Da Nang perfected the entire apparatus, immediately deployed FTZ
Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City Luong Nguyen Minh Triet on July 22 issued a plan for implementation, assigning detailed tasks to each agency. A "Work Group to deploy the establishment of the Free Trade Zone" was also quickly completed, with the Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee as the Head of the Working Group.
The most urgent task is to urgently adjust the planning and complete land procedures at 5 locations that can be implemented immediately, including areas in Lien Chieu Industrial Park, Hai Van ward and Ba Na commune, with a total area of over 1,000 hectares. For the remaining locations with high population density, a site clearance plan is also being built. The Management Board of Da Nang High-Tech Park and Industrial Zones, the unit assigned to manage FTZ, is currently collecting public opinions on the project to adjust the detailed planning for 7 specialized functional areas, from logistics centers, high-tech production associated with Lien Chieu port to commercial, service, medical and resort complexes in Ba Na and Hoa Vang areas.
An important strategic orientation has also been set out as reserving and surveying to propose expanding the FTZ boundary to the South, towards the Chu Lai area (old Quang Nam). This shows an open, flexible development mindset, ready to adjust to create a development space that is large enough, competitive enough and take advantage of regional connectivity.
Hope to have more attractive incentive policies
Despite its determination and quick action, Da Nang is still facing the biggest challenge: Policy framework. As a pioneering locality, Resolution 136/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly for Da Nang is "s creatively and cautiously" oriented, mainly based on the policy framework of the economic zone in general. This has not created real superiority and appeal to compete in the region.
Meanwhile, Hai Phong, despite being behind, is being proposed a policy framework in the new draft Resolution (replacing Resolution5) with much better efficiency and incentives. Comparison analysis by Head of the Management Board of Da Nang High-Tech Park and Industrial Zones Vu Quang Hung shows that FTZ Hai Phong has "golden" advantages that Da Nang does not have. The most important thing is autonomy. The People's Committee of Hai Phong City has the right to decide to establish, expand, and adjust the FTZ boundary. Meanwhile, Da Nang still has to submit to the Prime Minister, a process that can extend and reduce flexibility.
Regarding incentives, the difference is also very obvious. Hai Phong is proposed to exempt all land rent and water surface rent for the entire lease term for investment projects in FTZ (except for housing, commercial and service projects). Projects in priority areas are entitled to a corporate income tax rate of 10% for 30 years, a 4-year exemption, and a 50% reduction for the next 9 years. Experts and scientists working here will receive a 50% reduction in personal income tax for 10 years and will be granted a temporary residence card for up to 10 years. These are extremely strong incentives, approaching international practices. The policy proposed by FTZ Da Nang does not have equal incentives.
In Submission No. 64/TTr-UBND sent to the Ministry of Finance at the end of June 2025, the City People's Committee frankly pointed out that the mechanisms in Resolution 136 "not yet create real superiority and attractiveness to compete". Based on Clause 4, Article 17 of Resolution 136, allowing "more favorable regulations to be applied" if there is a legal document issued later, Da Nang has officially proposed that the Prime Minister report to the National Assembly Standing Committee to allow the City People's Council to decide to apply similar mechanisms and policies to FTZ Hai Phong.
Da Nang also wants a unified and transparent national FTZ institutional framework. A common policy will create fair competition, making it easier for investors to compare and choose, while bringing the Vietnamese FTZ brand to international standards.
