Ho Chi Minh City needs to re-establish the Department of Planning and Architecture.

Regarding the plan to re-establish the Department of Planning and Architecture (QH-KT) of Ho Chi Minh City, many planning experts believe this is a correct and timely decision to serve the long-term development of Ho Chi Minh City's megacity space.

The necessary direction

Architect Ngo Anh Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Construction Planning, noted that the city has recognized the crucial role of professionals in the fields of architecture and planning for some time now. Previously, Ho Chi Minh City adopted the model of a Chief Architect, likened to a "conductor" coordinating and connecting all aspects of urban space, landscape, and overall development direction.

A view of Phu My Hung urban area, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hoang Hung

In 2002, the city established the Department of Planning and Architecture by reorganizing the Chief Architect's office. However, in the process of streamlining the administrative apparatus, the Department of Planning and Architecture was later merged with the Department of Construction. In practice, the volume of planning and architectural work in a special urban area like Ho Chi Minh City is enormous and highly complex. Therefore, the city leadership decided to re-establish the Department of Planning and Architecture to ensure concentration and specialization in management.

Architect Ngo Anh Vu analyzed that whenever a locality reorganizes or merges departments and agencies, planning must be considered the primary basis for implementation. Even during the recent two-tiered local government organization process, discussions on development orientation were based on planning. Therefore, planning is not only a pioneering task that needs to be done first, but also a guiding principle for the sustainable development of each locality. Especially after merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau , Ho Chi Minh City needs to review, update, and adjust approved plans to suit its new scale.

Sharing the same view, architect Khuong Van Muoi, former Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Architects, believes that if Ho Chi Minh City wants to take advantage of the opportunities from its expanded administrative boundaries, it must have a specialized agency to implement systematic planning, based on accurate information and a strategic vision.

Mr. Vu Chi Kien, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Development Research Institute, emphasized: “The policy of re-establishing the Department of Planning and Architecture is completely correct and in line with the practical development. The city is rapidly expanding in area, population, and socio -economic infrastructure, requiring a specialized agency with sufficient capacity to coordinate and manage. This not only helps avoid overlapping and dispersing responsibilities but also shows that Ho Chi Minh City is determined to take a step ahead in urban planning, meeting the requirements of a modern megacity.”

Good planning must be linked to effective implementation.

Speaking about the criteria for selecting leaders for the Department of Planning and Architecture, architect Ngo Anh Vu said that, in addition to management capacity, the head must dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility; possess professional expertise in planning, a comprehensive vision, and a long-term strategy. “In this era of growth and integration, planning officials need in-depth knowledge at an international level, a sense of responsibility, openness, and strong capabilities in applying digital transformation,” architect Ngo Anh Vu suggested.

According to architect Khương Văn Mười, urban planners must possess talent, ethics, and a deep understanding of socio-economics. They need to have a thorough understanding of the market and the global context, while also possessing expertise in architecture, planning, land use, and urban infrastructure.

Experts agree that good planning without effective implementation will remain on paper, wasting resources and causing social unrest. To overcome this, transparent and synchronized policies and mechanisms are needed; sufficient resources in terms of personnel, finance, and technology; clear assignment of responsibilities among departments, agencies, and localities; and specific implementation plans with clear timelines and strict monitoring. "If implemented synchronously from planning to execution, Ho Chi Minh City will shorten the gap between vision and reality, realizing the goal of building a modern, civilized, and livable megacity more quickly," suggested Mr. Vu Chi Kien.

According to architect Ngo Anh Vu, while merging the Department of Planning and Architecture with other departments and agencies might be appropriate in many provinces and cities, it is completely different for Ho Chi Minh City. Planning work, especially managing development according to the plan, involves a huge volume of work and is highly complex.

Without a specialized agency, this work would easily become fragmented, lacking focus, and difficult to achieve effectiveness. After the merger, Ho Chi Minh City will become a megacity, requiring strict management of space, landscape, and architecture. Planning not only creates the image of an international-class city but also directly impacts socio-economic development and the quality of life of its people. Therefore, re-establishing a specialized agency for planning and architecture is an urgent, objective, and obvious requirement.

Thanh Hien

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-can-tai-lap-so-quy-hoach-kien-truc-post813500.html