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Oct 11, 2019 / 18:33

What Hanoi has achieved after 10 years of boundary expansion?

Improving IT infrastructure system, striving for sustainable economic development and tackling environmental pollution are some of the gains that Hanoi has made in its quest towards prosperity.

After 10 years of expanding its administrative boundaries, Hanoi has attained significant achievements in socio-economic development. The following 10 accomplishments that the capital city has gained over the last decade: 
 
Illustrative photo.
Illustrative photo.
Firstly, Hanoi has put strong effort to build a comprehensive and consistent infrastructure system as the capital city sets sight to become a modern and smart city. During this process, the key factors are adequate IT infrastructures, databases, efficient e-government, smart education, health, transportation and environment.

As of present, Hanoi has purchased 170 software and IT services from 83 IT businesses  for various departments and local agencies to use. The city has installed wide area network (WAN) in 584 out of 584 communes and expanded its database center. 

Secondly, the local authority is giving priority to improving transport infrastructure for better connectivity. In addition to large housing development projects, Hanoi also focuses on major transportation projects, such as Ring Road  No.1 (Hoang Cau – Voi Phuc) and Ring Road  No.2 with a total length of 43 kilometers, aiming to ease traffic congestion. 

Thirdly, rapid and sustainable economic development. In the 2008 – 2017 period, the average economic expansion reached 7.41% annually. Its economy expanded by a record high of 7.61% in 2018 to reach VND920.27 trillion (US$39.63 billion), translating in income per capita of US$5,134. 

Hanoi has maintained the top spot in FDI attraction nationwide with over US$7.5 billion in FDI commitment in 2018 and US$6.23 billion in the first nine months of 2019. 

Fourthly, rural development and raising people’s living standards. As of 2019, Hanoi has six out of 18 districts and 325 out of 386 communes qualified for modernized rural area standard. Total investment capital for rural areas in the 2008 – 2018 period reached over VND100 trillion (US$4.3 billion), while average income in rural areas stood at VND46.5 million (US$2,000) per year, an increase of 4.5-fold against 2008. 

Fifthly, efforts in tackling environmental pollution and climate change. Over the past few years, Hanoi has pushed forward with the relocation of polluting production facilities, universities, and inter-provincial bus station out of the city’s downtown. 

Sixthly, social welfare and gratitude works have been given greater attention. The rate of poor household in Hanoi declined from 8.43% in 2008 to 1.69% in 2018, while the average number of people assisted in job finding was 140,000. Additionally, the unemployment rate fell from 3.18% in 2009 to 2.41% in 2018. 

Seventhly, Hanoi stresses the importance of building culture and the image of elegant and civilized people. Hanoi’s recurrent expenditure in social-cultural affairs in the 2015 – 2019 period reached VND107 trillion (US$4.6 billion), including nearly VND4.3 trillion (US$185.18 million) for cultural activities. 

Eighthly, keeping up investment in education and training sector, ensuring 100% of teachers qualifying for standards. 100% of districts and communes reached 100% kindergarten universalization rate for  children under 5 years old, the universalization of secondary school stood at 99.36% while that of high school reached 90% . 

In the 2008 – 2018 period, Hanoi built 434 schools and an additional 943 schools in the city met national standards, or 66.2% of the total. Hanoi is also the first province/city recruiting students online. 

Ninthly, Hanoi strives to provide healthcare services to 100% of communes. As of the end of 2018, every 10,000 people in Hanoi had 26.5 hospital beds, hitting the target two years in advance. 

Tenthly, Hanoi’s sports have witnessed strong growth, with the capital’s athletes playing key role in Vietnam’s sporting delegations participating in regional and international competitions. The rate of people frequently exercising sports increased from 27.5% in 2010 to 43% in 2018.