THE PRIME MINISTER
Decision No. 68/QD-TTg dated January 15, 2018 of the Prime Minister on approving therevision of the construction plan of the Mekong Delta region by 2030 with vision towards 2050
Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015;
Pursuant to the Law on Construction dated June 18, 2014;
Pursuant to the Government s Decree No. 44/2015/ND-CP dated May 6, 2015 elaborating on certain contents of the construction planning;
Upon the request of the Ministry of Construction,
DECIDES
Article 1. To approve revision of the construction plan of the Mekong Delta region by 2030 with vision towards 2050, including the following main contents:
1. Objectives for development:
- Develop the Mekong Delta region which is oriented towards the green, sustainable growth and climate change adaptation, and which has significant roles and positions in comparison with other nationwide regions and Southeast Asian region.
- Develop the Mekong Delta region to make it become the key one across the nation in such fields as agriculture, fishery and aquaculture; substantially boost the marine economy and ecotourism that provides visits to river landscapes for leisure.
- Develop the regional space to ensure that built-in engineering and social infrastructural facilities are aligned together and are typical of the Mekong Delta with the intention of developing economy, improving the quality of life, protecting characteristic landscape and ecological environment downstream of the Mekong river and assuring national security and defence.
2. Scope and scale:
The Mekong Delta region encompasses the all administrative boundaries of Can Tho city and other 12 provinces such as Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, An Giang, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau. Total regional area is approximately 40,604.7 km2.
3. Characteristics:
- A region that plays a key role in food, fish and fruit production; that assures national food security and plays a significant role in export of agricultural and fishery products to international markets.
- A region that plays a central role in processing of agricultural, fishery products, electricity energy industry and other auxiliary agricultural industries at the national level.
- A region that plays its role as a center providing various services and typical ecotourism and sightseeing services with a variety of tours downstream of the Mekong river at the national and international level.
- A region that occupies a strategic and significant position in national defence and security.
4. Indices of population, urbanization, land intended for construction of urban and rural areas:
- Forecast on population and urbanization rate: The population in the entire region by 2030 is expected to have between 18 – 19 million of inhabitants of which there will be approximately 6.5 – 7.5 million of urban population; the corresponding urbanization rate will be 35% - 40% and have the average growth rate of 2.4% - 3.3% each year.
- Land forecast: The estimated cover of land intended for urban construction by 2030 is 70,000 – 90,000 ha and averages 90 – 120 m2/resident.
5. Model of development and spatial structure:
a) Model of development:
Develop the Mekong Delta region that adopts the multi-center model on a medium scale based on developing agricultural ecoregions, which are typical, accord with economic development segmentation, reacts to climate change impacts, creating the agriculture industry which is diversified and attains a high specialization level based on agricultural industrialization and commercialization. This comprises the following detailed measures:
- Stratify urban systems in the region as the basis for establishment of centers that promote socio-economic development.
- Use the compact city model for urban development of the region; restrict expansion and development of concentrated urban areas on a large scale and to a large extent; avoid building continuously urbanized zones or strips within areas that are deeply flooded, in the midst of the plain and along the coast.
- Create spaces intended for retaining, controlling and percolating water in topographical layers within the vicinity of a region and urban area.
- Ensure consistency in development of water and land transport systems and integrated water management systems, and keep balanced between excavation and backfilling works during the process of construction and development of urban areas.
- Develop and protect particular and natural landscape zones in conjunction with transforming agro-forestry production sites and protecting water resources within the region.
Create 06 ecological agricultural zones based on the key roles specific to advantages of these zones in creating the agriculture industry which is diversified, has a high level of specialization, and in agricultural industrialization and commercialization, including Dong Thap Muoi, Long Xuyen Quadrangle, Tien and Hau river banks, Western bank of Hau river, Ca Mau peninsula and the East Sea coast.
b) Spatial structure of the region:
Based on particular geographical and territorial characteristics of the region, climate change impacts and main national-level strategic orientations towards development and regional developmental model, the Mekong Delta is divided into 03 Sub-regions having the following regional connection axes:
- Sub-regions
+ Deeply-flooded sub-regions, including part of Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang and Tien Giang province, part of Dong Thap Muoi and part of Long Xuyen Quadrangle.
+ Sub-regions in the midst of the plain, including Can Tho city, Vinh Long province and part of such provinces as An Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Long An.
+ Coastal Sub-regions, including Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh and part of Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Long An province.
- Major connection axes
Major axes playing their roles in connecting economic centers, international border gates and seaports within the region include:
+ Northeast - Southwest axes, including Ho Chi Minh city – Can Tho – Ca Mau expressway; No.1 National Highway (Ho Chi Minh city – Can Tho – Ca Mau); Ho Chi Minh road – N2 (Duc Hoa – Cao Lanh – Long Xuyen – Rach Gia); roads running along the coast of East Sea (e.g. My Tho – Ben Tre – Tra Vinh – Soc Trang – Bac Lieu – Ca Mau).
+ Northwest - Southwest axes, including Ha Tien – Rach Gia – Bac Lieu expressway; axes running along Hau river through Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang.
Expressway axes, including Ho Chi Minh city – Can Tho – Ca Mau and Ha Tien – Rach Gia – Bac Lieu, function as backbone axes in the whole region.
+ Water traffic axes, including Ho Chi Minh city - Ca Mau (via Xa No canal), Ho Chi Minh city - Ca Mau (on the coastal route), Ho Chi Minh city – Kien Luong – Ha Tien, Ca Mau – Rach Gia – Ha Tien, and 6 horizontal axes connecting Cambodia and the East Sea via Tien, Hau, Ham Luong, Co Chien, Vam Co Tay and Vam Co Dong river.
