Ha Noi outlines 100-year vision and technology-driven growth model

The proposals were presented on January 10 at a working session between Party General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the Standing Board of the Ha Noi Party Committee. It was the first joint working session involving all three top leaders with Ha Noi during the 13th Party Congress term and the first such meeting in 2026, underscoring the central leadership's strong focus on the capital's development.

Opening the session, Ha Noi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc said the city had thoroughly implemented Politburo resolutions, outcomes of the 18th Ha Noi Party Congress, guidance from General Secretary To Lam during five working visits, and directions from the Government Standing Committee. Facing new development demands, Hanoi is seeking central approval and guidance on two foundational tasks shaping its long-term trajectory.

100-year comprehensive master plan

The Comprehensive Master Plan for the Capital, with a vision extending 100 years, is being formulated in line with conclusions of the Politburo, the National Assembly and the Government Standing Committee. It integrates capital planning and general urban planning to address shortcomings of previous frameworks.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan said the plan aims to remove long-standing development bottlenecks. Flood control will follow a synchronized, long-term approach, focusing on underground infrastructure, transport corridors linked to ring roads and radial axes, water collection systems, underground reservoirs and pumping stations.

Transport development prioritizes multimodal connectivity, with urban railways identified as the backbone. These will be developed alongside transit-oriented development (TOD) models, underground parking and service spaces around stations to enhance efficiency and reduce congestion.

Ha Noi is also studying expanded Red River crossings, completing ring roads and radial routes, and reviewing airport planning to create additional development space and ease pressure on the inner city.

On environmental management, the plan revises waste and wastewater treatment systems, improves collection and classification, and establishes green corridors and belts along rivers as key ecological and public spaces.

A major breakthrough lies in urban restructuring, particularly within Ring Road 3 and priority areas around Ring Roads 1 and 2. The city will adopt a multi-layer, multi-level urban model that combines preservation of historical and cultural zones with comprehensive redevelopment of other areas.

In parallel, Ha Noi is calling for the completion of a long-term institutional framework. Based on reviews of Resolution No.15-NQ/TW and the 2024 Capital Law, the city proposes a new Politburo resolution and amendments to the Capital Law to meet requirements set by the upcoming 14th Party Congress.

The draft resolution positions Ha Noi as the national political-administrative center and a major hub for economy, culture, science, education and healthcare with global connectivity. It proposes a special governance model with strong decentralization and accountability, alongside a clean and exemplary Party organization and political system.

The resolution sets development goals beyond 2065, five strategic orientations and key task groups covering planning, institutions, governance, culture, education, healthcare, science and technology, and resource mobilization. These will be fully institutionalized in the revised Capital Law, forming a solid political and legal foundation for implementing the 100-year master plan.

New growth model targeting double-digit expansion

Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Luu outlined a new socio-economic development model that identifies science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as core growth engines to achieve sustained double-digit growth.

Despite global economic volatility, Ha Noi recorded GRDP growth of 8.16 percent in 2025, exceeding targets and significantly higher than in 2024. The city's economic scale reached about US$63.5 billion, with per capita income at US$7,200.

Total social investment reached VND595 trillion ($22.6 billion), foreign direct investment surged 169 percent year on year to US$4.3 billion, and state budget revenue climbed to VND711 trillion (US$27 billion), the highest level in many years. Public investment disbursement exceeded 106 percent of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister.

Building on these results, the 18th Ha Noi Party Congress has set a growth target of over 11 percent for 2026 and the 2026–2030 period. The city aims for total factor productivity to contribute 60 percent to growth, the digital economy to account for 35 percent of GRDP by 2026 and 40 percent by 2030, GRDP to reach around US$113 billion by 2030, and per capita income to rise to $12,000.

From early 2026, Ha Noi plans total social investment of about VND730 trillion (US$27.7 billion), with clear allocations across public, private and foreign sectors, while fully implementing special mechanisms approved by the National Assembly under Resolution No.258/2025/QH15.

Priority will be given to land clearance, accelerating major projects and developing strategic infrastructure, including ring roads, urban railways, regional connectivity and new growth corridors such as the Red River landscape axis.

For 2026–2030, Ha Noi's growth model will focus on productivity improvements, expansion of the digital economy, development of digital government and digital society, shared data platforms, substantive administrative reform and enhanced urban governance and public investment efficiency.

Cultural values and heritage will also play a central role. Cultural industries are identified as a spearhead sector linked to tourism and city branding, targeting an 8 percent contribution to GRDP by 2030, alongside the development of a modern, smart tourism ecosystem.

Central support and institutional reforms

Representatives from central ministries praised Ha Noi's 2025 performance and proactive governance. Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh said the city has demonstrated strategic innovation in both thinking and implementation, particularly in carrying out political tasks with strong effectiveness.

He noted that Ha Noi is advancing three closely linked tasks: the 100-year master plan, a new Politburo resolution and amendments to the Capital Law. The revised law, expected to be submitted at the first session of the 16th National Assembly under an expedited procedure, will expand Ha Noi's authority while ensuring strong mechanisms for accountability and supervision.

Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang also highlighted Ha Noi's strong contribution to national growth, particularly in budget revenue, public investment disbursement and foreign investment attraction. He expressed support for the city's 11 percent growth target but stressed that urban spatial planning must prioritize transport connectivity, noting that polycentric urban models only function effectively when transport infrastructure is developed ahead of demand.

Together, the proposals lay the groundwork for Ha Noi to pursue a development model described as "high-speed, high-quality, smart and sustainable," positioning the capital for sustained double-digit growth in the decades ahead./.