Thu Duc City is expected to be the leading nucleus, contributing 1/3 of the total regional product (GRDP) of Ho Chi Minh City. After the initial period of operating in a "tight shirt", with Resolution 98 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Duc City has applied flexibly and initially achieved commendable results.

Reorganize the government apparatus

During the meetings, Secretary of the Thu Duc City Party Committee Nguyen Huu Hiep repeatedly emphasized that Resolution 98 is not a "magic wand" that helps Thu Duc City develop rapidly immediately, but it is an outstanding mechanism and policy, and Thu Duc City has closely followed and flexibly applied the mechanisms and policies to create momentum for itself.

In particular, identifying the remaining limitations after nearly 3 years of establishment, Thu Duc City has proactively improved the internal structure of the government apparatus. Specifically, it has quickly established a number of affiliated centers, departments and offices; reorganized departments and offices to maximize their functions and tasks. Up to now, the administrative organization in Thu Duc City has 16 specialized departments and offices, of which 8 specialized agencies are kept intact, 5 specialized agencies have been renamed, and 2 new agencies have been established: the Department of Public Works and Traffic and the Public Administration Center.

In the public service sector, Thu Duc City has piloted the establishment of a Social Security Center, a Technical Infrastructure Development Center, and a Trade and Investment Promotion Center. In addition, Thu Duc City has merged the Cultural Center with the Sports Center into a Cultural - Sports Center.

Chairman of Thu Duc City People's Committee Hoang Tung shared that the completion of Thu Duc City's government apparatus with the highest goal of better performing the task of socio-economic development and improving the quality of service to the people. The head of Thu Duc City's government affirmed that all activities of Thu Duc City revolve around the goal of building a civilized, modern Thu Duc City with a good quality of life. "Thu Duc City's officials and civil servants are not afraid of difficulties, always innovate and create with the highest determination to carry out the task of the first "city within a city" in the country", Mr. Hoang Tung expressed.

A series of infrastructures are invested and built.

The efforts of the Party Committee and the Thu Duc City government have gradually brought about results and have been recognized by the people. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang (resident of Quarter 2, Phu Huu Ward) commented that since its establishment, people have only now felt the real excitement of Thu Duc City in developing traffic infrastructure and social infrastructure. Mr. Quang, as well as more than 1 million people in Thu Duc City, hope that these projects will soon be put into use, helping people travel conveniently, adding more leverage for Thu Duc City to take off.

In particular, Thu Duc City has restarted the Nam Ly Bridge, Tang Long Bridge, and Long Dai Bridge projects after more than 5 years of being "shelved" due to land acquisition problems. Up to now, Long Dai Bridge connecting Long Binh and Long Phuoc wards has been opened to traffic. Also in 2023, An Phu traffic intersection in Thu Duc City was started and contractors are busy organizing construction, ensuring completion on schedule (expected to be completed on April 30, 2025). In particular, the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project with more than 15km passing through Thu Duc City has basically handed over the site to the investor. Along with that, a number of large projects from the capital source assigned by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to Thu Duc City for implementation, such as the Project of 2 sections on La Xuan Oai Street and the Project of Construction of My Thuy traffic intersection, have also been completed by Thu Duc City in the procedures for disbursing public investment capital. The above projects contribute to helping Thu Duc City disburse public investment in 2023 to ensure the tasks assigned by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Many social housing projects and rental housing for workers in Thu Duc City are entering the completion stage. In early 2024, Thu Duc City started construction on 22 school projects with a total investment of more than 3,500 billion VND. At the same time, focusing on the renovation and operation of the Saigon River Park, in Thu Thiem Ward (from Ba Son Bridge to Saigon River Tunnel). In addition to the green space with sunflower fields, Thu Duc City also arranges space to organize other public activities with squares, wharves, pedestrian bridges, stone parks, etc. to attract residents and tourists.

According to Chairman of Thu Duc City People's Committee Hoang Tung, these are important projects, the premise to help Thu Duc City truly change its appearance, greatly improving the travel and accommodation of people next year.

Thu Duc City is also focusing on researching and proposing specific project lists to recommend the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to prioritize the allocation of public investment capital and other capital sources (ODA, PPP); at the same time, focusing on exploiting land funds along new traffic routes in the area to renovate and develop urban areas, improving the quality of life of people.

PHUONG UYEN