Hai Phong reaches out to become the 3rd largest 'super city' in the country

Comrade Le Quy Tiep, Director of the Department of Construction, gave an interview to Hai Phong Newspaper, Radio and Television about the outstanding results and orientation of Hai Phong urban development in the coming term.

Comrade Le Quy Tiep, Member of the City Party Committee, Director of Hai Phong Department of Construction

Modern urban space, with its own unique identity of the Port City, is a highlight in Hai Phong urban development in the 2020-2025 term. Along with the merger of Hai Duong province, the development space of the new Hai Phong city is even more open. Comrade Le Quy Tiep, Director of the Department of Construction, gave an interview to Hai Phong Newspaper, Radio and Television about the outstanding results and orientations and tasks of Hai Phong urban development in the coming term.

- In the 2020 - 2025 term, Hai Phong has achieved many milestones in urban development. Could you please tell us about some of the outstanding results?

- The highlight of the urban development of Hai Phong city in the 2020 - 2025 term is that in the Eastern area, the urban space is expanded, modernized, and has its own unique identity of the Port city with 3 breakthrough directions. To the North, there is the new urban area of ​​Bac Song Cam associated with the Political - Administrative, Cultural and Educational Center being built, along with the entertainment area, housing and Vu Yen Island ecological park; VSIP Hai Phong urban, industrial and service area; a series of works, housing, industrial, service and connecting traffic projects are invested in to create a new dynamic and modern urban center.

Hai Phong urban space is expanding and modern. Photo: HOANG PHUOC

To the east, the urban area expands towards the sea in Cat Hai island area, linked to Hai Phong international gateway port and Dinh Vu - Cat Hai economic zone, following the model of an urban area of ​​services, industry, seaports and international maritime services. From here, expand the space for developing seaports, industry, logistics services and tourism; expand the urban space of the Port in Hai An area and Cat Hai island. Develop Cat Ba island into a coastal tourism, ecological and resort urban area associated with the conservation and promotion of the value of world natural heritage.

To the southeast, the urban infrastructure of Do Son area and Lach Tray riverside is receiving strong investment and development, creating a clear change in socio-economic development, linking the region with projects such as Hai Phong - Ha Long expressway. Encroaching on the sea to expand space, the ports at Nam Do Son port are urgently implementing investment and construction procedures. Large service, tourism, entertainment areas and new urban development projects are being formed along provincial roads 353 and 355, creating momentum for urban development towards the sea and forming a chain of urban areas along Lach Tray riverside.

Along with the expansion of urban space, the historical core urban area has been renovated, renovated synchronously and modernized to meet the criteria of a type 1 urban area, a special urban area and most importantly, contributing to improving the quality of life of the people. The urban reconstruction work is being carried out urgently with the strong direction of the city's leaders. Old and degraded apartment buildings are gradually being demolished, replaced by new apartments and modern social housing. Many factories, warehouses, business production land with expired land leases, and unused agency headquarters in the inner city area are being reclaimed, relocated, and land is being allocated to attract investment in trade - service development projects, social housing, etc. By 2025, the East of Hai Phong will basically meet the criteria of a type 1 urban area; the urbanization rate will reach 68.94%.

In the western region, the former Hai Duong province focuses on urban development according to the radial urban model; developing green, smart and sustainable urban areas, located in the dynamic urban chain with the role of sharing, cooperating and linking functions in the capital region and the Red River Delta region.

Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park is built on reclaimed land. Photo: LE DUNG

Over the past 5 years, the province has focused on investing in the synchronous construction of urban infrastructure, especially the framework technical infrastructure system and essential social infrastructure, focusing on the construction of centralized wastewater and waste treatment infrastructure. Developing urban green spaces, increasing the area of ​​parks, trees, water surfaces and public works to improve the quality of life of the people. By 2025, the urbanization rate of Hai Duong province will reach 45%.

- How do you evaluate the urban development potential of Hai Phong city in the next term?

- As affirmed by the statement of Secretary of the City Party Committee Le Tien Chau, the merger of Hai Phong and Hai Duong is a historic opportunity to build the new Hai Phong city into a modern metropolis.

After the merger, the new Hai Phong city doubled its area to nearly 3,200 ^km2 , with a population of more than 4.6 million people, with 114 commune-level administrative units, including 67 communes, 45 wards and 2 special zones. The economic scale reached nearly 660,000 billion VND, ranking 3rd in the country after Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. With new space and development potential, Hai Phong city has all the strength and power to optimize its potential and strengths, and has the opportunity to become the 3rd largest "super city" in the country, rising to become a growth pole with regional and international influence.