6. Orientation towards spatial development of the region:
a) Orientation towards development of Sub-regions:
- Deeply-flooded Sub-regions will account for 15% of total natural area of the entire region, including districts and towns to the West of Long An province; to the North of Dong Thap, An Giang province and to the Northwest of Tien Giang province.
There will be key urban areas including Chau Doc, Tan Chau (An Giang province); Hong Ngu, My An (Dong Thap province); Kien Tuong (Long An province).
Natural topographical conditions will be considered to find how to storing freshwater in deeply-flooded areas and create seasonally flooded wetlands which help to actively supply water for agricultural production, tend to push back saltwater, and reduce inundation throughout shallow wetlands and urban areas located in the midst of the plain. Build certain areas for regular water retention and convert into freshwater aquaculture and cajuput production, etc. Restrict expansion and development of urban areas on a large scale and gradually transform urban areas to adjust to new flooding situations.
- Sub-regions in the midst of the plain will account for approximately 38% of total natural area of the entire region, including Can Tho city, districts and towns to the North of An Giang, Kien Giang and Soc Trang province; to the West of Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh province (part of Cang Long and Cau Ke district); to the Southeast of Tien Giang province; to the South of Dong Thap province and to the Northeast of Hau Giang province.
There will be key urban areas to be developed, including Can Tho, Vinh Long, Long Xuyen, Binh Minh (Vinh Long province), Tinh Bien (An Giang province), Nga Bay (Hau Giang province), Cao Lanh, Sa Dec city (Dong Thap province), Ben Tre (Ben Tre province), My Tho and Cai Lay (Tien Giang province), Tan An, Ben Luc and Duc Hoa (Long An province).
Because these Sub-regions are shallowly flooded wetlands and have favorable edaphic conditions for development of the diversified and intensive agriculture industry, it is necessary to exploit land intended for construction of urban areas should be exploited; use the compact city model for urban development, restrict expansion of cities in a quantitative manner, avoid developing continuous urbanized regions or strips and save land for agricultural development. With respect to spatial arrangement of urban areas, it is necessary to create spaces available for retention, control and percolation of water; to keep balanced between excavation and backfilling works during the process of urban development so as to mitigate inundation and react to climate changes.
- Sub-regions running along the coast and on islands will account for approximately 47% of total natural area of the entire region, including Ca Mau, Bac Lieu province, districts, cities and towns to the Southwest of Kien Giang and Hau Giang province; to the South of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Long An province.
These Sub-regions will encompass key urban areas, including Rach Gia, Phu Quoc, Ha Tien (Kien Giang province); Ca Mau, Song Doc, Nam Can (Ca Mau province); Bac Lieu, Gia Rai (Bac Lieu province); Soc Trang, Vinh Chau, Nga Nam (Soc Trang province); Vi Thanh, Long My (Hau Giang province); Tra Vinh, Duyen Hai (Tra Vinh province); Go Cong (Tien Giang province), Can Giuoc (Long An province).
In coastal areas inflicted by saltwater invasions, it is necessary to convert agricultural and aqua-cultural production that ensures sustainability and is in conjunction with growing mangrove forests along the coast, recovering forest ecosystems of Ca Mau peninsula and promoting the natural aggradations and sea land reclamation process. Urban and residential concentration areas will be developed to fit into land forms (e.g. arenosols or batters) existing at areas along the coast of the East Sea, Ca Mau peninsula and coastal areas of Long Xuyen Quadrangle.
Construction and development of urban areas located on islands must ensure sustainability and balance between economic development and conservation of historic relics, cultural heritage and environmental protection; maintain national security and defense at the regional and national level. Infrastructure will be gradually constructed and perfected with a view to building premium tourism and service centers in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region.
b) Orientation towards development of urban systems:
Focus on improving urban quality and reacting to the trend in growth of population residing within Sub-regions located in the midst of the plain; restricting urban development scale and gradually reducing size of population living at deeply-flooded and coastal Sub-regions. Build medium- and small-scale urban areas, depending on natural conditions and socio-economic characteristics of the region, in order to find appropriate solutions to responding to effects of climate change and impacts upstream of the Mekong river.
Urban networks will be layered to form urban centers of agro-ecological zones and serve the purpose of promoting specialization and diversification of the economy and modernizing the agriculture industry, depending on particular characteristics and advantages of these zones. A network of 37 key urban areas at the regional and sub-regional level will be established, including 14 cities situated within mid-plains Sub-regions and 18 cities located within coastal Sub-regions and 5 cities located within deeply-flooded Sub-regions. These cities include the followings:
- Can Tho city will become a class-I urban area that is put under the central government s control and play its role as a trading, healthcare services, research, training, cultural, tourism and processing industry center in the entire region and mid-plains Sub-regions.
- Class-I urban areas will play their roles at the regional level, including 06 town-level urban areas such as My Tho (Tien Giang province), Tan An (Long An province), Long Xuyen (An Giang province), Rach Gia (Kien Giang province), Ca Mau (Ca Mau province) and Bac Lieu (Bac Lieu province). They include the following cities:
+ My Tho city that plays its role as one of the trading and tourism service centers of mid-plains Sub-regions to the North of the Tien river; as a developmental pole to the Southwest of the territory of Ho Chi Minh city; as a gateway city connecting the territory of Ho Chi Minh city and Mekong Delta region; as a hi-tech fruit and rural tourism center.
