Local strategic planning takes center stage at Vietnam Sustainable Development Forum

The forum proposed planning solutions connecting growth with environmental conservation, climate adaptation, regional linkages, and sustainable development.

The event, jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Party Central Committee's Commission for Policies and Strategies, and the Da Nang Municipal People's Committee, featured the participation of domestic and international policymakers, experts, scholars, and business leaders.

In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, highlighted the need for innovative planning mindsets to enhance local connectivity and bridge administrative boundaries, thereby optimizing new development spaces. An expanded development space must create growth opportunities for every locality and improve lives across the country.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, planning must synchronously integrate four core requirements: development, conservation, adaptation, and connectivity.

Development should aim to improve quality of life; conservation must preserve nature, heritage, and community identity; adaptation requires proactive responses to climate change and future uncertainties; while connectivity leverages local advantages within regional, national, and global contexts.

"Forum outcomes should yield practical contributions to refining policies, improving local governance, and enriching knowledge for leadership and management cadres," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung said.

From a policy-planning perspective, Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Deputy Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission, advocated shifting from administrative boundary-based development toward spatial organization based on functions, strengths, potential, and regional-sectoral linkages.

Planning must be evaluated across architectural space, economic efficiency, ecosystem carrying capacity, engineering solutions, and financial resources.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien noted that alongside improving resource efficiency, planning needs to proactively adapt to climate change based on data, supported by regular policy evaluations and adjustments. Furthermore, smart transport planning must be linked with energy transition, digital transformation, public transit systems, and strategic infrastructure connectivity.

"Panel discussions should clarify lessons Vietnam can learn from international best practices and inter-provincial experiences, contributing to the nation's two centennial goals by boosting rapid, sustainable economic growth while pairing urbanization with industrialization and modernization," Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien emphasized.

For Da Nang, the forum coincided with the city expanding its development space following administrative restructuring. Strengthening ties between the urban core and rural, mountainous, and coastal areas, as well as service, tourism, industrial, logistics, and heritage zones, demands a shared vision, strong coordination, and balanced resource allocation.

"Dr. Le Quang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang municipal People's Committee, noted that on October 21, 2026, the Prime Minister approved the Master Plan for Da Nang through 2050, with a vision toward 2045. The plan guides Da Nang's development into a modern, eco-friendly, safe, and livable coastal city rich in identity, focusing on green growth and climate adaptation."

Dr. Le Quang Nam affirmed that this master plan provides an essential foundation for spatial organization in the new period, placing a responsibility on the city to translate the vision into action through programs, subordinate plans, priority projects, appropriate resources, and effective coordination mechanisms.

"The Da Nang People's Committee will direct specialized agencies to study and incorporate relevant recommendations into planning, governance, and execution. The city looks forward to continuing to receive the partnership of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Central Policy and Strategy Commission, research institutes, universities, and the business community in research and human resource training, data sharing, and policy consultation," Dr. Le Quang Nam said.

Through thematic sessions, the Vietnam Sustainable Development Forum 2026 aims to deliver practical recommendations to perfect policy frameworks, boost governance efficiency, and improve planning execution across localities, turning strategic directions into practical momentum that balances economic growth with environmental protection, cultural preservation, and better living standards.

Dr. Le Quang Nam affirmed that this master plan provides an essential foundation for spatial organization in the new period, placing a responsibility on the city to translate the vision into action through detailed plans, priority projects, appropriate resources, and effective coordination mechanisms.

"The Da Nang People's Committee will direct specialized agencies to study and incorporate relevant recommendations into planning, governance, and execution. The city hopes to maintain close partnerships with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Central Policy and Strategy Commission, research institutes, universities, and the business community in human resource training, data sharing, and policy consultation," Dr. Le Quang Nam said.

"Through thematic sessions, the Vietnam Sustainable Development Forum 2026 aims to deliver practical recommendations to perfect policy frameworks, boost governance efficiency, and improve planning implementation capacity across localities, turning strategic orientations into practice and creating growth drivers coupled with environmental protection, cultural preservation, and better living standards.

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