The new Ho Chi Minh City will be a regional center of finance, services, trade, logistics, high-tech industry and sea tourism, with a development orientation based on digital technology, green economy , environmental sustainability, harmonious society, connectivity, openness, crystallization of advanced values of Asia and the world; striving to be an attractive place, converging domestic and international talents and entrepreneurs, a place for the startup community, creativity, nurturing advanced trends and models.
Ho Chi Minh City (new) must not only be the national economic locomotive, but also a modern urban area with influence in the global network of cities.
In 1698, Commander Nguyen Huu Canh was sent to the South to oversee the affairs of the country, marking the birth of Gia Dinh prefecture (the predecessor of Saigon). At that time, this land was originally a dense forest and swampy area, but had a favorable geographical location, with a system of canals and fertile land. Under the Nguyen Lords, Saigon was gradually developed and became an important trading center of the Southern region.
When France invaded Vietnam, Saigon became the center of colonial exploitation and was dubbed the "Pearl of the Far East" by the French. Saigon developed rapidly, becoming a modern city with many Western-style architectural works.
After the country was unified in 1975, to commemorate the contributions of beloved President Ho Chi Minh , Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City on July 2, 1976.
During the Doi Moi period, the city was the pioneer in breakthrough initiatives, the economic locomotive, the source of many important economic policies of the country, the locality most heavily affected and most painful by the COVID-19 pandemic, but still resiliently and strongly overcame and continued to contribute a large budget to the country.
Especially in the period of 2021-2025, despite the situation having many difficulties, challenges and opportunities, the city has promoted the tradition of solidarity, inherited the stable development results from many previous terms, the strong determination of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, along with the consensus and high support of the business community and people, has contributed to promoting comprehensive development in all areas of the city, promoting the role of the growth pole of the whole country.
The total value of GRDP in 2025 is estimated to increase 1.5 times compared to 2020. The average GRDP per capita is 8,400 USD, 1.7 times higher than the national average. State budget revenue in the 2021-2025 period is nearly 2.4 million billion VND, an increase of 30% compared to the previous period, with an average revenue growth rate of 7%/year, contributing 26% of the total annual state budget revenue. The digital economy is growing strongly, accounting for 25% of GRDP.
Service industries develop in a modern direction, the quality of trade and services improves. Industry focuses on developing in the direction of prioritizing fields with high science and technology content. Agriculture develops rapidly in the direction of urban ecology, applying high technology.
Investment attraction has been promoted in the direction of selecting large, potential and reputable investors. In 5 years, nearly 225,000 new enterprises were established, accounting for 30% of the country, an increase of 8.3% compared to the previous period. Breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, digital transformation, science and technology development and human resources have been focused on and achieved many important results.
Transport and urban infrastructure is planned and invested in a multi-center, regionally connected and climate change-adaptive direction. The startup and innovation ecosystem is approaching the top 100 most dynamic cities in the world.
Activities in the fields of culture, society, education, health care, community care, social security, etc. are focused on development in parallel with economic development. National defense and security are maintained; Party building and rectification are strengthened, which is the central and key task to ensure the stability and development of the city.
Continuing the results achieved in the 2021-2025 period, in the first 6 months of 2025 alone, the city has many bright spots in socio-economic development, notably: Economic growth rate (GRDP) is estimated to increase by over 8% - this is the highest increase compared to the same period since 2020.
Total retail sales of goods increased by 17.3%, exports are estimated to increase by 13.3%, total social investment capital is estimated to increase by 16.2% over the same period, attracting FDI capital reaching nearly 3 billion USD (equal to 2.69 times compared to the same period in 2024).
The work of reforming administrative procedures, improving the investment environment, and removing "blood clots" of the economy has achieved initial positive results. The city has removed 63 key projects, leading and clearing over 86,000 billion VND of investment capital, with an area of 923 hectares of land... contributing to the budget revenue of an estimated 322,000 billion VND, reaching more than 62% of the estimate, up 20.4% over the same period, thereby preventing the waste of social resources, creating trust in the business community, many large enterprises have returned to invest and develop in the city.
In particular, the city's two major festivals (April 30 and Vesak) were successfully organized, contributing to arousing patriotism and national pride, leaving many beautiful impressions, and enhancing Vietnam's position in the international arena.
The implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW has achieved many positive results: The city is in the top 5 leading innovative startup ecosystems in Southeast Asia (according to StarupBlink's ranking); has signed, cooperated, and started many projects with major domestic and foreign technology investors (such as Viettel, NVIDIA, ADM, Evolution).
In particular, the contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to GRDP has continuously increased, contributing to promoting FDI capital mobilization in professional and scientific and technological activities with a total capital of 1.2 billion USD in the second quarter of 2025.
The city has coordinated with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces to connect digital infrastructure for 168 wards, communes and special zones; completed the deployment of shared information systems and digital platforms, ensuring the official operation of digital platforms for two-level governments from July 1, 2025.
On June 12, 2025, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam signed and promulgated Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on the arrangement of provincial-level administrative units; in which the new Ho Chi Minh City was established on the basis of merging three localities: Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong.
The new city has a natural area of 6,772.59 km2 and a population of 14,002,598 people, becoming the core of the Southern Key Economic Zone.
It can be said that this is a strategic decision of our Party and State - marking a new chapter in the revolutionary process of arranging a "refined, compact, strong, efficient, effective, and efficient" apparatus.
This decision is not simply a matter of adding geographical space, but a combination of forces to create new momentum and new space for development at a higher level and class with the vision of becoming one of the top 100 livable cities in the world by 2030 and a vision to 2045.
The new vision for Ho Chi Minh City (new) is to become an "international megacity" - a smart, green, creative city, typical not only of economic strength but also of richness in culture, arts, sports, entertainment and modern, dynamic lifestyle.
The new Ho Chi Minh City will be a regional center of finance, services, trade, logistics, high-tech industry and sea tourism; with a development orientation based on digital technology, green economy, environmental sustainability, harmonious, connected, open society, crystallizing advanced values of Asia and the world; striving to be an attractive place, converging domestic and international talents and entrepreneurs, a place for the startup community, creativity, nurturing advanced trends and models.
Ho Chi Minh City (new) must not only be the national economic locomotive, but also a modern urban area with influence in the global network of cities.
During the 2025-2030 term, the entire City Party Committee will focus on implementing the following 5 strategic and key tasks:
First, focus on implementing a "lean, compact, strong, efficient, effective, and productive" two-level local government with a spirit of speed, determination, and running while queuing.
This is the general goal, aiming at building an effective local government apparatus, reducing intermediate levels, streamlining staff, enhancing capacity and ability to meet requirements and tasks in the new situation, including:
- "Streamlining" means reducing unnecessary agencies, units, and organizations that have duplicate functions and tasks, or are no longer suitable for practical situations.
- "Strong" means enhancing the capacity and qualifications of the staff, civil servants and public employees; improving the operational efficiency of agencies and units.
- "Efficiency, effectiveness, efficiency" is to ensure that the apparatus operates with productivity and quality, meets requirements and assigned tasks, and brings practical benefits to people and businesses.
- "Speed, determination, running and lining up at the same time" shows urgency and high determination in the implementation process, while ensuring correctness and science, avoiding disruption and negative impacts on the operation of the apparatus.
Second, concretize the implementation to achieve the highest results of the "four pillars" of strategic resolutions including: Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 of the Politburo on "International integration in the new situation"; Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on innovation in law-making and enforcement to meet the requirements of national development in the new era; Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025 of the Politburo on private economic development. Accordingly, the implementation of the "four pillars" of the resolution must ensure the requirements: clear targets, clear programs and plans, clear specific roadmaps, clear products and clear responsibilities.
Third , urgently review, adjust and develop a new plan for the new Ho Chi Minh City, with a vision of 1 space - 3 areas, in which: the existing Ho Chi Minh City area plays the role of "financial and high-tech capital", focusing on developing a financial, trade, service, technology and innovation center; the Binh Duong area plays the role of "industrial capital", a center of production and high-tech industry; the Ba Ria - Vung Tau area is the "marine economic capital", playing the role of an international seaport gateway, developing logistics services and an energy industry center.