+ Tan An city that plays its role as a developmental pole to the Northeast of the Mekong Delta region; as a gateway city connecting the territory of Ho Chi Minh city and Mekong Delta region; as a trading and service center at the regional level.
+ Long Xuyen city that plays its role as one of the trading and service centers of mid-plains Sub-regions to the South of the Hau river; as a center for transfer of technologies for the hi-tech agriculture, especially rice and freshwater fish.
+ Rach Gia city that plays its role as a center located within coastal Sub-regions to the West of the Hau river; as a marine economy, trading and service center of the corridor running along the western coast.
+ Ca Mau city that plays its role as a center located within the coastal Sub-regions of the Ca Mau peninsula; as a national energy, oil and gas service, ecotourism service and fish processing center of the region.
+ Bac Lieu city that has its role as a center of coastal Sub-regions running along the coast of the East Sea; as a cultural, tourism, marine economy, brackish-water fish farming and clean energy center.
- Class-II urban areas will comprise 09 cities out of which 07 are town-level centers and socio-economic centers of provinces, including Go Cong (Tien Giang province), Ben Tre (Ben Tre province), Vinh Long (Vinh Long province), Cao Lanh (Dong Thap province), Tra Vinh (Tra Vinh province), Soc Trang (Soc Trang province), Vi Thanh (Hau Giang province) and 02 tourism cities such as Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province) and Chau Doc (An Giang province).
- Class-III and class-IV urban areas will comprise 21 cities/towns and are provincially-controlled cities and play their role as centers of provincially-controlled Sub-regions, including:
+ Such urban areas as Sa Dec (Dong Thap province), Nga Bay (Hau Giang province), Tinh Bien (An Giang province), Binh Minh (Vinh Long province), Cai Lay (Tien Giang province), Duc Hoa and Ben Luc (Long An province), located in the midst of the plain.
+ Urban areas, such as Ha Tien and Kien Luong (Kien Giang province), Song Doc, Nam Can (Ca Mau province), Gia Rai (Bac Lieu province), Vinh Chau, Nga Nam (Soc Trang province), Long My (Hau Giang province), Duyen Hai (Tra Vinh province) and Can Giuoc (Long An province), located within coastal Sub-regions.
+ Urban areas, such as Tan Chau (An Giang province), Hong Ngu and My An (Dong Thap province), Kien Tuong (Long An province), located within deeply-flooded areas.
c) Orientation towards development of rural residential areas:
- Gather resources for construction of new rural areas; build rural areas with a view to both improving old spaces and developing new ones within rural residential locations together with using the agricultural production model that adapts to climate change.
- Use the pattern of rural residential space to fit in with characteristics of each subregion: In deeply-flooded Sub-regions, build residential concentration clusters in the stilt house pattern; in mid-plain Sub-regions, build residential concentrations oriented towards modernization and population density growth; in coastal Sub-regions, build residential concentrations by adopting the form of floating facility cluster in line with mangrove forest landscapes and aqua-cultural production spaces.
- Develop urban areas oriented towards adaptability to climate change, i.e. using natural methods such as afforestation and expansion of spaces for water retention, control and percolation; enhancing water transport; designing houses and facilities adaptable to floods, improving living spaces and spaces intended for traditional community activities in line with spaces intended for design of particular local production landscapes within flood-proof residential areas; focusing on upgrading engineering and social infrastructure with the aim of ensuring the quality of life and providing favorable production conditions for the population. Conserve traditional trade villages, cultural villages, minority communities and develop the tourism industry.
d) Orientation towards industrial development:
- Focus on developing the agro-forestry, aquaculture product and food processing that is in line with raw material production areas, helps to manufacture diversified product lines and expand consumption markets. Develop industries ancillary to the agriculture industry such as manufacturing of chemical and mechanical engineering products used in the agriculture and fishery industry. Encourage and stimulate development of manufacturing of clean energy and renewable energy resources such as wind, solar and biomass energy.
- Prefer investing in development and optimum operation of industrial parks completely established by 2030 with an emphasis on multiplication of those intended for agricultural processing and auxiliary industries of which total area is expected to be 15,000 – 17,000 ha by 2030 and likely to rise to 20,000 – 24,000 ha later on; restrict expansion of existing ones or development of new ones if the occupancy rate for existing industrial parks is not high. Review and re-examine industrial parks which have already been established but of which investment in development has not yet been made in order to draw up the plan for conversion of use of these industrial parks to ensure effective land use. Control industries causing environmental pollution.
- Distribute industrial parks in the following key areas:
+ Multi-disciplinary industrial parks of the region which are mainly distributed in Long An and Tien Giang province or are adjacent to Ho Chi Minh city, and of which total area is expected to be about 10,000 ha.
+ Agro-aquaculture product processing and energy center of the region located in Can Tho city with total area of industrial parks which is expected to be approximately 1,500 - 1,800 ha, including industrial parks located in Tra Noc, O Mon and Thot Not.
+ Energy, aquaculture and fishery product processing centers ranged in size from 2,000 to 2,400 ha that are mainly distributed in Ca Mau, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu province in line with power and wind power centers, and maritime economic zones.
+ Industrial parks intended for processing of agri-aquaculture products and industries ancillary to the agriculture industry in the rest of provinces.
