Concerns about a new urban area

Many expectations, many unfinished business

Right after the re-establishment of Quang Nam province (1997), the new urban planning of Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc was also born (approved by the Prime Minister in 1999 and implemented in 2003), carrying great expectations for a new urban area with a quite favorable location.

As the center of Da Nang city (old) and Hoi An city (old), the new urban area of Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc is oriented to form an industrial, service, educational , tourism and resort center of Quang Nam province and the Central region.

After more than 25 years, the three once barren sand communes of the old Dien Ban district (now Dien Ban Dong ward) have been given a city look. However, due to lack of proper coordination, the new urban “picture” of Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc is not as expected.

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Dien Ban town (old) before the abolition of the district-level local government model, in the new urban area of Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc alone, there were more than 70 investment projects to build houses and residential areas, urban areas, and coastal tourism services under implementation, many of which were left unfinished for many years.

There are projects that were approved for investment ten years ago but are still inactive, leading to wasted land resources. Planning is suspended, and when the deadline is over, it is extended, causing hundreds of households in this area to be unable to move or stay.

More complicatedly, the great attraction promised by this sand strip has caused many investors to ignore unclear legal warnings, leading to "losing both money and health" disputes and prolonged lawsuits.

In recent years, there have been many drastic directives from the People's Committee of Quang Nam province (old) on a comprehensive review to classify project groups in the new urban area of Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc to purge unfeasible projects, returning space to renovate the new street. There have been positive signs since the beginning of 2025 when a number of urban projects involved in long-standing litigation have found a way to resolve.

According to Vice Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee - Tran Nam Hung, all projects that are behind schedule in the new urban area of Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc will have plans and progress with specific milestones on completion time. The implementation will take place synchronously and drastically in the entire new urban area, not just any project.

Waiting for new effect

The merger of Quang Nam province and Da Nang city could be a turning point to create new vitality for Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc urban area. Dien Ban Dong ward (where the new Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc urban area is located) is the transition point for Da Nang urban space to move southward before connecting with Hoi An urban area and the (old) Eastern Quang Nam area.

At the seminar "Real estate investment opportunities in Da Nang after the merger" that just took place, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute said that the merger of Quang Nam and Da Nang will create great resonance in urban development from the advantages of both sides.

The new Da Nang city shares the same special mechanism as the old Da Nang city, which will help the areas of the old Quang Nam quickly spread development energy, which can start from the real estate sector.

According to the general opinion of investors, the important “bottleneck” that has caused Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc urban area to be quiet for a long time comes from the Co Co River. It is quite special that the Co Co River flows through the heart of this new urban area and about 5km through this area is also the river that is being filled up.

The old Quang Nam province has spent more than 900 billion VND to dredge and develop the infrastructure of the Co Co River, so the work of clearing this unique river cannot be left unfinished.

Some investors have been implementing projects at a slow pace in the past, hoping that the merger of the two localities will help the process of dredging the Co Co River reach its destination soon. Once the Co Co River is dredged, the value and benefits of projects on both sides of the river will inevitably be enhanced. This will motivate investors to be determined to complete their projects. This will also indirectly add a "bright color" to the new urban area of Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc.