Located at the centre of the Mekong Delta region and acting as the main gateway downstream, Can Tho city is an important traffic hub for both regional and international transportation. It is also the centre of finance, commerce, services, human resources (sci-tech training), and healthcare in the region.

Aiming to develop Can Tho city into a growth pole and the driving force of the Mekong Delta region, the Politburo, the National Assembly, and the government have issued many policies on the city's development.

On December 2, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved a master plan for the development of Can Tho City for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050 – Decision No.1519/QD-TTg. One of the key goals is to develop a synchronous and modern infrastructure system to meet the needs of socioeconomic growth in each planning period.

The city needs to channel investment resources into projects with a large spillover effect to catalyse development. It must also maximise its resources, especially regional links and infrastructure connections in the delta.

In addition, the city will focus on market factors and cooperation between economic sectors, with modern technology at its core. Efforts are being made to transform the economic structure to reduce dependence on agriculture while increasing the role of industry, trade, and services.

By 2030, the city will become a major centre for commercial services, tourism, logistics, processing, high-tech agriculture, education, and specialised healthcare in the region. It already boasts synchronous infrastructure that can adapt to the demands of climate change and meet the requirements for regional and international connectivity.

The master plan will position Can Tho an ecological and modern city imbued with the cultural identity of Tay Do.

It aims to resolve bottlenecks, build breakthroughs for growth, and use resources appropriately so that it can unlock its full potential. At the same time, it aims to promote its position as the centre of the Mekong Delta region by linking regional development and creating momentum for the coming period.

The orientation for economic development

To propel its economic development, Can Tho will accelerate the transformation of its growth models and restructure the economy towards the industries of construction, commercial services, and high-tech agriculture. The city will promote potential industries in association with new development spaces.

According to the master plan, the city will develop the chemicals industry, mechanical engineering, energy, pharmaceuticals, electronics, agricultural and seafood processing, food, and supporting industries that are modern, sustainable, and in line with local conditions.

It will accelerate the development of the Vinh Thanh and Thoi Lai-Co Do industrial parks (IP), Thot Not urban, industrial, port, and logistics area, and O Mon energy, industrial, and high-tech centres. It will promote the integration of the urban-industrial corridor from Can Tho to Long An. A new orientation is to develop a gas pipeline system for the IPs in the city.

At the same time, industrial and handicraft establishments along the Hau River will be relocated to free up land for urban development and high-quality services. Attention will be paid to industrial and handicraft establishments that are at risk from environmental pollution.

According to the master plan, the city will have seven more newly established IPs with a total area of 6,485 hectares.

Situated at the heart of the Mekong Delta region, Can Tho has significant potential for trade and services development. As a fast-growing and diverse field, these play a key role in the city's regional GDP. In terms of total retail sales of goods and services, Can Tho ranks first in the region and third among the five centrally run cities after Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The master plan outlines that Can Tho will develop trade and services in a civilian and modern direction. The city strives to become the distribution centre for the Mekong Delta region to develop and expand domestic consumption and import-export markets. It will also promote e-commerce and form regional trade centres.

Priority is also given to developing high-quality service industries and products that meet the requirements of domestic and international markets. Other areas of focus include logistics, tourism, healthcare, education, finance and banking, sci-tech, IT, transportation, entertainment, shopping, culture, and sports.

Regarding tourism, Can Tho will develop interprovincial tourist routes imbued with the cultural identity of the delta. The city will attract investment to build a system of high-quality, modern service facilities such as Tan Loc Islet ecotourism and luxury resort, Phong Dien ecotourism area, Son Islet tourist area, Song Hau tourist area, Cai Khe Islet Tourist Tower, and other entertainment and tourism facilities in the communes of Phong Dien, Thoi Lai, Co Do, and Vinh Thanh.