- Medium- and small-sized industrial parks will provide support for the agriculture industry and traditional handicrafts and trade villages, will be developed, based on local advantages, to maintain balance between agriculture, forestry and aquaculture, and will ensure environmental and ecological protection. Conserve traditional trade villages and enhance the link between them and tourism development. Build the spatial patterns of industrial clusters and trade villages which correspond to ecological zones, scenery characteristics and climate change conditions.
dd) Orientation towards regional tourism development:
The Mekong Delta region will become a key national tourism area providing tourism products which are diverse and typical of river and island ecozones.
- Develop national- and regional-level tourist sites and attractions in line with protection of (e.g. alpine, forest, lake, river, etc.) ecosystems and conserve cultural and historic value, including Phu Quoc, Nam Can – Ca Mau Cape, Tram Chim – Lang Sen, Sam Mountain and Thoi Son national tourist sites; national tourist attractions such as Ong Ho Isle, Cao Van Lau Memorial Area, Ninh Kieu Pier, Ba Om Lake, Ha Tien and Van Thanh Temple, etc.
- Urban areas, such as Can Tho, Phu Quoc and My Tho, are planned to become tourist centers of the entire region which will be developed as follows:
+ Can Tho city will become a center of the tourism space to the West, including such cities and provinces as An Giang, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Can Tho; will emerge as a center that provides sightseeing tours around the Cape area and Tay Do, island retreats; ecotours; cultural discovery, historic relic and festival tours.
+ My Tho city will become a center of the tourism space to the East, including Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh province; will emerge as a center that develops river and rural tourism; sightseeing tours of trade villages, historical and revolutionary war museums; community tourism.
- Create regional-level tourism routes based on connections between natural and cultural heritage sites.
- Invest in construction of consistent infrastructure and engineering physical facility systems which are ancillary to the tourism industry, ensure the links between tourism regions, zones and attractions within the region; completely build service centers, accommodation and travel facilities connected with tourism areas, sites and attractions in the region and other adjacent ones, and exploit advantages in typical products within the region.
e) Orientation towards trading and service development:
- Develop a regional-level trading – service – financial center in Can Tho city which will play a major role in distribution and circulation of commodities between the Mekong Delta region, Ho Chi Minh city and Cambodia, including the following agricultural commodities: rice, fish and fruit, etc. Trading and service centers at the subregional level will be located at key urban areas within Sub-regions, marine economic zones and border-gate economic zones.
- Service centers will be based at central cities of Sub-regions such as Can Tho, Rach Gia, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Hong Ngu, Ha Tien, etc., and comprise agricultural product research and development centers, commodity service, production support and trade promotion centers that are connected with agricultural ecozones.
- Develop logistics and warehousing service centers at the regional level in Can Tho city which serve cities and provinces such as Can Tho city, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, An Giang, An Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau province; those in Long An province which serve Long An, Tien Giang, Dong Thap and Ben Tre province. Additionally develop logistics and warehousing centers connected with deepwater ports within the region.
- Focus on developing trading centers existing in the form of central wholesale market at agricultural production and large-scale and large-quantity processing industry areas which have advantages in connection with the water and land transport systems; which are organized into commodity transaction center, wholesale center, distribution center and central warehouse.
- Develop economic zones within the region connected with key cities located within Sub-regions, including Phu Quoc (Phu Quoc special economic zone), Duyen Hai (Dinh An economic zone), Nam Can (Nam Can economic zone), Tan Chau and Tinh Bien (An Giang bordergate economic zone), Ha Tien (Ha Tien bordergate economic zone), Hong Ngu (Dong Thap bordergate economic zone) and Kien Tuong (Long An bordergate economic zone).
g) Orientation towards scientific research, education and training development:
- Establish concentrated higher-education areas having consistent infrastructure facilities. Prefer using vacant land for expansion of higher education establishments to meet national and international standards. Higher education establishments will provide training in key disciplines for the entire region and the whole nation, including agriculture, food technology, biology, economics and engineering disciplines.
- Can Tho city will become a national- and regional-level training center in which Can Tho University is a key multi-disciplinary higher education establishment at the national level and other higher education establishments connected with medical, cultural, social, humanitarian, healthcare, engineering and technological sectors. In Sub-regions, higher education establishments will be distributed in town-level urban areas within Vinh Long, Long An, Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Tra Vinh, An Giang, Hau Giang, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu province.
- Focus on developing community, vocational, healthcare, pedagogical, economic – engineering and construction engineering training colleges that are distributed within Can Tho city and 12 provinces in the Mekong Delta region.
- Continue to establish and develop intensive scientific research centers at the regional and national level within Can Tho city that concentrate on training in the agriculture sector (e.g. fruits, rice and fishery products), biotechnology, environment and climate change. Build biodiversity research centers within Phu Quoc with orientation towards conducting researches on protection of ecosystems and island biodiversity in line with tourism and community education activities.
h) Orientation towards healthcare, cultural, sports and physical activity development:
- Healthcare sector:
+ Can Tho city plays a role as a medical center of the Mekong Delta region where general hospitals and regional-level specialized hospitals are concentrated.
+ General hospitals located within town-level urban areas create the local network of medical centers that provide support for the regional-level medical center in Can Tho city.
