Lifting Phu Yen development thanks to sound planning

Phu Yen has drawn up a careful planning to preserve its beautiful seaside vista

Pham Dai Duong, Secretary of Phu Yen Party Committee, was on a field trip for the planning survey by helicopter in May, leading the working group with leaders from Phu Yen People’s Committee, relevant agencies, and consultants. There, he explained the concrete orientations for Phu Yen’s general planning.

“It is important to analyse the actual state of agricultural areas like rice, sugar cane and cassava, as well as forestation and aquaculture. From there, we can make suitable proposals and find planning options that fit the local situation,” said Duong, adding that the development of industries like tourism, real estate, and agriculture is deemed decisive in outlining the province’s general planning to best exploit its bountiful potential and advantages.

Right after the field survey, Phu Yen’s leaders attended meetings with sponsors and consulting agencies on the outline of the province’s general development planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision towards 2050.

At the meeting, the representatives of Times Garden Vietnam JSC, southern developer Him Lam Group, and consultant Roland Berge from Germany, and Surbana Jurong from Singapore elaborated the outline of Phu Yen’s socioeconomic development plan.

The foreign consultants set out 33 planning themes for in-depth analyses, of which 25 will be conducted relevant to Phu Yen’s development strategy, with each theme containing a detailed orientation and implementation plan. The themes, slated for completion in December, serve as the input for the province’s integrated planning.

Duong appreciated the efforts of the sponsors and consultants for completing the science-based outline in a short time, assuming that this would be the base for Phu Yen to pen out viable policies and guidelines serving investors to best exploit the potential opportunities in Phu Yen. These also matched Phu Yen’s planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision towards 2050, that the prime minister earlier approved.

The fulcrums

Aside from revising Phu Yen’s planning, the province engaged in drawing two crucial schemes, revising the general planning of South Phu Yen Economic Zone (EZ) and drawing Tuy Hoa city’s planning. According to the Vietnam Institute for Urban and Rural Planning (VIUP), which acts as the consultant to the planning of South Phu Yen EZ’s construction until 2040, the area needs to increase by at least 250 hectare to meet the requirements.

“A greater area for the South Phu Yen EZ means a sustainable structure, with selective industries such high-tech industry and seaports. The development of innovative tourism offerings like ocean, island, and culture tours, combined with shopping and eco tours, is also a development priority,” said the VIUP.

Phu Yen asked the consultants to follow regional and the province’s general planning for 2021-2030 when working on South Phu Yen EZ to ensure integrity.

With respect to Tuy Hoa city’s development planning, architect Tran Ngoc Chinh, who is also chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, assumed that Tuy Hoa city and Phu Yen’s coastal region will have enormous potential for tourism, in which Tuy Hoa is to the entire region’s growth. “Tuy Hoa could become an ocean tourism city. Therefore, the city needs a specific planning, paired with a spacious marina design to welcome modern cruises,” said Chinh. “Opening a marina at Da Rang Estuary should be an important project to elevate Tuy Hoa status as a world-class ocean city.”

In Chinh’s words, cruises have vast potential to operate in Tuy Hoa as the city adjoins numerous scenic tourism attractions, such as Quy Nhon city, Xuan Dai Bay, and Ganh Da Dia in the north.

To turn the city into a first-class destination, the consultants are required to make deeper analyses of Tuy Hoa’s socioeconomic and urban development, particularly regarding marine economic potential.

Chinh also noted that albeit Tuy Hoa’s urban planning, setting the differentiation of each zone is important through iconic architectural works, high-rise buildings, and distinct coastal, trade, and services areas. The sites for high-rise buildings should be carefully selected to create a modern and distinct architectural space.

The province has the ambitions to transform itself into a first-class destination

Socialising planning

According to Tran Xuan Tuc, director of Phu Yen Department of Construction, urban planning provides the fulcrum to invest in infrastructure, expand urban space, and create new residential areas to attract investment.

Simultaneously, thanks to general planning schemes, the development orientation of cities and towns in the province has received greater attention, including in urban structure, technical infrastructure, and supply systems, helping the cities and towns to develop in a synchronous manner, close to their actual needs.

Since early 2017, Phu Yen has received 31 funded schemes, of which 17 belong to Phu Yen People’s Committee and 14 schemes are managed by the people’s committees at district and town levels. As of now, 16 out of these 31 schemes were approved. Funding beneficiaries are mostly Tuy Hoa city and Dong Hoa town, focusing on subzones and detailed construction planning.

The financiers cooperate with relevant state agencies in the province who are in charge of drawing the planning and commit voluntary payments that are not bound by any financial obligations and other benefits to Phu Yen.

“Socialising the planning work has contributed to pushing the pace, reducing pressure on state budget, and increasing coverage in entire areas, as well as opening more opportunities for individuals and organisations to take part in the planning work. This also helps shorten the time for the planning and keeping abreast of socioeconomic development requirements,” said Tuc.