The rural districts of Dong Anh, Gia Lam, Thanh Tri, Hoai Duc and Dan Phuong are set to be upgraded to urban districts by the end of 2025, according to a plan unveiled by the Hanoi People's Council on August 12.

Turning the mudflats in the middle and along the Hong (Red) River into a multi-purpose cultural park will create an open space for Hanoi, connecting the community with nature.

HCM City will form one central urban area, one companion urban area - Thu Duc city, and five satellite cities. By 2050, the city aims for a growth rate of 12.0% per year and a GRDP per capita of $135,000.

The MoU is a significant development amid the upgraded US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Urban planning is critical to Hanoi's socio-economic and urban development.

Two new cities in the northern and western parts of Hanoi would help reduce overpopulation, transport and social infrastructure needs for the city's innermost districts.

Hanoi’s authorities are prioritizing land in the inner city for greenery development. However, multi-story buildings, not public parks, have been built on the land where factories, hospitals and universities were located.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that land needs to be used in the right way to create value and jobs, and that real estate development must not be the priority.

Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Duy Hung said that Le Van Luong road in Hanoi is a typical example of bad planning. Floods and traffic jams often occur on the road.

Hanoi is reviewing the general development planning designed 10 years ago and adjusting the planning of the city on the two banks of Red River. Where is the green corridor for Hanoi?

In the period of 2021-2025, Hanoi plans to study, propose policies and develop a plan to turn the three rural districts of Dong Anh, Soc Son and Me Linh into cities.

HCM City’s master plan calls for the city to be developed into the nation’s largest economic hub for tourism, industrial services and high-tech agriculture by 2040, with a focus on climate change adaptation.

The stormy season is starting in Hanoi and residents are increasingly concerned about flooding during heavy rain.

Hanoi plans to allocate a budget of VND500 billion in 2021-2025 to conduct inspections and assess the quality of all old apartments.

The implementation of zone planning for four historic inner districts of Hanoi will make an important contribution to preserving the historical and architectural values of the capital, and improve the quality of life of the people of the Old Quarter.

Pham Duc Bach, 41, of Alley 74, Hang Khoai Street, Hoan Kiem District, applauded after hearing that his family might benefit from the city administration’s plan to relocate residents in four inner districts of Hanoi from now until 2030.

Dao Ngoc Nghiem, vice president of the Vietnam Urban Development and Planning Association, talks about the achievements and shortcomings in urban planning, development and management.

HCM City plans to build more public parks with a total coverage of 650ha in the next 10 years, offering at least one square metre of public parks per resident.

 Vietnamese Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha had working sessions with Algeria’s minister of industry and mines and minister of housing, urban planning and the city in Algiers on November 27, aiming to enhance bilateral ties.