Prioritize completing infrastructure, improving urban quality
In the project appraisal report, the Urban Development Department (Ministry of Construction) assessed that the development of the Project proposing to recognize Bac Ninh province as meeting the criteria of a type I urban area is in line with the Party's policy, the national and provincial urban development orientation; contributing to creating new momentum for socio-economic development, while preserving, restoring and promoting the unique cultural and historical values of the locality.
The project dossier submitted for appraisal basically complies with the provisions of law. However, Bac Ninh province needs to continue to review and ensure the consistency and accuracy of data; develop a plan to implement the general urban planning of Bac Ninh; focus on investing in urban infrastructure development according to the approved urban development program. In which, it is necessary to prioritize investment in social housing, environmental treatment works, wastewater treatment, urban green trees and provincial or national-level medical works.
Members of the Appraisal Council proposed that the province continue to pay attention to architectural and landscape embellishment; develop urban green tree system and green trees in industrial parks; promote green cities, smart cities, digital transformation and adaptation to climate change; supplement contents on the plan to develop and adjust zoning plans, specialized technical infrastructure plans after the general urban plan is approved.
At the same time, Bac Ninh needs to focus on developing digital infrastructure, innovation; ensuring backup of electricity infrastructure and inter-regional logistics infrastructure linkage; reviewing requirements for national defense and security in the process of formulating and implementing urban planning.
Representative of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Pham Van Thinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee - said that the locality will seriously and fully absorb the opinions of the Appraisal Council to continue reviewing and completing the Project.
The Appraisal Council unanimously assessed that the Project basically meets the criteria of a type I urban area.
Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van affirmed that the development of a Project proposing to recognize Bac Ninh province as meeting the criteria of a type I urban area is necessary and consistent with the province's development orientation in the new period.
The Deputy Minister assessed that the Project has full legal basis, in accordance with national and provincial urban development plans and programs; the order and procedures basically ensure compliance with legal regulations.
The appraisal council consisting of 18 members unanimously assessed that the Project basically meets the criteria of a type I urban area.
To complete the Project, Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van requested the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee to urgently review and ensure the accuracy and consistency of data and dossiers; develop specific plans and roadmaps to continue to improve and enhance the quality of urban criteria. At the same time, the province needs to fully absorb the opinions of the appraisal council members, complete the Project, and submit it to competent authorities for consideration according to regulations.
In Conclusion No. 52-KL/TW dated June 20, 2026, the Politburo agreed with the policy of establishing Bac Ninh city directly under the Central Government. Therefore, considering and recognizing Bac Ninh province as meeting the criteria of a type I urban area is necessary, in line with the development orientation, and at the same time is the basis for reporting to competent authorities to consider the establishment of Bac Ninh city directly under the Central Government according to regulations.
The scope of research to develop the Project is the entire province of Bac Ninh after the merger, with a natural area of 4,713.75 km2, including 99 commune-level administrative units, with a population scale of about 3.989 million people in 2025.
The existing urban system of the province includes 25 urban areas, including 3 type II urban areas: Kinh Bac, Bac Giang and Tu Son; 22 type III urban areas are transferred from type IV and type V urban areas. The urbanization rate reached 61.63%.
In the period 2021-2025, the growth rate of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of Bac Ninh reached an average of 8.98%/year, higher than the average of the Red River Delta region (8.1%/year) and the whole country (6.32%/year). Compared to 6 centrally-run cities, the GRDP growth rate of Bac Ninh province is only behind Hai Phong city (10.75%/year). In 2025, Bac Ninh's average income per capita reached 72.24 million VND/person/year.
Comparing the standards in Resolution No. 111/2025/UBTVQH15 on urban classification, the current urban status of Bac Ninh meets 12/15 standards of a type I urban area. For 3 standards that have not been met, the province has included them in the work program to focus on implementation and overcoming.
