Located in the economic triangle of Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh, Hai Phong City holds a unique economic position with a transportation system including roads, railways, airways, and especially sea routes, making it one of the important gateways connecting the Red River Delta region.
Hai Phong has the 6th largest economy out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam. The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate of the province in 2023 reached 10.34%, ranking 5th nationwide; this is the 9th consecutive year of double-digit growth for the city. It attracted a record-breaking foreign direct investment of 3.5 billion USD, ranking 2nd nationwide.
According to the plan, by 2030, Hai Phong is oriented to develop three key pillars: port logistics services; green, smart, and modern industry; and an international coastal tourism center with a population scale of about 4.5 million people, with a high level of development among the top cities in Asia and the world.
Hai Phong will transform its growth model towards greening its economic sectors, applying a circular economy model based on science and technology, digital technology application and transformation, becoming the driving force for the development of the Northern Delta region and the whole country.
The new city planning has been approved, but there are no detailed design plans yet. Below is the visionary future urban development of Hai Phong as created by AI ChatGPT.
The project to construct the Political – Administrative Center of Hai Phong City with a total investment of over 2,500 billion VND in the North Cam River Urban Area, Thuy Nguyen District, is expected to be completed in 2025. The project includes 14 high-rise buildings from 3-15 floors, designed symmetrically along two axes North – South and East – West. Auxiliary technical system with yard, parking lot, internal roads; gardens, landscaping…
In the plan to 2030, Hai Phong’s urban system includes: Urban area (9 districts, including 7 existing districts and the establishment of 2 new districts including An Duong and Kien Thuong); one type-III urban area (Thuy Nguyen City, including the entire Vu Yen Island); 4 type-IV urban areas; 6 type-V urban areas.
By 2050, Hai Phong is the third centrally-run city (after Da Nang City and Can Tho City).
Regarding tourism, Hai Phong is planning to build the Cai Ba – Do Son coastal tourism complex with high attraction; combine with Halong Bay to become an international coastal tourism center; form the city’s characteristic tourism products associated with the sea and islands, historical and cultural relics; connect with provinces in the Red River Delta region, becoming a tourism center connecting the region and the world.
Halong Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This area has become an inter-provincial World Heritage Site, the first city of Vietnam. It is one of the factors contributing to the future development of tourism in Hai Phong.
The 2030 tourism network development plan is capable to accommodate 30-35 million visitors; by 2040 it is about 35 – 40 million visitors.
In addition, in Do Son tourism-service area, the city will develop an international tourism center with sports, entertainment, religion, and beach festivals. In Cat Ba, Long Chau, Bach Long Vi, it will develop tourism services in combination with conservation and preservation of the ecosystem.
Developing Lach Huyen Port and Nam Do Son Port into a combined international gateway port. Establishing a coastal economic zone in the south of Hai Phong, including researching and developing a Free Trade Area with breakthrough, outstanding mechanisms and policies currently applied in successful free trade areas worldwide.
In terms of aviation, the plan is to upgrade and expand Cat Bi International Airport with an estimated capacity of 13 million passengers by 2030 and 16.6 million passengers by 2040, at the same time, research and construction of International Airport in Tien Lang District.
According to Hai Phong’s city planning, by 2050, there will be 2 national railway lines and 4 urban railway lines in the city. Specifically, constructing a new Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line (part of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong and Lang Son – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway lines) parallel with the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway and building a new coastal railway line Nam Dinh – Thai Binh – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh.
Along with that, constructing 4 urban railway lines and connecting stations to urban areas, functional areas, and main transportation hubs of the city. Step by step transforming the inner-city section of the Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line (currently existing) into an urban railway line. Researching and investing in building urban metro lines.
According to the new plan, Hai Phong City plans to build 4 bridges crossing the Cam River and 3 bridges across the Lach Tray River and the Vanuc River.
In terms of roads, Hai Phong will continue to develop, upgrade and expand inter-regional roads, construct the Ninh Binh – Hai Phong expressway. At the same time, develop main urban axes and ring roads, build other-grade interchanges at high-density intersections.
