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 from Ho Chi Minh City, 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.

Positive Signals

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 Standing Committee and leaders of various municipal departments and sectors.

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 revealed that, from July 1st, 2025, the Con Dao Special Zone officially operated based on rearranging the entire organization of the former Con Dao District. The Party Committee, People’s Council, and People’s Committee of the Special Zone promptly completed the apparatus.

So far, the political system in Con Dao has basically operated stably and synchronously. Officials and civil servants have been arranged according to their qualifications and expertise. Leadership, direction, and administration have not encountered major obstacles. Simultaneously, the training and retraining of officials have been carried out promptly to help the team quickly grasp the management process, the use of technology, and digital signatures.

Con Dao sets 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% per year. Industry and transport services are also determined to maintain a positive growth rate.

Recommendations for the Future

Along with the positive results, according to Le Anh Tu, Secretary of the Con Dao Party Committee, the locality still faces some difficulties, 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 and branches. Currently, the departments and branches have received 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 and branches to review and supplement the group of mechanisms and policies that Ba Ria-Vung Tau previously proposed. Specifically, mechanisms and policies on promoting the value of Con Dao’s resources; on attracting strategic investors to implement key projects; and on attracting high-quality human resources, including Vietnamese and foreigners, to work in the Special Zone.

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. At the same time, invest in the construction of social housing to serve officials, public employees, and laborers; organize a camera system to monitor the entire island; arrange public clean water supply points to serve the needs of the people and tourists. Along with that, accelerate the underground technical infrastructure to ensure aesthetics, safety, and synchronization, as well as measure and standardize land data to create an important basis for planning management, digital management, and investment attraction in the next period.

Enhancing Proactiveness

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 handle some of the locality’s proposals, including developing the night economy, building a symbol of Con Dao, and digital transformation towards a smart island…

Regarding the development orientation, Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc emphasized two key requirements. Accordingly, Con Dao must harmoniously resolve the relationship between development and conservation, with conservation not synonymous with “closure” but with protection for development, integrating tourism with the preservation of natural and historical resources. This is a planning issue that the government, investors, and Con Dao National Park need to discuss together.

In addition, the Special Zone authorities must be proactive, dynamic, and autonomous, with a mindset of mobilizing all resources for development, not relying on the state budget. Another important point, according to the Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, is to be proactive in making proposals to meet development needs.

Fulfilling Trust

Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, assessed that Con Dao is a peaceful land with great potential and has a lot of room for tourism development, from traditional tourism associated with historical and spiritual values to high-end resort tourism. However, as the land for development is not abundant, the locality needs to be economical and efficiently manage resources and land and proactively address future social challenges and infrastructure pressures related to electricity, water, and the environment.

Mr. Tran Luu Quang suggested that we should unanimously build the image of Con Dao as an island of “green – conservation – intelligence,” which is suitable for natural conditions and catches up with modern development trends. Prioritize in investment and attraction of investment. Do not spread resources because there is not enough time and strength to perform multiple tasks at the same time.

Giving development suggestions for Con Dao, the Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee emphasized that the locality should focus on planning issues; promote the green finance model; invest in modern technology infrastructure; take care of the health of local people and tourists; and thoroughly solve the problem of waste, especially plastic waste.

The locality also needs to quickly standardize land data, efficiently manage public houses and land, and prepare well for compensation and site clearance. In addition, promote the role of “back to the source” of colleges and universities; improve the quality of life of the people; ensure social order and safety; proactively manage the risk of natural disasters and build infrastructure resilient to storms and climate change…

“With great faith, believing 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 Convergence for Aspirations

At the meeting, Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, expressed his deep emotion when returning to Con Dao, where every inch of land is imbued with historical traditions and spiritual values. He shared that if he used to come to Con Dao as a tourist, this time, with the responsibility as a city leader, his emotions are even more overwhelming with the strong and unique development aspirations of this sacred land. He is excited about the potential and investment opportunities in Con Dao but also concerned about the development of this land.

Before the working session with the leaders 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 team of officials, and listened to a report on the results of administrative procedure reform.

Currently, the processing time for land-related dossiers in Con Dao has been reduced to 15 days instead of 30 days as before. At the same time, data is synchronized between the HCMC Public Service Portal, the National Public Service Portal, etc., contributing to improving service quality for the people.