The Government's request for Ninh Binh province to prepare a project to build Ninh Binh into a centrally-run city by 2030 with the characteristics of a millennium heritage city not only opens up a new development goal but also reflects a change in Vietnam's urban construction thinking.
Many centrally-run cities currently have outstanding advantages in industry, trade, services or seaports, so Ninh Binh is expected to follow a different path: taking heritage as the foundation, culture as the identity and green development as the driving force.
After merging Ha Nam, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh, Ninh Binh province only has a scale of more than 4.4 million people, ranking 6th in the country, with a natural area of 3,942.62km2, ranking 31st/34 provinces and cities nationwide.
Compared to Hue city, the population of Ninh Binh province is currently more than 3 times higher, while the area of Ninh Binh province is about 80% compared to Hue city.
Not only increasing sharply in population, the province also formed a continuous development space from the southern gateway of Hanoi to the coastal area of the Red River Delta.
In the North is the former Ha Nam area - the center of industrial, logistics, health and service development associated with the Capital Region. In the center is the former Ninh Binh area - the convergence of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Bai Dinh Pagoda and a system of cultural and natural heritage of international stature.
To the East is old Nam Dinh - a locality with traditions of industry, textiles, mechanics, marine economy and developed coastal urban systems. These three spaces complement each other, forming a relatively complete development structure, instead of each locality developing separately as before.
If centrally-run cities are currently mainly prominent in industry, commerce or seaports, Ninh Binh possesses an almost uncopyable advantage. That is the heritage density, especially the Trang An Complex - the first mixed World Cultural and Natural Heritage in Southeast Asia.
Hoa Lu was once the first capital of the first feudal state in Vietnam. Besides, Ninh Binh also owns the Bai Dinh pagoda complex, one of the largest Buddhist centers in the country.
After the merger, the cultural space will also expand to Phu Day, Tran Temple, Tam Chuc and Xuan Thuy National Park... If unifiedly planned, this will be a leading cultural and spiritual heritage complex in Vietnam.
Ninh Binh is located at an inter-regional traffic connection point. The locality has a North-South expressway system, National Highway 1A, North-South railway, Ninh Binh - Hai Phong expressway, coastal road and in the future high-speed railway...
Heritage city not only creates attraction for tourists but also attracts investors, experts and high-quality human resources thanks to its green living environment, beautiful landscapes and unique identity.
The goal of becoming a centrally-run city by 2030 is not just about expanding administrative boundaries or upgrading administrative units. If it is achieved, Ninh Binh will be a model of a millennium heritage city - a place where economic growth goes hand in hand with preserving cultural, historical and natural values for future generations.
