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Aug 01, 2023 / 22:02

15 years of expanding administrative boundary: A historic decision

After 15 years of consolidation, Hanoi is not only larger but also proactive in its development to match the trust and expectations that the Party, State, and people throughout the country.

It’s a milestone for Hanoi when Resolution 15 was issued by the National Assembly regulating the administrative boundary of Hanoi and some related provinces. The capital city dramatically changed since the day Resolution 15 took effect.

One among world’s largest capital

Under Resolution 15 signed by General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party Nguyen Phu Trong, Ha Tay Province, Me Linh District of Vinh Phuc Province, and four communes in Luong Son District, Hoa Binh Province were consolidated into Hanoi on August 1, 2002. After adjusting the administrative boundaries, Hanoi city has a natural area of 334,470.02 hectares and a population of 6,232,940. 

 Hanoi is developing in an increasingly synchronized way. Photo: Giang Nam

This marked a historical milestone when Hanoi became the 17th largest capital in the world.

This is a decision to create conditions for Hanoi to develop worthy of its position as the capital of a country of 100 million people, rising strongly after more than three decades of unification, ending the war (30/4/1975).

This resolution demonstrates the special care, trust, and expectation that the Party, State, and people nationwide have for Hanoi - the capital of a thousand-year-old heroic tradition, the capital of humanity, and the City for Peace.

New stature

Hanoi has worked hard to fulfill its political duties and earned its place as Vietnam's heart for the past 15 years. It had many opportunities for development thanks to its larger space. However, the city sill tfaces many challenges.

 On August 1, 2008, Hanoi and related localities were officially consolidated under Resolution 15.

For example, in the first year of consolidation, Hanoi suffered a historic flood, causing big losses.

The organization and management workload is still massive and challenging. Each year, the population grows to around 200,000 people (equal to a new district), but the infrastructure hasn’t been developed to keep up with the population growth.

Overcoming difficulties, Hanoi continues to assert its leading position in the country. The capital's appearance is becoming more spacious, modern, and extensive, bringing practical values ​​to improve people's lives.

The economic scale of the capital has reached 1.2 million billion dongs, equivalent to US$ 50 billion, four times higher than in 2008 and equivalent to one-eighth of the national economic scale (about US$ 409 billion).

The city's state budget revenue increases by an average of 8.7 %/year. In 2022, the total budget revenue in Hanoi exceeded VND 300 trillion (US$ 13 billion) for the first time, ranking second in the country. Domestic revenue is a sustainable source of revenue, reflecting the strength of the leading economy in the country. In the first six months of 2023, the city's budget revenue reached VND 220 trillion (US$ 9.5 billion), accounting for 64.2% of the estimate, and domestic revenue is 94%.

People's living standards in areas of Hanoi have improved significantly compared to the time before the consolidation. In 2022, the city's per capita income will reach 141.8 million VND/person/year, equivalent to 5,991 USD (current exchange rate), more than 3.5 times higher than in 2008 (1,697 USD). In early 2009, the poverty rate in the entire city was 8.43%. By the beginning of 2023, Hanoi has only 2,134 poor households, accounting for 0.095% of the total population especially, 16 districts have no more poor households.

Sustainable development

The Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi always overcome their weaknesses to create a driving force for the development of the capital in the coming time. The City Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee of the city have promptly implemented policies with a strategic vision, creating conditions for Hanoi to develop in the next 5, 10, 20 years, and even 30 years.

Notably, Hanoi issued Resolution 15 on "Orientation and tasks to develop the capital until 2030, with a vision to 2045". To implement this Resolution, the Hanoi Party Committee has developed an action plan identifying 132 tasks and implementation projects at the same time, it recommended that central agencies implement 74 related contents.

Aerial view of Chuc Son Town, Chuong My District. Photos: The Hanoi Times

Hanoi has actively proposed and approved by the Central Government the investment project to build Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region. The city implements the project, led by Dinh Tien Dung, Politburo member, Secretary of the City Party Committee. On June 25, the project officially kicked off, marking an important milestone and proving that it is the path of "the will of the Party and the people".

The city has also issued a resolution to prioritize investment in 3 fields of health, education, and culture with a total investment of more than VND 49.2 trillion (US$2.1 billion) in the period of 2022-2025 and the following years. About 1,000 works were repaired and built after 1 year of implementing the resolution.

Hanoi's effective implementation of major policies has shown its vision, determination, innovation, and creativity such as Project on the management of public assets; handling 712 projects with non-budget capital using land behind schedule, and renovating the old apartments.

Currently, the city is focusing on three major tasks, including setting up a project to adjust the construction planning of Hanoi's capital to 2030, with a vision to 2050 (Adjusting of the Capital Master Plan till 2045 with a vision to 2065), developing the Hanoi Capital Planning between 2021 and 2030, with a vision to 2050 and completing the dossier of amendments to the Capital Law. The city is determined to complete these contents to submit to the National Assembly in the October session of this year.