In recent years, the pace of urbanisation in Vinh Long province is very fast, thus giving a strong facelift to urban areas. The contribution of the construction industry is significant to this success.
Vinh Long province now has eight administrative units, with Vinh Long City being the provincial capital. Vinh Long City is the third-grade urban zone, Binh Minh Town is the fourth-grade urban zone, and six townships - district capitals - are the fifth-grade urban areas. In 2013, although the construction and real estate industries are slumping in Vinh Long province, many urbanisation and housing investment projects are being carried out, including Phuoc Yen serviced residence project; Hoang Hao housing complex (Long Ho); flood-shelter residential areas (second phase) in Binh Minh Town, Vinh Long City and Long Ho District; Bac My Thuan residential resettlement zone (Second phase), Song Phu - Tam Binh market and township project. By 2020, Vinh Long province will have more urban zones.
Mr Doan Thanh Binh, Director of Department of Construction, said, in recent years the speed of urbanisation in Vinh Long province is very fast. This is a good trend but it has however left certain post-urbanisation problems like unsustainability and messiness. To proactively address these problems, the construction sector will advise the provincial government to review seemingly infeasible plans for adjustment or cancellation, and build urban management mechanisms to put a stop to unplanned urbanisation. He said: "It is necessary to take an overview of urban architecture in order to manage effectively and develop sustainably, integrate overall urban design with local urban designs; and manage from individual architectural works to overall architectural works. It is also important to raise the responsibility of authorities in urban management and particularly have the participation of the community."
Currently, the construction sector of Vinh Long province is focusing on carrying out key projects like Vinh Long Administrative Zone and Ward 9 Residence in Vinh Long City, housing projects in Vinh Long City, Phuoc Yen Serviced Residence, Sunrise - Dong Kieu Township in Binh Minh Town, Binh Duong University in Binh Minh Town. Once completed, these works will have huge impact on the province’s urbanisation development and urbanisation level.
Being aware that infrastructure planning is the backbone of an urban zone, Vinh Long province thus pays special attention to strengthening this backbone to support social and economic development, accelerate urbanisation, and improve living standards of citizens. To continue developing the urban network in the province, Vinh Long will integrate the province’s urban planning with the urban development of the Mekong Delta region to promote its individual urban zones. The province will gradually match urban development system with the social and economic development, improve the quality and competitiveness of urban zones, and build modern social and architectural infrastructure and landscape, based on local identities. In addition, the province will make policies to draw more capital sources for urbanisation process, expand the participation of the community in urban development, and raise the responsibility of municipal governments.
By 2015, the province will increase its urbanisation rate to 28 percent, upgrade Vinh Long City into a second-grade urban zone, invest to upgrade Vung Liem and Tra On townships into a fourth-grade urban zone, and set up four new urban zones, namely Tan Quoi (Binh Tan), Phu Quoi (Long Ho), Cai Ngang (Tam Binh) and Huu Thanh (Tra On) - all at fifth-grade urban zone standard.
Kim Ngoc
Vietnamese
