take people as the center and preserve the soul of the Ancestral Land.

In the next 10-15 years, if the strategy is properly implemented, Phu Tho can become a model of a successful unified province, with a smart urban network, regional connectivity, rich cultural identity, and high competitiveness on the national development map. That aspiration is not only nurtured by political determination and the right strategy of the political system, but also requires the consensus and participation of each citizen and business community. When tradition and modernity blend, the new Phu Tho will not only "change its skin" but also rise to a level worthy of the position of the Ancestral Land - a place where the past and the future, identity and creativity converge.

Viet Ha

Source: https://baophutho.vn/phu-tho-va-khat-vong-kien-tao-khong-gian-do-thi-thong-minh-240451.htm