The issue of urbanization in Da Nang after the merger.

The urbanization process of Da Nang city before the merger, while achieving many important accomplishments, was not yet truly complete; especially after its boundaries were expanded and it became the largest city among the six current cities.

The merged city of Da Nang needs to carefully consider its spatial planning. (In the photo: A view of Hai Van ward from above. Photo: HUYNH VAN TRUYEN)

The urbanization process of Da Nang city after the merger is still giving rise to many issues that need to be discussed in order to find appropriate, feasible, and effective solutions.

From urban governance models to the need to perfect the two-tiered institutional system.

Urbanization primarily refers to the application of different state management models to urban and rural areas. Da Nang City has twice piloted the urban government model (according to Resolution No. 26/2008/QH12 dated November 15, 2008, of the 12th National Assembly on piloting the non-establishment of People's Councils at the district, ward, and commune levels, and Resolution No. 119/2020/QH14 dated June 19, 2020, of the 14th National Assembly on piloting the urban government model and some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang City), and officially implemented this model (according to Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 dated June 26, 2024, of the 15th National Assembly on the organization of urban government and piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang City).

However, when implementing the two-tiered local government model from the beginning of July 2025, marking the end of the historical task of the district level, Da Nang city - along with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - had to cease organizing urban government.

However, ceasing the organization of urban administration does not mean ceasing state management in a way that avoids rigid approaches for both urban and rural areas. Clause 2 of Article 11 of the Law on Organization of Local Government 2025 emphasizes that the delineation of local government authority must ensure the principle of "conformity with the characteristics of rural areas, urban areas, islands, special administrative-economic units, and the capacity and conditions for performing the tasks and powers of local governments at all levels."

And it is no coincidence that there is still a distinction between provinces and centrally-governed cities; between communes and wards – in other words, the achievements of past urbanization are still being preserved and promoted.

Clearly, a centrally-governed city like Da Nang cannot remain at its current number of 23 wards. It needs to strive to transform some of its 70 existing communes into wards as soon as possible, starting with those communes whose administrative and political centers were formerly towns/district capitals, and also those communes with relatively high urbanization rates that are located on a major transportation artery of the city.

Spatial planning problem

Urbanization also involves urban architectural and landscape design. Before its merger, Da Nang City was already renowned as the "City of Bridges"—primarily through the iconic bridges over the Han River, which served as architectural highlights. It quickly shifted from a city with its backs to the river and sea to one with its facades facing the river and sea.

Officials in Que Phuoc commune guide residents through administrative procedures related to land. Photo: MINH THONG - EN LIENG

After the merger, Da Nang City cannot ignore the possibility of leveraging its status as a city with bridges over rivers other than the Han River, such as the Lo Canh Giang or Truong Giang rivers... but careful consideration must be given to the appropriate clearance height to serve inland waterway tourism routes. It also cannot ignore the need to develop an urban transportation system, both elevated and underground – currently consisting mainly of roads and a few overpasses – primarily for the urban railway line connecting Da Nang Airport and Chu Lai Airport.

It is also necessary to consider the height of high-rise buildings in urban areas, especially in areas related to air traffic control near Da Nang and Chu Lai airports, and in areas with potential landslide risks along rivers and coastlines!

Transforming perceptions and thinking

Notably, as we stand on the threshold of a new era of national development, urbanization must aim for the goal of developing smart cities – understood as digital transformation within the scope and scale of urban areas, but focusing on solving major problems posed by urban life, including transportation, environment, energy, waste management, and ensuring urban security and order.

The Standing Committee of the Da Nang City Party Committee has agreed on the policy of assigning each ward to select a sister commune in a disadvantaged mountainous area starting from the beginning of August. It should be understood that this is not only to demonstrate the national tradition of "helping those in need," but primarily to shorten the gap on the path towards smart city development between different areas within the city, especially in smart education and healthcare.

smart.

It should also be added that the biggest gap here is not the technological gap, but the gap in awareness and mindset. Just like digital transformation, smart cities are primarily about a change in thinking and awareness. Therefore, the innovation of the growth model in Da Nang must be linked to the development of smart cities. For example, tourism services must now necessarily be smart tourism services; especially unprecedented economic models such as free trade zones or international financial centers cannot be separated from smart management and operational capabilities, and more importantly, smart human resources…

When we talk about urbanization, we're talking about aligning urban planning between Da Nang and Quang Nam before their merger. The idea of ​​a metro line connecting Da Nang Airport with Chu Lai Airport, and even a free trade zone… all of this must begin with aligning urban planning.

However, in my opinion, the most crucial element for Da Nang to complete its urbanization process quickly is not the coordination of urban planning, but rather the coordination of the city's personnel planning to ensure that provincial-level and commune-level officials are truly equal in their attitude towards serving the people and their capacity to perform their duties, so that they can be ready to integrate into the two-tiered local government model. And most importantly, it is essential to coordinate economic development with national defense and security, and between economic development and cultural development, in accordance with President Ho Chi Minh's view: Culture must guide the nation!

For example, the education and training sectors of Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province, prior to the merger, had completed the compilation of their respective local education materials. Now, these materials also need to be "merged" to become the "Da Nang City Local Education Materials" after the merger. Only then can the value of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Quang Nam be properly preserved and promoted, and deeply ingrained in the hearts of generations of Da Nang residents from their time in primary and secondary schools.

Having worked in Quang Nam - Da Nang province since 1981 and in Da Nang city from 1997 to the present, I would like to share some thoughts, albeit scattered and not yet systematically organized. I hope these suggestions can contribute to shaping the urban landscape and cultural identity of the city during the 2025-2030 term, so that Da Nang truly becomes a smart, humane, and sustainable city.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/van-de-do-thi-hoa-da-nang-sau-hop-nhat-3305478.html