Bac Ninh: Removing "bottlenecks", creating breakthroughs in urban development

However, to develop sustainably, synchronously and modernly after the merger, the province needs to continue to have both short-term and long-term solutions, ensuring harmony between growth and people's quality of life.

Increase connectivity, create a new look

After more than 5 years of implementing Conclusion No. 103 dated June 9, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on promoting urban development in the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030, Bac Giang province (before the merger) has made a strong shift in infrastructure and urban appearance. The whole province has nearly 20 type II, type IV, type V urban areas, located in the wards and communes of Bac Giang, Viet Yen, Chu, Hiep Hoa...

An urban corner of Kinh Bac ward.

It is known that since the conclusion was issued, the province has directed the Party committees and authorities at all levels to seriously implement it from the stage of studying, thoroughly grasping to concretizing it with action plans and urban development programs suitable to the conditions of each locality. In addition to focusing on propaganda work, the province has proactively called for non-budgetary capital sources to invest in technical infrastructure and social infrastructure systems in new urban and residential areas. Thereby, a series of housing projects and public works have gradually taken shape, bringing positive changes to the architectural space and urban landscape.

Notably, the Bac Giang City High-end Mixed-use Urban Area and Entertainment Project (Royal Mansion) in Bac Giang Ward, invested by Tuta Group, with a total investment of more than 3 trillion VND, is considered one of the modern complexes in the province. The project includes a 5-star international hotel under the Marriott brand, an office tower, four 29-storey luxury apartment buildings and 171 commercial shophouses, integrating a system of high-class utilities such as a 2,000-seat conference center, a commercial - entertainment area, healthcare and an international kindergarten. With a sustainable development orientation, in 2024, the Group will cooperate for the first time with major global brands such as Marriott, CBRE (USA) and Adaes (UK), expanding its scale and improving service quality according to international standards.

Traffic and urban infrastructure has also been invested synchronously, contributing to improving connectivity and modern appearance. Notable are the arterial routes connecting the two banks of Cau River, Thuong River, expanding inter-regionally with neighboring provinces such as Hai Duong (old), Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh, Lang Son... In addition, many key works bearing the mark of urban architecture have been put into operation such as the 22-storey inter-agency building and 2 basements, the Provincial Cultural - Exhibition Center, the Cultural and Sports Complex, Nguyen The Nho Park, Nenh Ward Central Square..., creating a dynamic and livable urban appearance. By the end of 2024, the urban population ratio of Bac Giang province before the merger reached more than 57.1%, exceeding the plan by 24.7% (32.4%). This is an impressive result, reflecting the trend of population migration and urban space expansion.

Bac Ninh Province (old) has also achieved many positive results in urban development. The province regularly reviews and adjusts urban development programs, selects priority projects to call for investment and has now achieved an urbanization rate of 60.3%, higher than the national average. Currently, it is implementing an urban area project worth tens of thousands of billions of VND with the participation of Vingroup Corporation, Sungroup, etc.

Issue a breakthrough mechanism

The survey shows that in urban development, both Bac Giang and Bac Ninh (old) have made strong progress but there are still "bottlenecks". Specifically, although the urban population ratio by the end of 2024 in Bac Giang province exceeded the set target, the increase was mainly due to the merger of administrative units, not creating a strong attraction for natural population shift from rural to urban areas. The progress of planning and adjustment after the provincial planning was approved is still slow; capital for planning has not received due attention, mainly relying on socialization. Large-scale green spaces are still lacking, the area of campuses in residential areas and urban areas is still small, lacking space for entertainment. Urban services develop slowly.

In addition, social infrastructure has not met the demand, there is a lack of large-scale commercial and service projects serving experts and people. Compensation and site clearance work is still slow, many localities lack initiative leading to prolonged project progress. In urban management, encroachment on roads and sidewalks is still common; the competition and selection of architectural plans for public works are still limited, causing the landscape to lack uniformity; the quality of supervision of investment contract implementation has not received due attention.

Perspective of the Urban Area project in Da Mai ward being implemented.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Construction, after the merger, Bac Ninh province strives to meet the criteria of a type I urban area and become a centrally-run city by 2030, establishing 48 wards of the new Bac Ninh province; being a province in the top of the country in terms of economic scale; one of the centers of high-tech industry, research and development; being a green, smart, modern, livable city with a high level of development, imbued with the cultural identity of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac. To achieve the above goals, in the coming period, the province is required to continue to improve its mechanisms, policies and strategic orientations.

After the merger of the two localities, the development space has been expanded, so it is necessary to urgently review, propose amendments and supplements to current legal regulations, and at the same time develop and promulgate new breakthrough mechanisms to strongly promote the process of urban development and urban economy. Many opinions suggest that the functional sectors need to advise the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee to soon issue a specialized Resolution on urban development of Bac Ninh province until 2030 to create new momentum for rapid and sustainable urbanization.

Along with that, it is necessary to increase the mobilization of investment resources for planning work, promote the coverage of urban planning with new thinking and long-term vision. The planning of urban areas and residential areas needs to promote regional identity, reasonably integrate social welfare works, service infrastructure, trade, and social housing in favorable locations, attractive enough for capable and experienced investors. Closely linking urban planning with land use planning and other sectoral and field planning is a mandatory requirement to ensure consistency and feasibility in implementation.

Existing urban areas and newly formed communes and wards must be invested in a synchronous technical infrastructure system before allowing project implementation. In particular, it is necessary to quickly overcome urban flooding, thereby drawing lessons for project planning and urban investment in the next period.

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-go-diem-nghen-tao-dot-pha-phat-trien-do-thi-postid422332.bbg