“Role assignment” for dynamic urban chains

Da Nang City is the locomotive promoting industrialization, modernization and international integration of the entire Central Key Economic Region. Photo: HA SAU

The lifeblood of the economic zone

According to research by the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development, the coastal urban chain from Hue - Lang Co - Da Nang - Hoi An - Dien Ban - Tam Ky - Nui Thanh - Quang Ngai - Duc Pho currently concentrates about 80% of the labor force, 83.5% of the total number of enterprises, 87.8% of production and business capital, and 60.1% of fixed assets.

In particular, it generates 90% of the economic output of the entire Central Key Economic Region. In addition, the Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An coastal tourism cluster currently accounts for about 6.4% of the country's tourism revenue.

Notably, some urban areas in this region have many unique characteristics, defining their own identity in the urban system of Vietnam. The most typical are the two centrally-governed cities of Hue, Da Nang and the heritage city of Hoi An.

This area also has many national and international development drivers with Phu Bai, Da Nang, Chu Lai airports; 3 economic zones (Chan May - Lang Co, Chu Lai, Dung Quat), Hoi An World Cultural Heritage...

Not to mention, a free trade zone and international financial center will soon be formed in Da Nang. Therefore, this area is identified as the locomotive to promote industrialization, modernization and international integration of the entire region.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Quang Binh - former Head of the Faculty of Economics (Da Nang University of Economics), the contribution rate of the Eastern Quang Nam region to the province's economic growth is quite stable throughout the period 2010 - 2023 (about 93%), this rate is even slightly higher than the structure of the region. However, Quang Nam's coastal corridor has not yet fully exploited its potential, facing infrastructure overload and facing major challenges from climate change.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Quang Binh stated that it is necessary to continue upgrading the transport infrastructure in the coastal area of Quang Nam to connect tourist areas and economic zones, forming a modern coastal economic corridor.

Developing the marine economy, tourism, clean industry, and seaport and airport infrastructure will be key factors for the Eastern urban chain to become the local economic locomotive, contributing significantly to creating a breakthrough for regional development.

“Role assignment” for cities

After the administrative unit arrangement, many urban areas under localities in the region will no longer exist at the same scale. However, the urbanization process will still accelerate, so each urban area needs to be positioned with appropriate functions, becoming harmonious pieces to help this urban area increase its position in the overall national urban system. Hue City has been identified as a green urban area - a typical heritage urban area of Vietnam. Meanwhile, Da Nang is positioned as an ecological, modern, smart, livable urban area, reaching Asian standards.

With two big “shadows” in the region, the new urban areas of Quang Nam need a little difference to connect to the urban chain. With Hoi An, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Son - Chairman of the City People's Committee, regardless of the government organization model, this heritage city will still firmly follow the urban development orientation of “ecology - culture - tourism”. In addition, preserving and developing Hoi An in the direction of a “creative city” based on the foundation of culture and heritage.

A representative of the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development Research recommended that the Hoi An - Dien Ban area should be planned into a smart urban tourism cluster, developing resorts - walking streets - digital cultural museums and international-scale performing arts centers associated with heritage, traditional craft villages and typical natural landscapes of the Central region.

Regarding Tam Ky - Chu Lai, although it is predicted that the urbanization process will have many disruptions due to the arrangement of administrative units, experts believe that it is necessary to continue promoting the development of urban areas associated with Chu Lai airport, thereby establishing a prominent urban brand in industry and logistics.

The outlines for two new urban areas of Quang Nam to “join” this coastal urban chain have also been planned. According to Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Le Van Dung, with the recently approved master plan, in addition to the functions of a commercial, service, tourism, and resort center, Duy Hai - Duy Nghia also aims to become a fishing logistics center providing labor and seafood materials for tourist areas.

In which, associated with the overall space of Hoi An tourism services, aiming to build a unique urban space, national and regional scale. Meanwhile, Binh Minh new urban area will be a sub-regional center, serving the resettlement needs for the coastal strip; providing labor for tourist areas.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/phan-vai-cho-chuoi-do-thi-dong-luc-3157105.html