Rural districts Đông Anh, Gia Lâm, Thanh Trì, Hoài Đức, Đan Phượng are set to be upgraded to urban districts by the end of 2025, according to a plan unveiled by the Hà Nội People's Council on Monday.
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A view of the rural district Gia Lâm. — VNA/VNS Photo Mạnh Khánh
These districts will be reviewed based on administrative unit standards. If they do not meet the necessary criteria, plans must be made to ensure they comply with population size and natural area requirements.
Among the five districts, Đông Anh is the largest, covering more than 180 sq.km with a population of about 380,000, including 23 communes and one town. Gia Lâm follows, with an area of nearly 115 sq.km, a population of 280,000, 20 communes and two towns. Hoài Đức has an area of 82 sq.km and a population of over 230,000, consisting of 19 communes and one town. Đan Phượng spans more than 77 sq.km with a population exceeding 174,000, comprising 15 communes and one town. Thanh Trì is the smallest, with an area of over 63 km² and a population of more than 200,000, including 15 communes and one town.
Đông Anh and Gia Lâm have been assigned to work with the Hà Nội Department of Home Affairs and relevant units to finalise the proposal documents and collaborate with ministries and agencies for appraisal. They aim to submit the proposal to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for approval in the fourth quarter of 2024 or the first quarter of 2025.
Meanwhile, Thanh Trì and Hoài Đức are directed to actively coordinate with departments and sectors, providing documents and data to evaluate the criteria. From there, they can develop solutions to accelerate the completion of the criteria and submit the proposal to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for approval in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Previously, the proposals for the transition of Đông Anh and Gia Lâm into urban districts were approved by the Hà Nội People's Council in 2023. These were expected to be submitted to the Government and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly by the end of 2023, but were delayed.
Hà Nội has grown from its original four core urban districts—Ba Đình, Hoàn Kiếm, Đống Đa, Hai Bà Trưng-to 12 urban districts, with the addition of Bắc Từ Liêm, Nam Từ Liêm, Cầu Giấy, Hà Đông, Hoàng Mai, Long Biên, Tây Hồ and Thanh Xuân.
According to regulations, centrally governed cities must have an urban district ratio of at least 60 per cent of the total number of administrative units at the district level. Based on this criteria, Hà Nội needs at least 18 urban districts, but currently, it has only 12 urban districts, one town and 17 districts (meeting 43 per cent of the urban administrative units). VNS
At the press conference announcing the President's order held on the morning of July 23 at the President's Office, five laws were passed by the National Assembly during its 7th session.Among them, the amended Capital Law was passed, consisting of seven chapters with 54 articles, specifically and clearly defining the position and role of the capital, policies, responsibilities for building, developing, managing and protecting the capital.The amended Capital Law proposes adding two cities to the capital. The first is a city north of the Red River, including the districts of Đông Anh, Sóc Sơn and Mê Linh, with the core being Nội Bài Airport, envisioned as a logistics and services city.The second proposed city in the capital will focus on education, training, and science in the western area, including Hòa Lạc and Xuân Mai, with the centre being the Hòa Lạc Hi-tech Park.The addition of these two cities under the amended Capital Law will make Hà Nội the most unique urban area in Việt Nam.