The Grand Twin Requests for Con Dao Special Zone

Collaborating for a Brighter Future: TP HCM’s Vision for Con Dao

On August 27th, a delegation led by Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Central Party Committee and Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, worked with the leadership of Con Dao Special Zone. The delegation included Nguyen Van Duoc, member of the Central Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, along with members of the City Party Committee’s Executive Board and leaders of various municipal departments and sectors.

Positive Signals

The meeting aimed to grasp the socio-economic, defense-security, and party-building situation of the first eight months of 2025 and the results of implementing the two-level local government model in Con Dao. Information shared during the meeting highlighted that since July 1st, 2025, the Con Dao Special Zone has been officially operating, rearranging the entire organization of the former Con Dao District. The Party Committee, People’s Council, and People’s Committee of the Special Zone have promptly completed the apparatus.

Thus far, the political system in Con Dao has been operating stably and synchronously. Officials and civil servants have been assigned suitably based on their qualifications and expertise. Leadership, direction, and administration have not encountered significant obstacles. Simultaneously, timely training and retraining of officials have been carried out to help them quickly grasp management processes, the use of technology, and digital signatures.

Con Dao has set ambitious targets, including a growth rate of over 8.4% in the total value of on-site products; estimated revenue from trade, services, and tourism of over VND 30,800 billion, with tourism alone contributing more than VND 20,000 billion, an increase of nearly 10.4% annually. Industry and transport services are also determined to maintain a positive growth rate.

Recommendations for the Future

Along with the positive results, Le Anh Tu, Secretary of the Con Dao Party Committee, pointed out some challenges, especially in the fields of planning, land, and construction. The Party Committee of the Special Zone has directed the People’s Committee to proactively report to the relevant departments. These departments have received the reports and are expected to work with the Special Zone soon.

Mr. Le Anh Tu recommended that the Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee direct the departments to review and supplement the group of mechanisms and policies previously proposed by Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Specifically, these include mechanisms and policies on promoting the value of Con Dao’s resources, attracting strategic investors to implement key projects, and attracting high-quality human resources, including both Vietnamese and foreigners.

The leadership of the Special Zone also proposed that HCMC invest in solar power systems and seawater desalination systems on the small islands of the Special Zone. Additionally, they suggested constructing social housing for officials, civil servants, employees, and laborers; implementing a full-island camera surveillance system; arranging public clean water supply points to meet the needs of locals and tourists; and accelerating the underground technical infrastructure to ensure aesthetics, safety, and synchronization. They also proposed measuring and standardizing land data to create an important foundation for planning management, digital management, and investment attraction in the next phase.

Enhancing Proactivity

At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, mentioned the potential and strengths of the Special Zone and provided directions to address some of the locality’s recommendations, including developing the night economy, constructing a symbol of Con Dao, and promoting digital transformation towards a smart island.

Regarding the development orientation, Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc emphasized two key requirements. Firstly, Con Dao must harmoniously balance development and conservation, where conservation does not mean “closing off” but rather protecting to serve development, integrating tourism with the preservation of natural and historical resources. This is a planning equation that the government, investors, and Con Dao National Park need to discuss together.

Moreover, the Special Zone authorities must be proactive, dynamic, and autonomous, with a mindset of mobilizing all resources for development without relying solely on the state budget. Another critical aspect, according to the Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, is to be proactive in making proposals to address development needs.

Fulfilling Aspirations

Concluding the working session, Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, assessed that Con Dao is a peaceful land with great potential and significant room for tourism development, ranging from traditional tourism associated with historical and spiritual values to high-end resort tourism. However, as the land area for development is limited, the locality needs to be prudent in managing resources and land efficiently while proactively addressing social challenges and future infrastructure pressures related to electricity, water, and the environment.

Mr. Tran Luu Quang suggested unanimously building the image of Con Dao as an island that is “green – conservation – smart,” aligning with natural conditions and keeping pace with modern development trends. This should be a priority in investment and attraction of investment. He cautioned against spreading resources too thin, as there may not be sufficient time and strength to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously.

Providing development suggestions for Con Dao, the Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee emphasized focusing on planning, promoting green finance models, investing in modern technological infrastructure, providing healthcare for locals and tourists, and comprehensively addressing waste issues, especially plastic waste. He also suggested that the locality promptly standardize land data, effectively manage public houses and land, and adequately prepare for compensation and site clearance.

Additionally, Con Dao should further promote its role as a “source of inspiration” for colleges and universities, improve the quality of life for its residents, ensure social security and order, proactively manage disaster risks, and build resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding storms and climate change.

“With great faith in the strong development of Con Dao in the coming time, let us join hands to turn Con Dao into a paradise for resort tourism,” said the Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee.

A Place of Converging Aspirations

At the working session, Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, expressed his deep emotion upon returning to Con Dao, a place where every inch of land bears the imprint of history and spiritual values. He shared that if he had previously visited Con Dao as a tourist, this time, with the responsibility as the city’s leader, his emotions were even more overwhelming in the face of the strong and unique development aspirations of this sacred land. He was excited about the potential and investment opportunities in Con Dao but also concerned about the area’s progress.

Before the working session with the leadership of Con Dao Special Zone, Mr. Tran Luu Quang and the delegation surveyed the Public Administration Service Center, inquired about the working conditions of the official team, and listened to a report on administrative procedure reform results.

Currently, land-related dossiers in Con Dao are resolved within 15 days instead of the previous 30 days. Additionally, data synchronization between Ho Chi Minh City’s Public Service Handling Information System, the National Public Service Portal, and other platforms has improved efficiency in serving the people.