Vietnam cities plan for urban green growth

A view of Hoi An, one among 23 cities and towns to pilot urban green growth development. - VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha

Nguyen Tuong Van, director of the Urban Development Agency under the Ministry of Construction, said that more studies on urban development strategies and technical infrastructure to meet green growth demand and climate change adaptation would be carried out for adjustments in urban planning.

Van said that the development of urban green growth aimed to enhance living quality, save energy and reduce emissions which would help boost economic growth and at the same time ease impacts on the environment towards sustainable development.

Under the plan approved on January 19, 23 cities and towns would be the first to pilot the development of urban green growth.

These locations included Bac Kan, Yen Bai, Phu Ly, Sa Pa, Ha Long, Sam Son, Hue, Hoi An, Tam Ky, Vung Tau, Da Lat, Buon Ma Thuot, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang and Ben Tre.

In early January, the ministry issued a circular regulating criteria for green growth urban development.

According to Tran Quoc Thai, deputy director of the Urban Development Agency, many cities and towns paid attention to the transformation of the urban growth model toward green growth and gearing up efforts to promote green growth urban development.

Some had already issued their own strategies for green growth and climate change adaptation such as Hai Phong and Can Tho and some were underway such as Da Nang, Bac Ninh and Tam Ky, Thai pointed out.

He said that urban green growth was still a new thing in Viet Nam, thus, many localities faced difficulties.

There was no common urban green growth model applicable for all cities and towns, he said, adding that each locality must have a comprehensive evaluation of their urban development to map out their own strategies and roadmaps appropriate to their socio-economic conditions.