Super-urban converges all strategic growth poles
From July 1, 2025, after merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City has an area of more than 6,700 km2, a population of over 14 million people - becoming Vietnam's megacity in terms of scale, structure and economic influence.
According to Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc, on the new premise, Ho Chi Minh City establishes the development model "3 regions - 1 special zone - 3 corridors - 5 pillars".
3 development regions: Binh Duong region (old) is a high-tech industrial center; Ba Ria - Vung Tau region (old) develops marine economy, marine tourism, clean energy, logistics; Ho Chi Minh City central region (old) develops high technology, services, international finance - is the core urban area of the region.
Con Dao Special Zone is oriented to develop green and sustainable sea and island tourism, is a modern, livable special zone, of regional and international stature.
3 development corridors: North - South corridor along the Saigon River facing the sea; East corridor connecting Ba Ria - Vung Tau - Can Gio; East - West corridor connecting Dong Nai - Tay Ninh through National Highway 1A and Xuyen A road.
5 development pillars: High-tech industry; logistics associated with seaports, airports, free trade zones; Ho Chi Minh City International Financial Center; tourism and cultural industry; education, health, science and technology.
The formation of the Ho Chi Minh City megacity also creates a growth pole strong enough to compete in the region. According to Dr. Tran Du Lich - Chairman of the Advisory Council for the implementation of Resolution 98 of the National Assembly, never before has Ho Chi Minh City had such a strategic position and great advantage as it does now: having an international seaport system, a modern industrial center and a commercial and financial center. Therefore, it is necessary to take advantage of the opportunity to bring Ho Chi Minh City to develop quickly and sustainably.
Empowerment to accelerate
Once the urban space has been widened, the requirement for a breakthrough institutional framework to remove bottlenecks and unlock resources to create growth momentum for the city is also an urgent issue.
And on December 11, 2025, the National Assembly officially passed Resolution 260 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Resolution 98 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City (referred to as Resolution 98 amended).
The consistent spirit of Resolution 98 amendment is strong decentralization - deep decentralization - shortening procedures - increasing proactiveness and responsibility for localities. The city is empowered to decide many issues on investment, finance - budget, planning, urban management, science - technology and organizational structure. The "ask - give" mechanism is gradually replaced by the principle: local decision, local action, local responsibility.
Notably, Resolution 98 amended also creates a breakthrough in urban development according to the urban development model oriented towards public transport development (TOD). In which, with the content allowing Ho Chi Minh City to retain 100% of revenue from land associated with TOD to reinvest in urban railways and TOD infrastructure, opening up a sustainable financial resource, reducing pressure on the budget and public debt. In the context of Ho Chi Minh City's annual infrastructure investment demand reaching tens of billions of USD, this mechanism is of strategic significance.
In parallel with that is the simplification of the strategic investor selection process, adding 11 priority project groups, focusing on infrastructure, urban areas, logistics, tourism, environment, health, culture - entertainment. The new approach is not only to find investors to invest capital, but also to target partners with technological, management capacity and commitment to long-term companionship with the development construction process.
Another important pillar that Resolution 98 amendment opens up to Ho Chi Minh City is the formation of a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) with special mechanisms and pilot policies to attract investment, finance, trade, services and high-quality human resources. The main functions include production zones, port and port logistics zones, logistics centers, and commercial-service zones. FTZ is expected to turn Ho Chi Minh City into an international trade center, increase competitiveness, attract high-quality FDI, and form a closed supply chain, with many preferential policies...
It can be said that Resolution 98 amended is seen as a revolution in management thinking. From a bureaucratic administrative management model, the city has switched to a development governance model - where the government plays a constructive, leading and responsible role in efficiency. This is especially important in the context that Ho Chi Minh City sets a GRDP growth target of over 10% in 2026 and maintains a high pace in the following years.
The combination of a new development space and flexible institutions from Resolution 98 amendment is expected to create a double driving force for Ho Chi Minh City to break through in the new era.
HO CHI MINH CITY IS HAVING MANY GREAT ADVANTAGES
At the second Conference of the Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee for the term 2025 - 2030 held on December 15, 2025, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang said that Ho Chi Minh City is now larger in scale, more spacious, with stronger potential and resources. The city is determined to continue to play the role of economic locomotive of the country, a center for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation. At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City is also expected to be a pioneer in implementing new development models such as international financial centers, free trade zones and many other strategic orientations.
According to Mr. Tran Luu Quang, the city is currently having many great advantages. The general mechanisms and policies of the whole country are increasingly open, decentralized, and depowered more strongly. In particular, the National Assembly has just passed a resolution amending and supplementing Resolution 98, opening up more space and development tools for Ho Chi Minh City.
With the current mechanism, tools and conditions, the city can completely implement many major tasks. The overall goal is to achieve double-digit growth from 2026. This is not an easy goal, but I believe Ho Chi Minh City will be able to do it" - Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang affirmed.