- Culture, sports and physical activities:
Can Tho city and provinces will have typical cultural and historic values; will house a variety of cultural, sports and physical activity facilities at the regional and national level. Develop culture, physical activity and sports that are oriented towards conserving and promoting cultural and traditional values which have been recognized as the cultural and artistic brand of the region. Build regional-level sports and physical activity centers in Can Tho city, Cao Lanh and Tan An; build cultural centers connected with cultural and artistic heritages of the region that exist within Can Tho city, Bac Lieu and Tra Vinh province. Build and develop the international fair and exhibition center in Can Tho city.
i) Orientation towards agricultural and forestry development:
- Main production zones will be distributed in three areas having different ecological patterns to adapt to climate change and sea level rise:
+ Freshwater fish and cajuput forestry production zones distributed in deeply-flooded areas (total area of approximately 600,000 ha) on the basis of building of inundation control areas and freshwater retention dams;
+ Rice, vegetable and fruit farming zones distributed in plains (total natural area of approximately 1.5 million ha);
+ Aquaculture – fishery production zones connected with mangrove forests that are mainly located at the coast (total natural area of approximately 1.9 million).
- Forest and ecological landscape conservation zones: Restore and develop mangrove forests on Ca Mau peninsula, along the coastal corridor of East Sea and West Sea which are connected and joined together inside biosphere reserves of Kien Giang and Ca Mau province; cajuput forests located to the Northwest of Ca Mau peninsula (U Minh Thuong - U Minh Ha area), Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle area; production forests to the West of Hau river and to the North of Long An province. Build ecological corridors running alongside rivers, canals which are connected to one another to protect cajuput forests.
- Conserve and develop Kien Giang biosphere reserve and Ca Mau Cape biosphere reserve.
- Strictly conserve specialized forests (total area of 95,000 ha) according to the planning for development of nationwide specialized forests by 2020 with vision to 2030.
- Conserve, develop and link fruit gardens along Tien and Hau river and from the upstream to the coast of East Sea, especially those located within Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Hau Giang province.
7. Orientation towards traffic development:
Improve the existing traffic infrastructure to completely develop the traffic system in the region. Ensure satisfaction of traffic and transportation needs, close and consistent connections between transportation modes, especially water and road transport mode. Focus on development of public transportation in urban areas and connection between urban areas within the region by using modern and eco-friendly means of transport.
a) Road transport:
- Improve and build expressway routes such as Ho Chi Minh city – Trung Luong – Can Tho – Ca Mau; Ha Tien – Rach Gia – Bac Lieu; Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang.
- Improve and upgrade existing national highways, including:
+ Vertical axes including NH.1, NH.50, NH.60, NH.61, NH.61B, NH.80, NH.N1; NH.N2, NH.50B, PR.846, NH.60, NH.Quan Lo - Phung Hiep, NH.30B.
+ Horizontal axes including NH.62, NH.30, NH.53, NH.54, NH.63, NH.57, NH.91; NH.91B, NH.South Hau river (NH.91C), NH.62B, NH.62C, NH.80B.
- Build national highways away from build-up areas and upgrade certain provincial roads within the region to national highways, including NH.50 (detour around Go Cong town), NH.60 (detour around Tra Vinh city), NH.62B (Tan An – Go Cong road segment), NH.62C (the segment connecting Ho Chi Minh road and Ho Chi Minh city - Ca Mau expressway), NH.80B (the segment connecting Sa Dec city and Vinh Xuong border gate), NH.30B (the segment connecting Tan Hong district, Dong Thap and NH.1A), national road No.846 (the segment connecting Cao Lanh and Tien Giang).
- Develop national highways that conform to standards of class-II road and class-III roads in the plains.
- Connect national highways and provincial roads in the region to create an interconnection network and to fit them in the system of national expressways as a way to contribute to improving transportation capacity of road systems.
b) Water transport:
- Sea transport: Focus on improving channels through which vessels enter ports on Hau and Tien river, Ca Mau peninsula and along the coast of West Sea with a view to meeting freight and passenger transportation needs in the region. Provide a large number of engineering facilities and controlling equipment items to ensure maritime safety for vessels sailing on channels to enter ports; pay particular attention to international maritime routes to Cambodia via Tien and Hau river.
- Inland water transport: Prioritize investment in development of inland waterways routes that are connected in a convenient and consistent manner with the road transport system with the aim of promoting traffic and transportation capacity in the region. Main transportation routes will include:
+ Special-class routes, e.g. Tieu estuary - Cambodia boundary (the section running from Tieu estuary to Thuong Phuoc, Dong Thap province); Co Chien river (the section running from Tra Vinh canal to Co Chien junction); Dinh An estuary – Cambodia boundary (the section running from Dinh An estuary – Tan Chau junction, An Giang province); Vung Tau – Thi Vai – Ho Chi Minh city – My Tho – Can Tho (the section running from Ben Dinh, Vung Tau city to My Tho city); Ham Luong river (the section running from Tien river junction to Ham Luong estuary).
+ Class-I routes: Travelling routes from Dinh An estuary to Cambodia boundary (the section running from Tan Chau to Cambodia boundary); Co Chien river (the section running from Co Chien estuary to Tra Vinh canal junction).
+ Class-II routes: Vung Tau – Thi Vai – Ho Chi Minh city - My Tho - Can Tho (the section running from My Tho city to Can Tho city).
+ Class-III routes: Sai Gon – Ca Mau route running through Xa No canal (the section from Te canal junction - Ca Mau port); Sai Gon – Kien Luong route running through Lap Vo canal (the section from Te canal junction – Kien Luong – Ha Tien); Sai Gon sea coast – Ca Mau (the section from Te canal junction – Dai Ngai port – Ca Mau); Sai Gon – Kien Luong route running through Thap Muoi No.1 (the section from Te canal junction to Ba Hon, Kien Luong); Moc Hoa – Ha Tien (the section from Moc Hoa port to Ha Tien); Canal No.28 – Phuoc Xuyen canal (the section from Cai Be to Sa Rai, Dong Thap province); Rach Gia – Ca Mau (the section from Tac Cau port –o Ca Mau); Sai Gon – Ha Tien route running through Thap Muoi canal No.2 (the section from Te canal junction - Tri Ton canal, Hau Giang - Tam Ngan canal - Ha Tien); Can Tho - Ca Mau route running through Quan Lo canal to head for Phung Hiep.
