HANOI: Vietnam's newly merged city comprising Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong province and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is expected to become an international megacity in South-East Asia, the Vietnam News Agency quoted General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam (pic) as saying on Wednesday (June 18).
Speaking at a high-level working session in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, Lam said the merger has brought together the country's three most dynamic economic regions with strategic strengths in finance, high-tech industry and seaport logistics, the state-owned media reported.
According to Lam, the new vision for the city is to become a "Southeast Asian international megacity," which is a smart, green and innovative urban hub that excels not only in economic capacity, but also in culture, arts, sports, entertainment and modern lifestyle.
Vietnamese official data from 2024 shows that the newly merged Ho Chi Minh City will cover 6,772sq km with a population exceeding 14 million, while consolidating the three top-performing provinces in the field of digital governance, administrative reform and free trade implementation.
The merger of the three provinces is a part of the Vietnamese government's broader plan to reduce the number of provincial-level administrative units from 63 to 34, according to the Vietnam News Agency. - Xinhua
