Hanoi
Improve efficiency in master planning and urban land management
On August 23, at the conference of “Improve efficiency in urban land management”, many experts have expressed concern over the current master planning, which do not fully reflect the current situation.
Dr. Truong Van Quang – member of Vietnam Urban Development Planning Association questioned: in spite of the available of overall urban master plan and detailed regional master plan, why is the violation in construction still growing?
Low effectiveness of land use
According to experts, currently, the effectiveness of land use is still low, showing by the ratio of approximately 2,100 people/km2. This is a very low ratio in comparison with other countries in Asia (the average is 1,000 people/km2). Many urban lands in new urban areas of Vietnam are left empty with thousands of houses and villas left aside. In Hanoi, the prime example is the project along Thang Long Highway. The ratio of filling in apartments is also low. While the apartments are not completed, people also do not choose to live there. Billions of dollars reserved for those projects are not spend, leading to great waste.
Commenting on the issue of unsuitable land use and the inappropriate urban planning, Dr. Arch Truong Van Quang of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association (VUPDA) assumed that, the current development of new urban areas need to be appraised accurately. As of now, this model is mostly about real estate business rather than the sustainable development of urban areas.
In addition, many localities are generously giving empty lands to enterprises for investment and ignoring the common planning. On this issue, Mr. Truong Van Quang stated that this irresponsibility of localities is the major cause of fake projects. Moreover, with projects that are initiated, there is a severe lack of technical and social infrastructure unification. “In simpler term, everything is straying away from the original goals and contents of common and specific urban planning that has been approved. In addition, many urban planning development projects have met newly emerging obstacles, such as increase of construction density, height of buildings or increase in floor areas… in comparison to the architectural size of the whole urban area,” Mr. Quang stated.
Lack of leadership
Expert in fields of urban planning said, the chaotic picture in urban land using stems from lack of cooperation between administrative agencies. The fragmented planning based on the management of each agency is causing consequences: traffic congestion, pollution, and inconsistent purpose for land using. The situation is caused by the lack of leadership to have an overall management and instruction to have consistent planning for the whole city.
Vice Director of Institute for Urban studies & Infrastructure development – Dr. Nguyen Dang Son questioned: why violation in construction happens daily, but it is still difficult for local government to control? Someone may put the blame of this chaotic scene in urban architecture on master planners or architects, but in the other way around, if we can manage and strictly follow their ideas, the urban area will be in order and beautiful like in their 3D sketches – Mr. Son analyzed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Truong Van Quang openly criticize the lack of responsibility on this matter. If leader only think of what they should do on their terms only, the regional planning or detailed planning will not be effective, so that we will have to modify master plans for every few years. The mechanism of “the right to ask belongs to investors, while the right to give belongs to administrative agency” shows the incapability and irresponsibility of a part of public officials responsible for urban development.
According to experts from the World Bank, Vietnam need to have significant transformation from the current urban planning, with a view to develop urban based on the urban-economic structure in the market economy. “Focusing on review the planning, in order to save lands for public and transport infrastructures”. The city need to issue regulations that after factories and offices moving out of the urban area, the land fund will be used for public purposes. In particular, it is necessary to build kindergartens, gardens, trees, and public facilities, and do not allow to build apartments in central area” – Chairman of Vietnam Construction Association Tran Ngoc Hung stressed.
Low effectiveness of land use
Vacated Villas at Ha Dong District.
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Commenting on the issue of unsuitable land use and the inappropriate urban planning, Dr. Arch Truong Van Quang of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association (VUPDA) assumed that, the current development of new urban areas need to be appraised accurately. As of now, this model is mostly about real estate business rather than the sustainable development of urban areas.
In addition, many localities are generously giving empty lands to enterprises for investment and ignoring the common planning. On this issue, Mr. Truong Van Quang stated that this irresponsibility of localities is the major cause of fake projects. Moreover, with projects that are initiated, there is a severe lack of technical and social infrastructure unification. “In simpler term, everything is straying away from the original goals and contents of common and specific urban planning that has been approved. In addition, many urban planning development projects have met newly emerging obstacles, such as increase of construction density, height of buildings or increase in floor areas… in comparison to the architectural size of the whole urban area,” Mr. Quang stated.
Lack of leadership
Expert in fields of urban planning said, the chaotic picture in urban land using stems from lack of cooperation between administrative agencies. The fragmented planning based on the management of each agency is causing consequences: traffic congestion, pollution, and inconsistent purpose for land using. The situation is caused by the lack of leadership to have an overall management and instruction to have consistent planning for the whole city.
Many projects in My Dinh left unexecuted.
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Meanwhile, Dr. Truong Van Quang openly criticize the lack of responsibility on this matter. If leader only think of what they should do on their terms only, the regional planning or detailed planning will not be effective, so that we will have to modify master plans for every few years. The mechanism of “the right to ask belongs to investors, while the right to give belongs to administrative agency” shows the incapability and irresponsibility of a part of public officials responsible for urban development.
According to experts from the World Bank, Vietnam need to have significant transformation from the current urban planning, with a view to develop urban based on the urban-economic structure in the market economy. “Focusing on review the planning, in order to save lands for public and transport infrastructures”. The city need to issue regulations that after factories and offices moving out of the urban area, the land fund will be used for public purposes. In particular, it is necessary to build kindergartens, gardens, trees, and public facilities, and do not allow to build apartments in central area” – Chairman of Vietnam Construction Association Tran Ngoc Hung stressed.