- Sea ports:
+ By 2030, total throughput of goods is estimated at about 66.5 – 71.5 million tons/year out of which general and container freight accounts for 21.7 – 26.2 million tons/year.
+ Major national-level general ports (class-I) including Can Tho port, Hon Khoai port (Ca Mau province); it is expected that Bac Lieu port will be built after 2030.
+ General and specialized ports (class-II) located in the following local jurisdictions:
. Tien river area will include the following ports: Cao Lanh, Sa Dec (Dong Thap province), My Tho (Tien Giang province), Vinh Thai (Vinh Long province), Giao Long (Ben Tre province).
. Hau river area will include the following ports: My Thoi (An Giang province), Hau River (Hau Giang province), Dai Ngai (Soc Trang province), Tra Cu (Tra Vinh province).
. Ca Mau peninsula area and the coast of West Sea will include the following ports: Nam Can (Ca Mau province), Hon Chong, Bai No - Ha Tien, Binh Tri - Kien Luong, Rach Gia, Ben Dam, Duong Dong, An Thoi, Mui Dat Do, Nam Du (Kien Giang province).
+ Build and develop specialized ports intended for import of coal used in thermo power plants located at Duyen Hai (Tra Vinh province).
+ Keep on upgrading and improving inland water ports for the purpose of supporting road transport and creating the network interconnecting water and road transport system.
c) Airlines:
- By 2030, international airports, e.g. Can Tho and Phu Quoc, will meet 4E standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) while domestic airports, e.g. Ca Mau and Rach Gia, will meet 4C standards.
- Existing military aerodromes are expected to become airfields intended for rescue and national defence purposes.
d) Railways:
Construct and develop railway routes connecting Ho Chi Minh city with Can Tho city and Can Tho city with Ca Mau province as per the Prime Minister s Decision No. 1468/QD-TTg dated August 24, 2015 on approval for the revised General Planning for development of rail transport of Vietnam by 2020 with vision to 2030.
dd) Urban and rural traffic:
- Urban traffic:
+ Build urban traffic systems that are aligned with planning schemes in other sectors, conform to general construction planning schemes of cities and ensure the proportion of the traffic land area to the construction land area conforms to regulations applied to urban areas in the region. Save an adequate amount of land intended for static traffic and important facilities; ensure that the indicator showing the density of road networks in urban areas (the proportion of total length of road to urban construction land area) conforms to enforceable regulations and standards. Develop the sustainable urban traffic system based on building and consistent connection of water and land transport systems.
+ Organize the urban traffic system which is separate from the international one by using detours, ring roads, collector roads and intersection systems. Minimize national highways running through city centers.
+ Organize the public traffic network in urban areas under the following principles: It is necessary that the public passenger transport type should be selected to exploit natural characteristics of urban areas in the region; prefer defining and developing various public transport types, including local water taxis and buses connecting Can Tho city with town-level urban areas in the region; enhance development of green and environmentally-friendly public transport types; restrict and gradually reduce use of personal transport vehicles.
- Rural traffic:
+ Invest in development of rural traffic systems in the region to ensure conformity with new rural construction criteria. Rural traffic network will be interlinked with provincial and national roads with the aim of meeting demands for transportation and agricultural and rural modernization.
+ Promote geographical and natural advantages of each local subdivision and develop the traffic system that has integrated functions in the water resource, agro-forestry and other economic sectors, and ensure effective throughput.
+ Construct and improve existing rural traffic routes, ensure that traffic is smooth, and quality of road surface and facilities built on roads must meet applicable technical standards.
8. Orientation towards development of other infrastructure systems:
a) Foundation height and surface water runoff
- Determine zones inflicted by inundation:
+ 1stzone that is a zone deeply flooded due to impacts of Mekong river floods of which the average depth is at least 2 meters, located to the North and running along Vietnam - Cambodia boundary, including most of Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle, and located within Long An, Dong Thap and An Giang province.
+ 2ndzone that is a zone averagely flooded due to impacts of Mekong river floods of which the average depth ranges from about 1m - 2m, and located within Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long province and Can Tho city.
+ 3rdzone that is a zone shallowly flooded due to impacts of both floods and high tides and encompasses Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long province, Can Tho city and Hau Giang province.
+ 4thzone that is a coastal zone inflicted by high tides.
- Construction foundation height:
+ Urban areas located within 1stand 2ndzone: Restrict earth filling, develop large concentrated urban areas, encourage directional development in parallel with the draining direction with the intention of reducing flood impacts on urban areas. Within urban areas with high construction density, it shall be necessary to carry out large-scale earth filling throughout the entire zone intended for construction of these urban areas in conjunction with building of anti-flood embankments; within rural areas with low construction density, it shall be necessary to carry out small-scale earth filling at each project, save unoccupied land for building lakes and connecting canals or ditches to facilitate water drainage.
+ Urban areas located within 3rdzone: It is advised that these urban areas be developed by adopting the compact city model; save vacant land for construction of lakes and connect canals and ditches to ensure effectiveness in water drainage.
