Amend the law to create new urban areas.

One of the pressing issues today is the need to clarify the concept of "urban area" within the two-tiered local government model. In many localities, after abolishing city and town-level administrative units under the provincial administration and leaving only communes and wards, the management of the urban system urgently requires appropriate legal and planning adjustments. Many question whether the concept of "urban area" still exists at the commune and ward level. And if so, what criteria and standards will be applied to define and develop urban areas?

Another issue that requires special attention is the connection between urban development and green, smart, and climate change-resilient trends. These criteria need to be codified into law, helping Vietnamese cities avoid falling behind in the global race and creating a foundation for sustainable development. Without the early introduction of specific and feasible technical standards, the situation of "smart cities on paper" will persist, while in reality, flooding, traffic congestion, and a lack of public spaces will continue.

Furthermore, the role of local authorities in urban recognition also needs to be clarified. According to information from the Ministry of Construction , in the draft amendments to the law currently underway, provincial People's Committees will be delegated the authority to recognize urban areas of types 2, 3, and 4. Provincial People's Committees will also be delegated the authority to approve detailed planning to suit practical needs. This is expected to be a boost to accelerate projects instead of the current situation of "queuing" for approval at the central level.

However, it must be frankly acknowledged that decentralization must be accompanied by control in the appraisal and approval process. Decentralization without control is tantamount to granting "privileges" to special interest groups, where a single planning signature can transform agricultural land into prime real estate, with a price difference of thousands of billions of dong. Along with that, digitizing the entire process, publicly disclosing documents, progress, costs, etc., must become mandatory requirements. Only then will reform truly take effect, restoring the trust of the people and businesses.

In response to pressing practical needs, the Ministry of Construction and related ministries and agencies are amending and supplementing new provisions in relevant laws such as the Construction Law and the Urban and Rural Planning Law. The challenge is that drafting agencies need to review and ensure consistency between laws, avoiding a vicious cycle where amending laws creates new bottlenecks. Furthermore, amending laws is not just about legislative technique but must focus on governance thinking. This means that urban governance should not only stop at "licensing and approval" but must also involve creating living spaces, ensuring citizens' rights, and preparing for the future.

The success of amending and supplementing laws should not be measured by the number of laws simplified or added, but by the quality of life for millions of urban residents and Vietnam's attractiveness to international investors. It's time to face the truth: either we seize this opportunity to turn the law-making process into a turning point for Vietnamese cities to reach new heights, or we will repeat the familiar cycle: amending laws, becoming outdated, then amending them again. And the price of this delay will ultimately be borne by the urban population.

MINH DUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/sua-luat-de-kien-tao-do-thi-moi-post816256.html