Hanoi advances Capital Region linkages through urban cluster model

THE HANOI TIMES — The “concentric urban cluster” model for the Hanoi metropolitan region is widely regarded as an effective solution for strengthening Capital Region linkages, with Hanoi serving as the core urban center.

The view was shared at a meeting between leaders of the Hanoi Party Committee and provinces and cities in the Capital Region on the 100-year Master Plan vision held on January 15.

Under the adjusted National Master Plan, Vietnam was reorganized into 34 provinces, centrally-run cities and six key economic regions.

Hanoi is designated as the center of the Red River Delta, linking with six localities, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Hung Yen and Ninh Binh, while also serving as the core of the Hanoi Capital Region, connected with five provinces, including Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and Ninh Binh.

In the Capital Master Plan with a 100-year vision, Hanoi is identified as the central hub and primary growth engine with a coordinating and spillover role. Cities in surrounding provinces are positioned as satellite urban centers that link, support one another and share resources to create growth momentum for the region and the country.

Hanoi’s development space will expand through subregional linkages. With Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh, planning focuses on forming a high-tech urban–industrial–service chain along the North–South economic corridor, Ring Road 3, National Highways 1B, 3 and 18.

With Hung Yen, Haiphong and Quang Ninh, connectivity will follow the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Haiphong–Quang Ninh corridor and Expressway 5B and Ring Road 4 to build growth axes for border trade, the marine economy and logistics.

With Ninh Binh, linkages will run along the North–South axis via the Phap Van–Cau Gie–Ninh Binh Expressway, the Northwest Expressway and Ring Road 5 to develop supporting industries, cultural and spiritual tourism and high-quality healthcare.

With Phu Tho, connections along the Noi Bai–Lao Cai corridor will support eco-tourism, mechanical engineering and supporting industries.

Through this regional linkage structure, Hanoi aims to address challenges in transport, the environment and service provision while expanding development space and promoting sustainable growth.

The approach is expected to create new momentum and development space for provinces in the Capital Region and neighboring areas, ease pressure on Hanoi and enable shared growth.

Regional linkage as shared responsibility

At the conference, Secretary of Hung Yen Province Party Committee Nguyen Huu Nghia said the province views comprehensive connectivity with Hanoi as a core orientation in its 2021–2030 provincial plan, including the planning of six bridges across the Red River.

He proposed adding Trieu Duong Bridge to link Hung Yen’s Provincial Road 427 with Thuong Tin Commune in Hanoi and clarifying the alignment of Dong Ninh Bridge to connect Provincial Road 429 in Van Diem with Hung Yen’s heritage route, ensuring consistency with Hanoi’s Ring Roads 4 and 5.

He also stressed the need for the Capital Master Plan to better integrate underground space and urban rail networks.

Hung Yen has planned five urban rail lines largely oriented toward Hanoi and he urged Hanoi’s metro network, especially Line 8, to align closely with Hung Yen’s lines to facilitate travel, support population dispersion and reduce pressure on the inner city.

“Planning should better leverage inland waterways, particularly the Red River,” said Nghia.

Secretary of Phu Tho Province Party Committee Pham Dai Duong said the province shares about 290 kilometers of boundary with Hanoi and is traversed by the Red River and Da River.

Duong called for stronger coordination to address interregional issues, especially the environment, transport, population distribution and industrial development.

According to Duong, Phu Tho is adjusting its industrial park attraction strategy to ease pressure on Hanoi’s urban core while harnessing spillover effects from the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park into adjacent areas, including urban development, high-tech industry and backup data centers.

Duong also proposed that Hanoi share detailed plans for both banks of the Red River so the province can extend riverfront landscapes to Viet Tri, ensuring continuity along a roughly 70-kilometer corridor.

The provincial leader suggested joint development of tourism routes along the Red River and Da River linking Lao Cai through Phu Tho to Hanoi and called for coordinated investment mechanisms in border areas such as Ba Vi to ensure unified regional spatial development.

Expressing agreement with the draft Capital Master Plan, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang said many contents directly relate to the ministry’s functions, particularly land-use planning, water resource and mineral management and environmental protection.

He urged stronger coordination between central authorities, Hanoi and localities in implementing key environmental tasks.

Thang said that in the first quarter of 2026, the ministry will work with partners to pilot rehabilitation of the Bac Hung Hai river system, focusing on dredging and improving flow to gradually address pollution.

Central funding will support dredging while localities are expected to invest along the corridor to achieve green, clean and sustainable outcomes, he noted.

Concluding the meeting, Secretary of Hanoi Province Party Committee Nguyen Duy Ngoc said the city is actively seeking input from senior Party, State leaders and central agencies on the 100-year Capital Master Plan.

Hanoi is also drafting a resolution to amend the Capital Law to serve development goals for the capital, the region and the country in the new period.

He said feedback at the conference was substantive and forward-looking, with many practical proposals for the capital and the wider region.

Ngoc stressed that regional linkage is a shared responsibility, calling for continued input from central ministries and localities to complete institutional frameworks and development plans.

He added that effective regional linkage requires common standards across areas such as urban rail, waterways, roads and subways and joint solutions to river environmental issues.

“Regional development mechanisms can only be robust when we clearly identify shared priorities. Localities need to define the quality and development pathways of Hanoi’s satellite cities and set a vision that connects them with the Capital Region’s central hub,” he said.