Since the expansion of Hanoi’s administrative boundaries in 2008, the zoning plan of the spacious riparian areas of the Red and Day rivers remains unfinished, therefore, a zoning plan of the rivers would help further develop the city’s urban areas and improve living conditions for local people, according to Vuong Dinh Hue, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: Thanh Hai.

Drastic action is needed to put the plan into motion, said Mr. Hue in a meeting with the Party Committee of the Ministry of Construction on August 21. Close cooperation between Hanoi and the ministry to speed up the zoning process is expected.

According to Mr. Hue, one of the city’s priorities is to improve efficiency in master planning to ensure Hanoi’s rapid and sustainable development.

For Hanoi, the task is particularly important, given the city’s rapid urbanization pace. In the next five years, five districts are expected to be included in the planning for urban development, Mr. Hue suggested.

Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Hai.

On this issue, Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha advised Hanoi to focus on urban planning at the riparian areas of both sides of the Red river and along the Lang – Hoa Lac avenue.

A delay in this process and rampant illegal construction in the area would make it difficult for local authorities to put the situation under control, Mr. Ha added.

The minister also pointed to the fact that Hanoi is currently ranked 30^th among the world’s top 40 populous cities, which is posing major challenges for local authorities, especially in housing development to meet growing demand.

Moreover, land resources for traffic in Hanoi remain limited while transportation infrastructure plays a key role for social development, Mr. Ha noted.