Hung Yen Aims for Central-Direct Municipality Status by 2030

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang has directed Hung Yen province to accelerate the development of its urban and rural planning, aiming to become a centrally-governed municipality by 2030. This directive was conveyed in a notice from the Government Office following a working session with Hung Yen's leadership last week. Hung Yen is tasked with expediting the establishment of 36 potential communes into wards, a move intended to bring its urban administrative units to over 50% of the total. The province must also streamline its administrative apparatus to ensure the smooth and effective operation of its two-tier local government system. This includes reviewing and assessing the feasibility and effectiveness of decentralizing authority to the commune level and reorganizing its staff for optimal placement. Mr. Thang emphasized the need to build a contingent of officials, particularly at the grassroots level, who are close to the people, dare to think, dare to act, and take responsibility for the common good, avoiding shirking or evasion of duties. Furthermore, Hung Yen needs to focus on developing high-quality human resources to become a center for such development in the Red River Delta region and the entire country. Education and training should be considered a pillar of the province's socio-economic development. Plans to develop Hung Yen into a modern industrial province, ranking among the nation's leaders, and a strong northern maritime economic center for the 2026-2030 period with a vision toward 2045, need to be completed soon. Hung Yen also has the potential to become an energy hub for the Red River Delta. Hung Yen province was established in July 2025 through the merger of the former Hung Yen and Thai Binh provinces. It covers an area of 2,500 square kilometers with a population of 3.56 million, situated within the Red River Delta. The province borders Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hanoi, and Ninh Binh, and has a coastline of over 50 kilometers in the Bac Bo Gulf, formed by the Red, Luoc, and Thai Binh rivers. In 2025, the province's gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is estimated to reach VND 166,106 billion, an increase of 8.78% compared to 2024, placing it among the top 10 fastest-growing localities nationwide. Its economic scale ranks 12th out of 34 provinces and cities, with an estimated per capita GRDP of VND 99 million. Currently, Vietnam has seven centrally-governed cities: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Dong Nai. The 14th Central Committee's third plenum agreed in principle to establish Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh as central-governed cities. Ninh Binh is also oriented to become a city by 2030. If these plans are approved by competent authorities, Vietnam would have 11 centrally-governed cities. Source: VnExpress