Speaking at the planning announcement ceremony on November 25, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that the city is the first of five centrally run cities to have provincial planning approved. He assessed that the announced master plan was built with breakthrough thinking, long-term vision, distinctive potential, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages, expressing the aspirations of Danang people’s for a liveable city.

Danang has ambitious plans to make a name for itself regionally within a decade

Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of Danang People’s Committee, said that the city was deeply aware of the important role and highly focused on planning for the period, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Law on Planning and the new context.

“With a long-term vision, the plan promotes the advantages of the city, serving as a scientific and practical basis for organising territorial, socioeconomic space and building five-year and annual development plans,” he said.

Under the close direction of the government leadership, the attention and support of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, ministries, departments and central branches, the plan was completed and approved earlier in November.

“The plan is a critical legal basis, creating a solid corridor for the city’s sustainable development in the new period. It is also the foundation for the city to continue exploiting and promoting the local potential and strengths, ensuring the completion of growth goals and achieving the highest efficiency in the shortest time,” Chinh said.

To facilitate the goals, Danang has implemented key tasks and solutions to ensure completion of established targets. As a result, the city’s economy continues to recover, although it still faces many difficulties, Chinh said.

The service sector continues to be a bright spot, positively contributing to the city’s overall growth. The city continues to promote investment promotion activities, approaching and inviting domestic and foreign investors.

As of November 15, the city issued new and adjusted investment decisions and investment registration certificates for 40 projects with the total registered investment capital of almost $2 billion. The city has also attracted nearly $200 million in foreign investment.

Danang can identify key targets and solutions for effective implementation on the basis of maximising all local internal resources and strongly attracting external resources. Danang aims to create stronger and more breakthrough growth momentum to achieve its socioeconomic development goals in the new period.

DPM Ha assessed that Danang has carried out a good job in organising public announcements, advertising and promotion to implement this plan. However, this planning is only spatially oriented. Along with that, it is necessary to review sector planning and general planning.

Danang urgently wants to research and complete essential policy mechanisms, administrative reforms, and develop e-government and smart cities, among others, to make the city innovative. It also needs to promulgate green standards, using the green, circular, and digital economies as the driving force for development.

Furthermore, Danang wishes to improve and innovate working style, focus on developing the private economy, and create an environment to attract both domestic and international investment.

The goal towards 2030 and beyond is to become a large, ecological, smart, unique, sustainable city on an international level, playing a key role in connecting and developing with regional and international urban networks. At the same time, it strives to be an international tourism centre associated with an international event, high-tech industry, IT, and startups on a regional scale.

Le Quang Nam, Vice Chairman of Danang People’s Committee, said the city will prioritise implementing a number of important projects, especially in infrastructure.

Specifically are the projects to build Lien Chieu Port; expand Danang International Airport; relocate Danang Railway Station; and expand National Highway No.14B. Road traffic projects include a coastal road connecting Lien Chieu Port; and projects across the Han River.

“The city will deploy a route connecting airport traffic to the west of the city, and research public transportation projects such as high-speed subways and urban light rail,” Nam said.

“Along with that, focus will be on investing in trade projects such as free trade zones, non-tariff zones, and accompanying services; an international exhibition centre; a shopping mall; landscape projects on both sides of the Han River and the night service area; and converting Tien Sa into a tourist port.”