Vietnam Debates Urban Development Law to Foster Sustainable Growth

Vietnam is urgently working to establish a new legal framework to govern urban development comprehensively, in response to rapid economic growth and increasing urbanization. At a seminar held in Hanoi on August 5th, titled "Contributing Opinions to the Draft Law on Urban Development," experts and researchers from the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (Liên hiệp Hội Việt Nam) engaged in a lively discussion on the challenges of the current legal system and the future direction of the proposed law. During the meeting, Master Nguyễn Quyết Chiến, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, emphasized that a stable, innovative, and feasible legal framework is essential for developing modern, smart cities, attracting international investment, and achieving sustainable development. He stated, "Cities must not only be spaces for economic development but also provide spaces for creativity, culture, and high-quality living, contributing to the goal of building civilized and sustainable urban areas." However, it was pointed out that while previous urban development policies have been effective, many were pilot or fragmented, lacking a unified and long-term legal framework. In particular, legal provisions are needed to address new challenges such as smart city management, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), the utilization of underground and aerial spaces, digital transformation, infrastructure development, environmental pollution control, and adaptation to climate change. In light of these circumstances, Master Chiến affirmed that the enactment of the Urban Development Law is a pressing task to achieve the objectives set forth in Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW of the Politburo dated January 24, 2022, regarding the planning, construction, management, and sustainable development of Vietnamese urban areas towards 2030, with a vision towards 2045. Dr. Trần Thị Lan Anh, an architect from the Institute of Economics and Planning of Construction and Urban Development (Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations), raised concerns about the draft law's failure to clearly define the fundamental nature of urban development. Dr. Lan Anh noted the ambiguity regarding whether the law is intended to be a "framework law" regulating the entire urban system or a law specifying special mechanisms and policies for certain cities. This ambiguity, she warned, could lead to contradictions between the law's title and content, a lack of systemic coherence, and potential overlaps with existing legislation. She proposed restructuring the draft law into two parts: one for the development of provincial-level cities and another for centrally-governed cities and special economic zones. Additionally, she suggested creating a new section to establish a common legal framework for the entire urban system. Dr. Lê Thị Bích Thuận, from the Institute for Urban and Infrastructure Development, viewed the draft law as an effort to resolve "bottlenecks" in urban infrastructure, resources, and decentralized management. However, she urged for amendments and additions to ensure consistency with recently enacted laws such as the Law on Land, the Law on Urban and Rural Planning, and the Law on Real Estate Business, to avoid procedural overlaps that could hinder investors. These expert opinions highlight the necessity of a robust legal foundation to make urban development in Vietnam more effective and sustainable as the country continues its economic growth. Source: Nhan Dan