One of the potentials and outstanding strengths of Hai Phong urban development in the new term is to take advantage of the coastal urban area, surrounded by large rivers. Land reclamation to expand the area and development space is being implemented and promoted by the city in the coming time with the development of the seaport system in Lach Huyen, Nam Do Son port, the southern coastal economic zone...

Modern Hai Phong urban area with high-rise apartments, modern social housing, green parks with synchronized utilities. Photo: THANH CHUNG

The eastern development area (Cat Hai special zone) develops urban areas, seaports and international maritime services. The southeast forms a commercial - service center, a free trade zone in the southern economic zone with Do Son port - industrial zone, developing coastal ecological industrial zones associated with the international maritime service center. From here, it contributes to a strong shift in the city's economy from traditional industry - services to knowledge economy, green economy, contributing to the construction and development of a modern, green and smart Hai Phong city.

Along with that, the planning and implementation of the Hai Phong - Lao Cai railway running from west to east will help Hai Phong strengthen its position as an international logistics and seaport center, attract investment, develop industry, trade and tourism, and at the same time create leverage for the city's comprehensive socio-economic development, including modern urban development.

In general, before the merger, Hai Phong city and Hai Duong province had approved city and provincial planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, and urban planning projects, construction planning, rural planning, and planning of a specialized technical nature. Accordingly, Hai Phong develops according to a multi-center urban model, including 2 economic belts, 3 landscape corridors, 3 key urban areas and new urban areas. Hai Duong province develops according to a radial urban model, including belt axes and radial axes with the core being the existing central urban area limited by the Thai Binh River and the Sat River, spreading to the southern, eastern and northern regions.

Based on the urban development orientations in the approved plans along with the specified tasks, each step of implementation will be the foundation for building the new Hai Phong City Master Plan in the spirit of inheriting and promoting the strengths of the plans, unifying the development space of the whole city according to the multi-center urban model, closely connecting the central area, the suburbs and satellite cities.

The draft Political Report submitted to the Hai Phong City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term has identified one of the viewpoints for Hai Phong city's development in the new term as maximizing the potential and advantages of the seaport city and regional economic center; expanding development space, rationally organizing urban - industrial - service - agricultural space; linking industrialization and modernization with the development of a modern coastal city.

- To realize the set goals and promote existing potentials and advantages, what are the tasks identified to promote Hai Phong urban development in the 2025 - 2030 term, comrade?

- The urgent priority task is to urgently organize the establishment and adjustment of the Hai Phong City Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Hai Phong City Master Plan to 2040, with a vision to 2050. At the same time, organize the establishment and adjustment of urban planning, construction planning, and rural planning according to the adjustment of the master plan. Prioritize planning for the development of modern technical infrastructure systems, underground spaces, open spaces along rivers and coasts; develop satellite urban networks, and reduce the load on core urban areas.

Many old, dilapidated apartment buildings have been replaced by modern ones that provide safe and comfortable housing for residents. Photo: HOANG PHUOC

The city continues to focus on investing in infrastructure to build a modern, smart, and unique urban model; promote sustainable urbanization, balance between urban and rural areas, and between developed regions, striving for Hai Phong to basically meet the important criteria of a special urban area by 2030. Take advantage of the railway infrastructure invested by the Central Government to plan a multimodal transport system, connecting freight transport and urban transport; research and plan the urban railway network to reserve land funds, ready for investment in the future.

Planning for sea encroachment to create new development space. Research and propose the city to include in the list of key projects prioritizing investment in 2 East-West connecting routes. Of which, the high-speed route connecting East-West Hai Phong city is expected to start construction in 2026 and be completed in 2029. Propose an investment plan and connect Gia Binh airport with Lach Huyen port to develop the economic-urban space in the northern area of ​​the city.

Along with expanding urban space towards the sea, the city focuses on renovating and rebuilding existing urban areas; relocating production facilities and houses encroaching on the river, not suitable for planning to invest in public service works, commerce, greenery, and entertainment. The city develops in association with preserving and embellishing valuable architectural, cultural, and historical works; researching the formation of "heritage urban" models in suitable areas.

Hai Phong continues to invest in building essential technical infrastructure for urban areas to ensure functions, utilities, landscapes and environmental sanitation; expand green areas, develop public parking lots in high-density residential areas, develop public transport, use environmentally friendly vehicles and fuels. Research and implement solutions for drainage and urban flooding prevention. Develop housing projects according to planning, with synchronous and modern infrastructure. In particular, promote the development of social housing; relocate households living in old, degraded apartment buildings for urban reconstruction and renovation...

- Thank you very much, comrade!

NGOC LAN (performed)

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hai-phong-vuon-toi-sieu-do-thi-lon-thu-3-ca-nuoc-521406.html