+ Urban areas located within 4thzone: Develop urban areas on riverside and seaside arenosol and battue land. Within urban areas with high construction density, it shall be necessary to carry out large-scale earth filling of the entire zone intended for construction of these urban areas; within rural areas with low construction density, it shall be necessary to carry out small-scale earth filling at each project, save unoccupied land for building lakes and connecting canals or ditches to facilitate water drainage.
+ Within nature zones or those where residential density is low, calculate the allowed frequency of inundation as per regulations in force with the aim of reducing the excavation and earth filling volume and area and ensuring effectiveness in water drainage.
- Water surface runoff:
+ With respect to newly-constructed urban areas, build separate drainage and sewerage systems to reuse storm water and ensure cost-effective investments in wastewater treatment. With respect to old urban areas, improve the general drainage system and select solutions to building culverts with flow separation pits to collect wastewater carried to the centralized urban drainage station, and gradually separate the wastewater drainage system from the storm water one.
+ Improve and expand canals or channels and build balancing reservoirs inside build-up areas, protect and restore green spaces running along existing canals, ditches, rivers or streams.
- Flood and inundation prevention and control:
Flood prevention and control shall be carried out according to specialized planning schemes or anti-flood control planning schemes of specific local subdivisions. Build facilities controlling flood currents, anti-flood dykes and embankments, lakes with pumping stations and tidal barrage.
- Prevention and control of corrosion of river bank or seaside landslides:
+ Conduct observations and give warnings of zones facing high risks of landslide. Control and restrict mining of sand from rivers; dredge river beds to regulate flood flows which are prevented from causing any impacts on such river beds.
+ Apply proper measures to guard upstream protective forests running along Vietnam - Cambodia boundaries to retain water, reduce the speed of flood currents, and prevent floods from causing any corrosion destroying on natural surfaces.
b) Water supply
- Organize the water supply system to meet consumption demands for domestic and industrial tap water in the region under enforceable regulations. Ensure safety for water supply, conform to current and future conditions and minimize water loss.
- Mainly use surface water extracted from Tien and Hau river as sources of water supply for the region. Restrict use of groundwater supply, only use groundwater to supply water to dispersed areas having deficiencies in surface water, small-scale rural residential zones that are distant from the water supply network in the region.
- Total water consumption demand estimated by 2030 will be roughly 3,270,000 m3/day and night, including the volume of water consumed in urban areas which is estimated at about 1,890,000 m3/day and night, the volume of water consumed in concentrated rural areas which is estimated at about 750,000 m3/day and night, and the volume of water consumed for industrial purposes which is estimated at about 630,000 m3/day and night.
- Determine the water supply network on the basis of upgradation of existing water plants and build new water plants in order to meet water supply demands within urban areas having advantages in water sources. At coastal areas where surface water cannot be extracted, such as Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, etc., build regional-level water plants on a scale specific to salinity margins. At areas which have already had water plants having high capacity for supplying water for urban areas, and impounding reservoirs, such as Kien Giang, Long An, etc., build pipelines carrying raw water or water-carrying canals or ditches with the objectives of decreasing construction of large-scale concentrated water plants located at both sides of Hau and Tien river. Provide supplementary water supply from regional-level water plants for areas having great water consumption demands. It shall be necessary to find out proper installation of pumping stations on salinity margins according to specific climate change scenarios in large urban areas where water plants are affected by saltwater invasions. - Regional-level water plants will comprise Tien river I water plant (Tien Giang province) having the output volume of 300,000 m3/day and night; Tien river II water plant (Vinh Long province) 300,000 m3/day and night; the cluster of Hau river 1 water plant (Can Tho city) and Hau river water plant (Hau Giang province) having the output volume of 600,000 m3/day and night; Hau river II water plant (An Giang province) having the output volume of 300,000 m3/day and night; Hau river III water plant (An Giang province) having the output volume of 150,000 m3/day and night;
c) Power supply
- Build and improve electrical grids within the region connected with the national one in order to meet domestic and industrial power supply demands of the region according to the sector-specific power development planning (The master map No.VII) and the planning for development of local subdivisions within the region. Ensure sufficient, continual and safe power supply at the presence and in the future. Focus on promoting natural and eco-friendly renewable energy.
- Total power supply demand of the entire region is estimated at about 9,681 MW by 2030 (including about 7,019 MW of power supply to urban areas and about 3,504 MW of power supply for industrial uses).
- Power sources:
+ Existing power plants: Tra Noc (193.5 MW), O Mon (600 MW), Ca Mau (1,500 MW), Bac Lieu wind power (99 MW).
+ Proposed power plants: Duyen Hai (4,400 MW), Hau Giang (5,200 MW), Long Phu (3,600 MW), Kien Giang (4,400 MW), Long An (1,200 MW), An Giang (2,000 MW).
+ Wind farms located at Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre province.
- Electrical grids:
+ 500kV electrical grid:
. Improve the power generation capacity of existing 500 kV stations, such as O Mon, My Tho and Tra Vinh. Build new 500kV power stations, such as Duc Hoa, Thot Not, Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Kien Giang.
. Existing 500kV transmission lines, including Phu Lam - My Tho - O Mon, Nha Be - My Tho - Duyen Hai thermopower plant. Build new 500kV transmission lines such as Duc Hoa – Thot Not, Thot Not – Kien Giang, Thot Not – O Mon – Soc Trang, Duc Hoa – My Tho, My Tho – Hau Giang.
+ Renewable energy types: Develop the wind energy at areas located along the coast of East Sea; develop solar and biomass energy systems throughout the region.
d) Communications:
- Build and develop modern and safe communications infrastructure systems having large capacity, operating at high speed and reaching a large area, and constructing Can Tho city to become a high-quality communications service center across the region.
