Ho Chi Minh City - People-centered megacity

Ho Chi Minh City is entering a new phase of development - the journey towards the goal of becoming a modern, civilized and humane metropolis.

After nearly 40 years of innovation, Ho Chi Minh City has always been considered the cradle of the spirit of daring to think and dare to do, making an important contribution to the country's historic achievements. During the 2020-2025 term, despite facing many difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic to global fluctuations, the city still maintained its role as an economic locomotive, completing most of its development targets, contributing more than 23% of GDP and more than 36% of the country's total budget revenue.

After merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau , Ho Chi Minh City has an estimated economic scale of 123 billion USD, a population of nearly 14 million people, becoming one of the largest and most influential urban areas in Southeast Asia. This is not only a change in geographical space, but also a comprehensive restructuring of the urban development model - where three dynamic economic poles converge, opening up huge space for infrastructure connection, production - service chains, and at the same time enhancing international competitiveness.

General Secretary To Lam commented that with a post-merger economic scale of 123 billion USD and a GRDP per capita of nearly 9,000 USD, Ho Chi Minh City has the opportunity to rise to the level of a regional megacity. To achieve the goal of becoming a leading economic, financial, technological and service center in Southeast Asia, the city needs to "complete planning, re-architect development space according to a multi-polar - integrated - connected mindset, operate according to a multi-center governance model to reasonably allocate resources and improve operational efficiency". The General Secretary also emphasized the important task of perfecting institutions, promoting digital transformation and green transformation in a substantial manner.

According to Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang, with the new scale, vision and aspirations set for Ho Chi Minh City today, it can be said that the City has never faced such historical opportunities and intertwined challenges as now. During this term, the City will focus resources on strongly developing key economic sectors such as finance, trade, modern industry, logistics and high-quality services; at the same time, maintaining and enhancing its position as the leading cultural, educational, medical, scientific - technological and innovation center in the country.

The city attaches special importance to promoting digital transformation in management and socio-economic life, promoting the construction of smart cities, thereby improving administrative efficiency, labor productivity and quality of life of each citizen. Along with that, the system of preferential policies on tax, finance, attracting high-quality human resources, supporting patent registration, organizing innovation competitions has been completed and expanded in the new development space, creating a strong driving force for the City to make a breakthrough.

During the 2025-2030 term, Ho Chi Minh City will strongly mobilize social resources to invest in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. One of the key solutions is to build innovative urban areas associated with research and training centers, creating a connecting environment between universities, research institutes and businesses, promoting the application of research results to production and life.

Another important highlight is the implementation of the International Financial Center. This project not only creates economic momentum but also affirms Vietnam's position on the regional financial map, attracts high-quality capital flows, promotes Fintech development, digital economy and green economy.

Major orientations such as urban railway development, Cai Mep - Thi Vai - Can Gio seaport system, upgrading Con Dao airport, renovating houses along canals, renovating old apartment buildings and developing social housing will be implemented in parallel with green - smart transport programs, towards a sustainable urban model and climate change adaptation.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee - Nguyen Van Duoc - emphasized the particularly important role of transportation in development planning: "When there is a modern transportation system, it will create room for development, bring urban civilization, convenience to serve people's lives, and at the same time reduce environmental pollution". He said that during this term, the City will focus on completing belt routes 2, 3, 4 and deploying 7 urban railway lines - considering this as the foundation for forming a new, civilized and modern urban appearance.

If infrastructure and institutions create the shape of the city, then people are the "heart" that breathes life and identity into the city. Throughout its development, Ho Chi Minh City has always been known as a gathering place for dynamic, creative people who dare to think, dare to do, dare to be different - factors that create the unique identity of this special city.

The City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term continues to affirm: "The greatest and invaluable resource of Ho Chi Minh City is its people." The city focuses on building a team of cadres with political mettle, action capacity, dedication and responsibility to the people.

The new City Party Executive Committee has 110 members, many of whom are from the 7X and 8X generations - a young force that is well-trained, has an integrated mindset and is knowledgeable about technology. This is an important step, demonstrating the inheritance and continuity between generations of leaders, meeting development requirements in the digital transformation period.

Secretary of the City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang said: "Without high political determination and strong innovation in leadership methods, it will be difficult to achieve the great goals set by the Congress." According to him, infrastructure and institutional development must be closely linked to human development because only a team of qualified and experienced officials can manage a dynamic and complex megacity like Ho Chi Minh City.

At the same time, the City continues to invest heavily in education, health care, culture, science and technology; encourage innovation, start-ups and attract high-quality human resources. Innovative urban areas associated with research - training - business centers will be formed, creating an innovation ecosystem, promoting cooperation between schools, research institutes and the private sector.

Digital government and digital transformation are identified as pillars in improving governance capacity and service quality. Building a smart governance system and processing data in real time not only optimizes operational efficiency but also creates a transparent environment, helping people access public services quickly and conveniently.

Economic potential can create the appearance of a modern metropolis, but it is the people and the quality of life that determine the value of a livable metropolis. This is the consistent thinking in the City Party Congress Documents, with the highlight: "Taking the happiness and satisfaction of the people as a measure of the effectiveness of the government apparatus" .

The General Secretary requested that the City, during this term, must thoroughly resolve four major issues that have lasted for many years: flooding, environmental pollution, traffic jams and building a drug-free city. These are challenges that directly affect people's lives and are bottlenecks in the City's development, and are also criteria for people to monitor, accompany and directly enjoy the results.

Along with that, Ho Chi Minh City also strengthens social security policies, develops social housing, housing for workers and low-income people; cares for people's health, reduces poverty sustainably, improves education quality and food safety. These solutions not only ensure welfare but also aim to improve people's quality of life - the foundation of a modern, humane city.

Secretary of the City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang affirmed that all the directions and efforts of Ho Chi Minh City are ultimately for the highest goal of making people's lives increasingly prosperous, full and happy. He called on people to frankly contribute ideas, criticize and accompany the government.

The success of the Congress will only be truly complete when "the resolution permeates every street, residential area, office, school; when people feel the change in every service, every utility, every livelihood opportunity".

Source: https://vtv.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-sieu-do-thi-lay-nguoi-dan-lam-trung-tam-100251021181124804.htm