Decision No. 891/QD-TTg dated 22 August 2024 of the Prime Minister approving the Master Plan on the National Urban System and Rural System for the 2021-2030 Period, with a Vision to 2050

Maximize the advantages of the nation, regions and localities so that urban development becomes a core driving force of the national economy, with harmonious development of urban and rural areas. Develop urban and rural areas sustainably, building on the achievements of more than 35 years of reform; organize space in line with regional potential and advantages; use natural resources and land rationally, save energy, protect the environment and maintain ecological balance. Develop the urban system as a network with clear focal points and priorities, concentrating on large urban regions and competitive major cities to form national and internationally competitive growth poles, and developing urban and rural areas in localities with favorable geography, infrastructure and high-quality human resources to form driving-force regions, economic corridors and growth poles. Build a modern countryside, strengthen rural-urban linkages and promote rural urbanization; distribute cities and rural areas rationally for balanced development across regions and provinces, progressively narrowing development gaps between favorable and difficult mountainous, island localities, between large and small cities, and between urban and rural areas. Organize effective urban and rural space linking the mainland with maritime space and with infrastructure systems, especially national priority road, rail and aviation projects; develop urban and rural social and technical infrastructure in a synchronized manner at appropriate levels. Develop urban and rural areas in line with national target programs and international commitments, proactively applying science, technology and innovation in step with digital and green transition trends and the 2023-2030 administrative-unit reorganization.

Objectives to 2030: accelerate the pace and raise the quality of urbanization; develop, rearrange and distribute the urban and rural system in a unified, effective and comprehensive manner with synchronized, modern infrastructure suited to development conditions; ensure healthy living environments with resilience and adaptation to sea-level rise and climate change, environmental friendliness and emission reduction. Develop the urban system sustainably as a network, forming dynamic cities and city chains with modern, green and distinctive architecture; develop cities as political, administrative, economic, cultural, social, scientific-technological and transport hub centers that attract investment and create strong 'agglomeration', 'connection' and 'linkage' effects with rural areas; achieve a high quality of urban life. Develop the countryside comprehensively and sustainably in step with urban development and urbanization, with synchronized infrastructure and social services approaching urban standards; preserve and promote the cultural identity of each region; build a green, clean, beautiful, modern and civilized countryside along high-efficiency ecological agriculture lines. Vision to 2050: the urban system is linked into a synchronized, unified, regionally balanced network with effective resilience and adaptation to climate change, sea-level rise, disasters and epidemics; representative architecture that is rich in identity, green, modern and unified; a role commensurate with the Asia-Pacific urban network with high economic-social competitiveness; at least 05 cities of international standing built and serving as connection and development hubs with regional and international networks. The countryside has living environments closely and harmoniously connected with cities - civilized, green, clean, beautiful and rich in national cultural identity, with living conditions and incomes approaching those of urban areas.

Urban system: urbanization rate above 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2050; about 1,000-1,200 urban centers nationwide; a number of national- and regional-level urban centers meeting health, education-training and cultural indicators comparable to the average of cities in the top-four ASEAN group; the urban economy contributing about 85% of national GDP; a network of smart central cities at national and regional levels with international connectivity and 03-05 cities whose brands are recognized regionally and internationally. Urban population growing on average 3.37-4.13% per year in 2025-2030; urban construction land at about 1.9-2.3% of total natural land area. Urban infrastructure: transport land at about 16-26% of urban construction land; green space of about 8-10 m2 per urban resident; housing floor area of at least 32 m2 per capita in urban areas; universal fiber-optic broadband Internet and 5G mobile services; over 80% of the urban market population holding electronic payment accounts; 100% of urban residents supplied with quality-assured clean water; 40-45% of residents using reticulated clean water in cities of class II and above; below 10% of collected municipal solid waste disposed of by direct landfilling. Rural system: at least 90% of communes nationwide meet New Rural Development standards, including 50% meeting elevated standards; about 70% of districts, county towns and provincial cities complete the New Rural Development task, of which 35% of qualifying districts are recognized as elevated or model New Rural Development districts; 100% of districts have an urban center. 100% of provincial administrative units have all 3 cultural institution types (Cultural Center or Culture-Arts Center, museum, library); 100% of district- and commune-level administrative units have a Culture-Sports Center.

Mechanisms and policies: build and improve institutions and legal provisions to manage urban and rural development in line with the plan; administer urban and rural administrative units in a unified manner; issue distinctive, exceptional mechanisms to resolve problems of very large and super-large cities; reform institutions for urban land management, construction investment management and urban facility operation; strengthen decentralized urban governance under the urban government model. Science, technology and environment: vigorously apply scientific and technological advances to build smart, green, climate-adaptive cities; manage solid waste, focusing on municipal and hazardous waste, and control emissions from major sources. Human resources: build training programs to raise urban management and development capacity for leaders and specialists, prioritizing cities of class III and above through 2030. Plan implementation and supervision: after approval the plan is publicly announced as required; implementation plans/programs are submitted for approval at competent levels, implemented and periodically evaluated. Roadmap: in 2024 finalize and submit the national urban classification implementation plan to 2030; in 2025 finalize, submit and launch the national program on urban construction, renovation, upgrading, redevelopment and urban infrastructure development.

Funding for plan tasks comes from the state budget in accordance with public investment and state budget law, plus other lawful sources of capital. A mechanism will be built to develop urban infrastructure from multiple capital sources, encouraging private-sector participation. Land management and real-estate market development will be renewed; housing and urban land policies will be further perfected to stabilize livelihoods and generate resources for urban development and New Rural Development. The plan sets no total investment figure; major national programs and projects are identified through the list of major national projects under the National Comprehensive Plan for 2021-2030, vision to 2050.