Zoning planning is one of the urban planning levels, with the task of dividing and determining the functions and indicators of urban land use of land plots, technical infrastructure works networks, in an urban area to concretize the content of the general planning. The zoning plan is expressed at a scale of 1/5,000 or 1/2,000.
Therefore, zoning planning plays an important role in orienting the development of urban space with specific functions and tasks. Having zoning plans will help create higher plans in a synchronous and methodical manner.
After reorganizing administrative units and operating the 2-level local government apparatus, urban planning and provincial planning must have adjustments to suit the new development space. In particular, the first thing that needs to be done is to establish and adjust zoning plans.
Resolution No. 66.1/2025/NQ-CP of the Government issued on July 18, 2025, just half a month after the two-level government apparatus officially operated, has gradually removed bottlenecks and obstacles in the establishment of new, adjustment and approval of zoning plans for urban areas.
The Resolution allows localities to establish and approve zoning plans in advance, then update them into higher-level plans such as provincial planning or general urban planning
At the same time, the zoning plan for urban areas can be newly established and adjusted at the same time as the process of establishing and adjusting provincial planning or general urban planning and approved before approving provincial planning and general urban planning.
This has removed bottlenecks, creating a clear legal corridor for local authorities at both levels to properly fulfill their assigned responsibilities, increasing proactiveness in operating, organizing and managing planning.
This regulation applies to urban areas that play a role in promoting local socio-economic development, with a forecast population size of 45,000 people or more for centrally-run cities over a 10-year period; from 15,000 people or more for provinces formed after the arrangement in mountainous areas, highlands, border areas; from 21,000 people or more for provinces formed after the remaining arrangement.
According to Ms. Tran Thu Hang - Director of the Department of Planning and Architecture (Ministry of Construction), Resolution 66.1 allows that after the arrangement of administrative units, the zoning plan can be newly established and adjusted at the same time as the establishment and adjustment of the provincial planning. Therefore, the old zoning plans of each administrative unit may no longer be suitable.
"The establishment of new, adjusted and consolidated plans must be synchronous to avoid overlap and difficulties in legality and practice when implementing them," said the Director of the Department of Planning and Architecture.
Resolution 66.1 takes effect until February 28, 2027, allowing localities to have time to establish and adjust zoning plans in accordance with the adjustments to provincial planning and urban planning after the arrangement of administrative units.
