The municipal People's Council on October 30 approved the city's master plan for 2025-2050, with a 100-year vision. The plan covers approximately 6,772 square kilometres and 168 administrative units.
Delegates vote to pass resolutions at the session (Photo: Xuan Doan).
The planning area also includes neighbouring provinces and cities such as Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Dong Thap and Lam Dong, as well as related maritime areas. It seeks to integrate development across the region, strengthen regional connectivity and make better use of economic, infrastructure, maritime and shipping advantages.
The plan sets out development goals for HCM City in several stages, from establishing itself as a prominent metropolis in Southeast Asia to becoming an Asian centre for the economy, culture, society, science, technology and innovation, before ultimately aspiring to global-city status.
By 2030, the city aims to become a civilised, modern, dynamic and innovative metropolis, serving as a regional hub for the economy, culture, science, technology, innovation, logistics and international integration.
By 2045, HCM City seeks to become a leading Asian centre for the economy, culture, society, science, technology and innovation. It also aims to pursue green growth and sustainable development, improve quality of life and strengthen its resilience to climate change.
Its vision for 2075 and beyond is to become a smart, modern and comprehensively developed global city, with international competitiveness and the ability to attract talent, businesses and development resources.
Ho Chi Minh City in future will be divided into five growth poles and five satellite centres (Photo: Q. Huy).
A key planning direction is to develop HCM City as a multi-polar, multi-centre megacity, integrating underground, ground-level, low-altitude and high-altitude spaces.
Under the 100-year vision, the city's spatial structure will comprise five growth poles, five satellite centres, five strategic connectivity systems and 10 development management zones. These zones are defined by natural, economic and social characteristics and development needs. They are not administrative units and will not create an additional tier of government.
The five growth poles are the central core for international financial services; an eastern innovation hub; a northern industrial and logistics hub; a southeastern seaport, free-trade and energy hub; and a western urban, education and healthcare hub.
The satellite centres will be developed around their respective strengths. Con Dao will focus on island and marine ecotourism, heritage, history and scientific research. Long Hai-Ho Tram will specialise in resort tourism, marine services, sports and wellness, while Hoc Mon-Cu Chi will develop as an ecological urban area, with biotechnology, high-tech agriculture and cultural-historical tourism.
The plan also identifies five strategic connectivity systems, covering north-south and east-west corridors; links between industry, manufacturing and multimodal logistics; multi-layered urban infrastructure; and green and blue networks.
Development along the Saigon River corridor will combine ecosystem and landscape conservation with services, urban development, tourism, public spaces and waterway transport.
The Saigon-Dong Nai river system, together with major rivers, canals and waterways, is identified as a strategic green-blue spatial framework for the city.