A solid foundation for innovation.
In the national development orientation for the five-year period (2026-2030), the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Party sets the goal of forming strong growth poles, key economic regions, and new-generation cities and special economic zones on par with the region and the world…
Specifically, in line with the global context of profound economic, technological, and environmental reshaping, Quang Ninh is not standing aside, pursuing a long-term development strategy. This involves promoting the synchronized development of infrastructure and transforming the growth model like two coaxial gears, working together to operate towards a smart, exemplary, and sustainable urban model.
Recognizing that infrastructure is a "leading force" and the "backbone" creating new momentum for development, Quang Ninh has focused its efforts on investing in a synchronous, modern, interconnected, and integrated socio-economic infrastructure. With regional linkages, international connectivity, and sustainable development as its central orientation, it has created an open transportation network, promoting trade, tourism , and logistics. Quang Ninh is one of the leading provinces in investing in and constructing key transportation projects, creating advantages for inter-regional connectivity and promoting socio-economic development. Quang Ninh's transportation system is developed across all four modes: road, sea, air, and rail. This is a crucial foundation for creating momentum and strategic breakthroughs for the new phase, following the model of a smart city, a model for the whole country.
In terms of economic structure, instead of following the beaten path of "urban expansion," the province chose a more challenging direction: a comprehensive restructuring of its growth model. To date, Quang Ninh has far surpassed its image as a province traditionally focused on resource exploitation. The proportion of services and manufacturing industries is increasing, while dependence on mining is gradually decreasing. Simultaneously, Quang Ninh is orienting itself towards green transformation and digital transformation as the foundation for sustainable development. Currently, the province prioritizes the development of eco-industrial parks and high-tech zones, aiming for a symbiotic model of industry and services. This is a fundamental shift, consistent with the development requirements of the new era.
Quang Ninh's urban development has been strong, continuous, and marked by groundbreaking transformations, particularly accelerating in recent years. From 2012 to the present, the province has experienced a breakthrough and synchronized infrastructure development, implementing internationally-standard master plans, clearly defining key economic zones, and economic corridors and belts. Strong investment in strategic infrastructure projects such as Van Don International Airport and the expressway system has created inter-regional connectivity, completely transforming the appearance and status of its urban areas.
In Quang Ninh, many provincial cities have been formed following a multi-polar urban model, focusing on key dynamic regions. Before the implementation of the two-tiered local government system, the western region included Uong Bi, Dong Trieu, and Quang Yen (industrial and logistics service centers); the central region included Ha Long, Cam Pha, and Van Don (administrative, tourism, marine service, and marine economic centers); and the eastern region included Mong Cai and Hai Ha (border economic zones and international trade). This development process has pushed the urbanization rate to a high level compared to the national average (reaching 75% by 2025), approaching the rate of centrally-governed cities.
Thus, with its inheritance, proactive approach, and continuous innovation, in accordance with Resolution No. 112/2025/UBTVQH15 (dated December 24, 2025) of the National Assembly on the standards of administrative units, Quang Ninh has basically met 7 out of 7 standards of a centrally-governed city, such as: population size, natural area, urbanization rate, functional location as defined in the planning... Quang Ninh has gradually converged the core criteria of a central urban area, and the current administrative upgrade will be a recognition of a substantive and continuous development process.
"Links" in the national development structure
In the new phase of national development structure, where the requirement is not only rapid growth but also the reorganization of the economic space, Quang Ninh's role needs to be seen as a new strategic anchor, rather than just a dynamically developing locality.
With its unique geographical location, bordering both the sea and China, Quang Ninh possesses many advantages for development. In particular, Quang Ninh is further "activated" by a synchronized and modern infrastructure system, including a deep-water seaport, international border gates, an airport, and a regional highway network, creating a rare multimodal connectivity structure.
Therefore, when elevated to the status of a centrally-governed city, Quang Ninh will play a pivotal role in regional connectivity. If Hanoi is the political and administrative center, and Hai Phong is the industrial and port center, then Quang Ninh has a special position to connect these two poles with the border and coastal areas. This pivotal role helps form a complete development axis, linking the Red River Delta region with the coastal economic belt and the cross-border economic space. Quang Ninh will become a strategic link in the Northeast Asian connectivity network, where Vietnam will not only participate but also gradually enhance its position in the regional value chain.
Furthermore, the city of Quang Ninh, upon its establishment, will develop according to the model of a "smart, exemplary city," integrating infrastructure, green spaces, ecology, and environmental protection with modern infrastructure, high-tech services, and the application of technology to improve the quality of management and people's lives. This will help Quang Ninh become a center of innovation linked to the marine economy and logistics.
With the status of a centrally-managed city, the province can be more proactive in attracting technology investment and developing digital infrastructure, focusing on three pillars: high-tech manufacturing, automation applications, and artificial intelligence (AI); technology finance, forming digital service value chains; and promoting innovation and inter-regional logistics. Thus, Quang Ninh does not necessarily have to compete directly with traditional technology centers, but can pursue its own path, such as applying technology to urban management, logistics, tourism, and the marine economy – areas where the locality has clear advantages.
Another significant shift is the ability to organize and share inter-regional benefits. While at the provincial level, Quang Ninh's role in regional linkages was primarily collaborative, but upon becoming a centrally-governed city, the province can participate more deeply in shaping linkage mechanisms, allocating resources, and coordinating development among localities in the region. This means that benefits are not only concentrated in Quang Ninh but are disseminated through economic corridors, value chains, and infrastructure networks. Furthermore, in the context of digital transformation and the digital economy becoming new driving forces, Quang Ninh can act as a testing ground for new governance and development models. From digital government and smart cities to public service platforms, if implemented effectively, this will not only be a competitive advantage for the locality but also create models that can be replicated on a national scale...
By becoming a centrally-governed city, Quang Ninh will gradually become a model of transformative development at the national level; a center capable of leading, connecting, and spreading influence, a crucial link in the country's new development structure in this era of progress.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/khi-quang-ninh-khong-con-la-mot-tinh-ma-la-mot-cuc-phat-trien-quoc-gia-3402820.html
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