Currently, the urban population in Vietnam has accounted for approximately 35.7% and is estimated to reach about 40% by 2020.
The urban space has been expanded dramatically nationwide. In recent years, the average rate of annual economic growth in urban areas has reached from 12-15%, equipvalent to 1.5-2 times of the country's average economic growth rate. This process is expected to continue to rise sharply and increase the need for urban development management.
The Ministry of Construction said that it is essential to develop the National Urban Development Strategy (NUDS) and consider it a main tool to boost urban development at both central and local levels.
During the workshop, the Construction Ministry also stressed the importance of specific investment programmes to mobilise local resources for more efficient development of the national urban system.
NUDS is a tool for the Government to control the urban development work, while acting as a foundation for related decisions in the future. It will provide both domestic and foreign investors with guidance to approach investment opportunities.
Speaking at the seminar, Ajay Suri, advisor to the Cities Alliance, suggested assessing the urban development situation in Vietnam to find out strengths and weaknesses, and encouraging the involvement of localities to have general development orientations.
Meanwhile, Laurence John Wilson, a foreign expert on urban planning and development, stressed that climate change adaptation is an urgent issue in urban development.
Vietnam has relatively sufficient urban policies but remains weak in realising them, he added.
According to Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh, the legal framework related to urban development has grown rapidly in the past 10 years. It covers from urban planning, classification and investment management to sustainable urban development and climate change response.
However, the unpredictable urbanisation is requiring the completion of the legal framework and relevant policies, Linh noted.
The urban space has been expanded dramatically nationwide. In recent years, the average rate of annual economic growth in urban areas has reached from 12-15%, equipvalent to 1.5-2 times of the country's average economic growth rate. This process is expected to continue to rise sharply and increase the need for urban development management.
The Ministry of Construction said that it is essential to develop the National Urban Development Strategy (NUDS) and consider it a main tool to boost urban development at both central and local levels.
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NUDS is a tool for the Government to control the urban development work, while acting as a foundation for related decisions in the future. It will provide both domestic and foreign investors with guidance to approach investment opportunities.
Speaking at the seminar, Ajay Suri, advisor to the Cities Alliance, suggested assessing the urban development situation in Vietnam to find out strengths and weaknesses, and encouraging the involvement of localities to have general development orientations.
Meanwhile, Laurence John Wilson, a foreign expert on urban planning and development, stressed that climate change adaptation is an urgent issue in urban development.
Vietnam has relatively sufficient urban policies but remains weak in realising them, he added.
According to Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh, the legal framework related to urban development has grown rapidly in the past 10 years. It covers from urban planning, classification and investment management to sustainable urban development and climate change response.
However, the unpredictable urbanisation is requiring the completion of the legal framework and relevant policies, Linh noted.
