► From a scientist 's perspective, could you please tell us what are the opportunities for Can Tho City (new) to develop quickly and strongly after the merger?
- The merger of Can Tho City with the above localities is not only an event, but also an important milestone that opens up breakthrough development opportunities in the future. From the perspective of a scientist and university administrator, I can see great opportunities, such as: Can Tho City is already the center of the Mekong Delta region, now the expansion of administrative boundaries further consolidates this role, helping the city connect more strongly with neighboring localities, thereby promoting trade, logistics, tourism and sharing of public infrastructure. The increase in area and population helps Can Tho expand the space for economic and urban development. This is a favorable condition for the city to reshape its socio-economic development strategy towards a more multi-centered and sustainable direction.
At the same time, the merger helps Can Tho increase its cultural diversity and abundant labor resources by receiving more young, dynamic labor forces from Soc Trang and Hau Giang. This is an important foundation for building a new city that is dynamic, creative, open and adapts quickly to new development trends. The merger and expansion of administrative boundaries is a "golden" opportunity for Can Tho City to establish a new position - not only as the center of the Mekong Delta region, but also as an important growth pole in the Southern economic development triangle.
► According to the Doctor, what potentials and advantages does Can Tho City (new) need to promote and focus on developing?
- With the expansion of administrative boundaries, Can Tho City not only increases in size but also inherits many potentials and strategic advantages that the city needs to focus on promoting in the coming time. Specifically, Can Tho City is located in the center of the Mekong Delta, an important traffic hub by road, waterway and air. The convenient connection with Ho Chi Minh City, coastal provinces and the Mekong sub-region is a great advantage for developing logistics, trade - services and export. In addition, the expansion of boundaries brings abundant agricultural land resources, suitable for Can Tho to develop into an agricultural processing center, applying high technology, building a sustainable agricultural value chain, aiming at export.
Can Tho is also a major education and training center of the region with major higher education institutions such as Can Tho University, Nam Can Tho University, Tay Do University, University of Engineering and Technology, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy... The merger of neighboring localities helps increase the young labor force, creating favorable conditions for forming a skilled workforce, ready to adapt to the requirements of digital transformation and international integration.
In addition, with the ecological diversity of the Western rivers, the system of cultural and historical relics, craft villages and community identity, Can Tho City after the merger has the opportunity to become a typical tourist center including river tourism, eco-tourism, spiritual tourism, cuisine, local culture, especially Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese culture. The expansion and merger of the three localities also helps Can Tho to be able to re-plan production areas and raw material areas, thereby attracting FDI capital as well as domestic investment in the fields of high-tech agriculture, processing industry, renewable energy, information technology and high-quality services. This position needs to be promoted to lead the whole region to develop synchronously and sustainably...
Tan Cang Thot Not Port (Can Tho City) has many opportunities to develop activities and load and unload goods after Can Tho City merges.
► What are the necessary factors to revive and best exploit these advantages, Doctor?
- In order for Can Tho City to maximize its potential and advantages after expanding its administrative boundaries and realizing opportunities, the city needs to have a master planning strategy, effective coordination policies, and especially mobilize the participation of the people and the business community. Especially, it is necessary to improve the urban development planning - the inter-regional linkage, because Can Tho is identified as the dynamic center of the Mekong Delta region. Therefore, the city needs to develop a new integrated planning according to the Planning Law, in which it expands urban space associated with the orientation of "multi-center development", regional connectivity, infrastructure linkage and reasonable population distribution. Focus on developing strategic infrastructure - especially transport and logistics infrastructure, in which it is necessary to focus on completing inter-regional transport infrastructure works, such as highways, waterways, seaports and Can Tho airport. At the same time, large logistics centers will be formed to connect raw material areas - processing areas - export markets, in line with the role of the region's goods transit center.
In addition, Can Tho after the merger needs to promote its role as a center of science - technology and innovation in the Mekong Delta. To do so, the city must invest heavily in high-tech zones, applied research zones and promote the connection between the three parties: State - School - Enterprise. In particular, it is necessary to focus on digital transformation, building smart cities and improving digital capacity for people. At the same time, focus on developing high-quality human resources, especially management and technical human resources, because potential cannot be exploited without suitable human resources. Can Tho needs to focus on vocational training and university education linked to practical needs; expand links with major training institutions at home and abroad, creating a modern learning - working ecosystem.
Another issue that needs attention is institutional improvement, innovation and comprehensive digital transformation. In particular, Can Tho needs to promote its role as a "regional leader", innovate management thinking, encourage businesses to innovate, and apply technology in agriculture, industry and services as an inevitable direction. Local authorities play a role in supporting the startup ecosystem, developing innovation centers associated with universities and research institutes. Strengthening regional connectivity and international cooperation is also an important issue, it is necessary to proactively play the role of "conductor" in regional connectivity in the Mekong Delta, while expanding cooperation with major domestic and international cities, taking advantage of trade agreements (FTAs) and the trend of shifting global supply chains...
► As a university providing human resources for Can Tho City, the Mekong Delta region and the whole country, what is the school's training plan to meet the human resources needs of localities in the new situation, Doctor?
- Can Tho University clearly defines its role and responsibility in training and providing high-quality human resources to serve the region and the whole country. Accordingly, on May 14, 2025, the University signed Memorandum of Understanding No. 05/BGN-UBND-DHNNCT on development cooperation between Can Tho City People's Committee and Can Tho University to strengthen coordination and mutual support in the fields of training, scientific research, technology transfer, start-up - innovation and serving local socio-economic development.
The school has been updating the training program in a streamlined, practical direction, enhancing vocational skills and soft skills, especially in key industries such as health, logistics, business administration, information technology, tourism, construction, environment, etc., introducing digital transformation, artificial intelligence application and innovative startups into the training program, to help students study flexibly, access technology early and be able to work in a digital environment. Nam Can Tho University is proud to be one of the schools that has built a startup ecosystem among students, invested in modern learning infrastructure, diversified training forms, helping students increase their adaptability and be ready to work immediately after graduation.
With the orientation of developing into a center for applied, integrated and high-quality training in the Mekong Delta region, the school focuses on combining training according to international standards, aiming to expand learning, research and employment opportunities for students in a globalized environment. Thereby, it has implemented an international medical training program, in collaboration with the Malaysian University of Science and Technology to train bachelors in Business Administration. In the 2025-2026 school year, Nam Can Tho University began enrolling 10 majors in 100% English. With 45 diverse training majors, the school meets modern learning needs, especially in potential fields, the program meets international standards and the Ministry of Education and Training, helping students develop comprehensively in intelligence and skills, contributing to creating new knowledge and new technology to serve the sustainable development of Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta region.
► Thank you, Doctor!
HA VAN (performed)
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/sau-hop-nhat-tp-can-tho-can-phat-huy-loi-the-tiem-nang-de-dan-dat-toan-vung-phat-trien-dong-bo-va--a188038.html
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