Fourth, continue to effectively implement the strategy of 1 center - 4 highs - 1 concentration, with: 1 center is to form an international financial center in Ho Chi Minh City; 4 highs include: (i) Multi-purpose high-tech center (innovation; AI; GIS; semiconductor chips); (ii) High-tech industrial park; (iii) High-quality education; (iv) High-quality healthcare; 1 concentration is to focus on investing in traffic infrastructure and digital infrastructure to ensure synchronization and modernity (in the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology development, innovation and national digital transformation).
Fifth, focus on improving the effectiveness of administrative reform, improving the investment environment, and enhancing investment status, including:
- Improve the effectiveness of administrative reform towards "4 key points": digital government; results-based governance, decentralization; building a service-oriented administration; resolving administrative procedures in a transparent - legal - timely manner.
- Enhancing investment position: With the goal of the city being in the top 3 of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) by 2030 and the top 1 locality attracting large investors.
To achieve this goal, the city needs to strengthen the work of cutting unnecessary administrative procedures, especially in areas related to people and businesses (cutting cumbersome steps related to investment attraction; reducing the time for granting and exchanging land use right certificates; not making people have to apply for construction permits in places with detailed planning...); create the most attractive environment for large investors, with attractive incentive policies, modern infrastructure, high-quality human resources and a good living environment; improve the quality of economic management; investing in completing transport, energy and logistics infrastructure is very important to meet the needs of investors; training and developing high-quality human resources is a key factor to attract high-tech enterprises and industries with high added value; Creating a good living environment (including housing, education, health care, and culture) is an important factor in attracting and retaining workers and professionals.
Ho Chi Minh City identifies the goals, directions, tasks and solutions for the 2025-2030 term with a unified space of the most dynamic "three economic poles" in the country converging into a financial - high-tech industrial - marine economic megacity with the highest development density in Southeast Asia, with a vision of striving to be in the top 100 livable cities in the world by 2030 and a vision to 2045. In which, it focuses on forming 6 strategic focuses with the following key projects and works:
1. Forming a world-class sea tourism area (Ho Tram - Binh Chau - Long Hai - Vung Tau city); developing diverse and attractive forms of entertainment (golf, sea games, tourist ports, casinos, eco-resorts).
2. Forming a free trade zone associated with the Cai Mep - Can Gio transit port cluster.
3. Developing Can Gio ecological - tourist - resort urban area associated with Can Gio World Biosphere Reserve.
4. Building an international financial center and a multi-purpose high-tech center.
5. Developing core urban areas of Ho Chi Minh City.
6. Forming Binh Duong Industrial - Urban Center.
In addition, with favorable conditions in terms of young population, dynamic business class, many universities, research institutes and high integration capacity, the city needs to promote the construction of a science and technology ecosystem, innovation and development of a strong, dedicated and capable private economic team. At the same time, firmly adhere to the goal of comprehensive human development, closely combining economic growth with progress, social equity and quality of life.
Not only an economic center, the city must become a livable place, where every citizen is guaranteed development opportunities, and is fully cared for in terms of health, education, living environment and safety.
The new city will invest heavily in healthcare, education, public health care, and physical and intellectual development for the younger generation. It will take care of comprehensive social security, ensuring that no one is left behind in the development process; priority will be given to narrowing the development gap between regions, especially newly merged regions and disadvantaged regions.
The historical development process of more than 300 years, from a wild land to the most bustling urban area in Vietnam, is a long journey with many ups and downs but always closely associated with the history of building and defending the country of the nation.
With its tradition of formation and development, it will create a solid foundation for the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee (new) to continue to be the center of solidarity, inspiring service and dedication to creation, capable of leading a city that is not only a leader in the country, but also a breakthrough on the global urban map.
That will be the unique mark of Ho Chi Minh City - a city of innovation, action and aspiration to reach far, worthy of bearing the name of the great President Ho Chi Minh.
Source: https://ttbc-hcm.gov.vn/chu-tich-ubnd-tp-hcm-nguyen-van-duoc-tp-hcm-thanh-pho-dang-song-vuon-minh-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-1019042.html
![[Photo] General Secretary attends the announcement ceremony of Resolutions on merging administrative units in Ho Chi Minh City](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/6/30/ab1bd03cc8bb4f60b2665f4915f258c5)
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