Changing management thinking, towards happy cities

At the 18th Hanoi City Party Congress, for the first time the element "happiness" was mentioned in the title of the political report document.

The Executive Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee, term XVIII, 2025-2030, was introduced to the Congress. (Photo: QUOC TOAN)

This is a new point, demonstrating the city's "breakthrough" thinking and strategy, which is of interest to public opinion and people and highly appreciated because the change in urban management thinking will impact all aspects and all fields.

Besides the HDI index on human development, the happiness index (HPI) is a measure reflecting the comprehensive quality of life of people, quantified through employment, income, social security, education , health, environment, culture and people's satisfaction level.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong analyzed that “happiness” in the Congress theme shows the determination for each cadre and party member in their thoughts and actions, big and small, to work for the happiness of the people. This shows the transition from centralized management to multi-dimensional governance, with clear decentralization and delegation of authority, linked to responsibility.

To achieve a happy city, the Hanoi Party Committee has identified the top priority as protecting the environment, increasing the area of ​​trees and water, improving air quality, and ensuring a safe living environment. The city creates a society where people always feel cared for, shared, and respected.

One of the highlights in the city's innovative thinking is integrating digital transformation into urban governance in the 2020-2025 term. The issuance of 62 mechanisms and policies to support startups and digital transformation creates momentum for the two-level government model to operate from July 2025, improving the efficiency of serving the people. Notably, the integration of digital transformation into urban governance through the construction of a smart urban platform with projects such as: Smart traffic system, online public service portal and digital urban operations center.

Up to now, all communes and wards in the area have fiber optic infrastructure, 80% of the adult population has smartphones, the electronic payment rate has reached more than 50%. A series of applications and platforms have been strongly deployed such as: Digital Capital Citizen (iHaNoi), Electronic Health Records, Issuance of Judicial Records via VNeID, tax-land-bank data interconnection system... helping to shorten time, supporting people to access public services safely and transparently.

According to Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Truong Viet Dung, digital transformation is a new way to do everything more effectively, from management, production, business to education, health and culture. All processes are standardized, public, transparent and take the satisfaction of people and businesses as a measure.

Many innovations in approaches and policy thinking have been transformed by Hanoi City into specific policies that directly impact people and businesses; creating momentum for many fields to accelerate.

Regarding housing development, especially the social housing segment, Hanoi is finalizing specific policies. It is expected that the city will support up to 50% of the cost of technical infrastructure outside the fence for independent social housing projects and 100% of the cost for projects that are only for rent or hire-purchase; applying a loan ratio of 80% of the total investment with a term of 25 years and an interest rate 2-5% lower than the interest rate of commercial banks.

Along with financial policies, Hanoi City focuses on planning independent social housing areas, creating a large enough supply to meet the demand as well as the targets assigned by the Government. Specific policies are aimed at attracting businesses to participate in construction investment and reducing costs, increasing access to social housing for low-income people.

In fact, social housing policies have helped many households make their dream of settling down come true. Ms. Vo Thi Hong Thai in Dai Mo social housing area said: “The social housing policy as well as the openness and transparency in implementation in practice have contributed to helping families like us to be able to buy a house in the capital.”

In the 2026-2030 period, the social housing development program in Hanoi is expected to accelerate. According to the plan, the city has 50 social housing projects being implemented with about 3.21 million square meters of floor space, more than 57,000 apartments. Of which, there are 5 concentrated areas with a total land fund of more than 200 hectares, providing nearly 1 million square meters of floor space, more than 12,000 apartments.

In order to improve environmental quality and reduce pressure on transport infrastructure, the city is implementing a project to develop a public transport system using buses using electricity and green energy. In the coming time, businesses participating in the project will receive special support with the loan interest support level expected to increase from 50 to 70%; the new support level applies to 100% of the loan value during the entire project implementation period.

The Political Report of the 18th Hanoi Party Congress determined the target of a happiness index (HPI) of 9/10 by 2030. At the grassroots level, one of the goals set by the Minh Chau Commune Party Committee at the first Congress, term 2025-2030, is to strive to achieve a people's happiness index of 9/10. The commune determined specific criteria to evaluate and measure the community's happiness index as people receiving regular medical care and an improved environment.

Regarding priority options, green, sustainable, people-centered urban planning is the goal that Hanoi is pursuing. Architect Pham Thanh Tung, Chief of Office of the Vietnam Association of Architects, noted that it is necessary to return Hanoi to its true meaning as a "city of rivers and lakes" - where rivers and lakes are not only for storing water, but also for being a unique ecological and cultural space. Along with that, it is necessary to prioritize the development of green, smart infrastructure.

Not only creating a happy urban area for the people of the capital, with its role and responsibility, Hanoi is also an influential urban area, spreading a "space of happiness". According to Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, Member of the Prime Minister's Policy Advisory Council, Hanoi must ensure its mission of leading Vietnam's competitiveness, opening up a new vision to compete and stand shoulder to shoulder with the world.

MINH THU

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thay-doi-tu-duy-quan-tri-huong-toi-do-thi-hanh-phuc-post920126.html