By 2030, towns and districts will be upgraded to a new administrative status

According to Quang Nam People’s Committee and its published plan, the construction of the urbanisation plan is being calculated carefully and in accordance with the conditions and current status of the province.

According to the fresh plan, Quang Nam will develop green, ecological urban areas, linked to the landscape and natural environment with a synchronous, modern, and smart urban technical infrastructure system. It will also improve the quality of urbanisation associated with increasing urban economic efficiency, and synchronously upgrade economic, technical, and social infrastructure.

Of greatest focus is developing the east of Dien Ban town and Duy Xuyen and Thang Binh districts, as well as improving the scope of Tam Ky city on the basis of organising a reasonable merger with Nui Thanh district.

As a coastal locality affected by natural disasters, Quang Nam also prioritises focusing on urban development to adapt to climate change, combining a green and smart growth orientation and a rich cultural identity.

Resources will be placed into funding urban expansion in district-level administrative centres, connecting with the inter-regional transportation network, and focusing on the quality of urban services. Research and adjustment of the general planning of Chu Lai Open Economic Zone will also take place in accordance with actual development needs, improving economic efficiency and urban landscapes.

Chairman of Quang Nam People’s Committee Le Tri Thanh said that the province’s goal is that Nam Phuoc and Ha Lam will be upgraded to class IV urban areas. At the same time, four new urban areas are being formed, including Duy Nghia-Duy Hai, Binh Minh, Dai Hiep, and Tam Dan.

By 2030, Hoi An will be upgraded to a class II urban area, Dien Ban will be lifted to class III, and Ai Nghia will move to class IV. In addition, in 2026-2030, the Tam Ky city and Nui Thanh district merger will lead to the locality to become a class I urban area.

Regarding urban development, various localities will be upgraded in administrative level by 2030. These include Dien Ban town, expected to be upgraded to the administrative level of a city, and various areas in Duy Xuyen and Thang Binh districts, and more will be upgraded to a town level.

In 2022, Quang Nam boasted 18 district-level administrative units, including the cities of Hoi An and Tam Ky and the town of Dien Ban. The province has a population of more than 1.53 million people, of which around one-quarter live in urban areas.

Due to its geographic characteristics, the urban make-up of Quang Nam province follows the form of four key urban areas: along National Highway No.1A, Ho Chi Minh Highway and National Highway No.14B, a chain along the Quang Nam route of Tac Po, Tra My, Tien Ky, Phu Thinh, and Tam Ky, and the last area along the East Truong Son route.

Architecture Phan Bao An, lecturer at the University of Technical Education under the University of Danang, told VIR that Quang Nam’s urban areas in recent years have had strong developments, taking on the role of the province’s socioeconomic and cultural development centre.

“The urban development processes of Quang Nam and its urban morphology is based mainly on the diversity of natural and geographic characteristics and the proportion of people living in urban areas. To have effective solutions for solving urban development matters there, it is essential to have special policies and strategies based strictly on local conditions and realities,” said An.