- Ensure that communications services have high quality and meet a variety of users’ demands.
- Gradually equip the entire region and the interprovincial, intra-provincial or local transmission network with optical wires, modern technologies and advanced transmission technologies. Develop mobile communications services which are oriented towards increasing capacity, extending and improving quality of coverage areas.
- Widely and effectively apply technology information for regulatory management, economical industries, social, cultural and national defence sectors.
dd) Water drainage and wastewater treatment:
- Total volume of wastewater in the entire region is estimated at about 1,735,243 m3/day by 2030, including about the volume of wastewater discharged from urban areas that are approximately 968,823 m3/day; the volume of wastewater discharged from industrial parks which is approximately 460,800 m3/day.
- All of class-V or higher-class urban areas, industrial parks and industrial clusters located upstream of Tien and Hau river, or from salinity margins on, must construct wastewater treatment zones that ensure that treated wastewater satisfies applicable sewage standards and conforms to standards applicable to industrial wastewater before being discharged into rivers. Urban areas located outside of the defence barrier. All of class-V or higher-class urban areas, industrial parks and industrial clusters located upstream of Tien and Hau river, or from salinity margins on, must construct wastewater treatment zones that ensure that treated wastewater satisfies applicable sewage standards and conforms to standards applicable to industrial wastewater before being discharged into rivers. Landfills and solid waste treatment complexes located upstream of Hau and Tien river (from salinity margins on) must have built-in leachate treatment zones satisfying applicable standards.
- Planning solutions:
+ Urban areas: Apply modern wastewater treatment technologies in urban areas, especially town-level cities and Can Tho city. Maintain shared discharge sewer systems inside existing urban areas, build flow-split sewer systems to carry wastewater to treatment stations, and gradually build separate wastewater drainage systems. Build separate wastewater drainage systems inside new urban areas.
+ Rural areas: Build shared water (both storm water and wastewater) drainage systems inside business districts and concentrated residential clusters. Treat wastewater by applying the biological process at lakes and canals.
+ Industrial zones or clusters: Separate storm water and wastewater drainage systems, build wastewater treatment and clarification stations meeting the Vietnamese regulation QCVN40/2011 before discharge into environment.
e) Solid waste treatment and cemeteries
- Solid waste treatment
+ Total amount of solid waste is estimated at about 19,424 tons/days by 2030, including that of household solid waste, which is expected to be about 7,076 tons/day; that of industrial solid waste which is expected to be 4,800 tons/day.
+ Collection and treatment of solid waste are carried out on a provincial scale. Build solid waste treatment zones transporting solid waste within a province at a distance of less than 40 km; on a scale of 40 - 50 ha for collection and treatment of solid waste within cities or towns. It is necessary to set up the planning for construction of hazardous solid waste landfills inside solid waste treatment zones in accordance with regulations on management of hazardous solid waste. Within rural districts, construct solid waste treatment zones transporting solid waste within a district at a distance of less than 20 km; on a scale of 10 - 20 ha for collection and treatment of solid waste within tow lets and rural areas.
- Cemeteries: Build cemeteries on a provincial or district scale which accord with native customs or practices.
9. Strategic environment assessment:
a) General solutions to preventing, mitigating and correcting impacts and risks:
- Develop and remediate ecosystems and biodiversity for sustainable and adaptable development of the region. Set up the land use and spatial planning based on ecosystem and conservation approaches; create buffer zones and exercise hydrographical management and edaphic defence; plant coastal protective forests to a large extent, implement integrated sea land reclamation and mangrove forest planting programs.
- Perform general water management and promote security for water resources. Set up the planning for natural lakes and ponds, actively store and control water within the region, and use water in a circular and economical manner. Diversify water supply sources to take active control of freshwater sources for household and production purposes; enhance use of storm water and restore groundwater.
- Develop the economy based on effective management and use of natural resources; strengthen application of technologies and technical sciences to save water, energy and protect land intended for agricultural and urban development purposes. Consistently develop the water and road transport system to meet transportation demands and ensure effective use of natural resources.
- Reduce pollution during the process of urban development by modernizing wastewater and solid waste treatment technologies, and boost garbage treatment activities. Protect natural landscapes and green spaces at the regional and urban level. Absolutely treat waste, control and oversee environmental pollution affecting urban, rural zones and industrial parks during the process of infrastructure construction. With respect to solid waste treatment zones, prioritize projects where advanced and modern garbage treatment technologies are used. Urban sewage and industrial wastewater must be treated in conformity with stipulated standard requirements before draining into environment.
- Find more green and renewable energy, and gradually replace fossil energy with renewable energy that is of sustainability.
b) Programs and plans for environmental monitoring in technical, managerial and surveying aspects:
- Put forward the program for general management of basins of Tien and Hau river.
- Set up the program for control of environmental pollution caused by waste disposed of from urban areas, industrial parks and clusters, and transportation activities, etc.
- Establish the system for monitoring of quality of environment in the region, the system of surveying and early warning of climate change, including warning of sea levels and abnormal river water level rise or prolonged drought.
Regulatory framework for regional development:
Gradually research and develop regional development policies which address the following 06 main groups:
- Enhance mutual cooperation between local subdivisions in the region on investment in development of socio-economic infrastructure, engineering infrastructure and environmental protection.
- Foster urban and industrial development and use land in an economical and effective manner.
- Provide finances for regional infrastructure development.
- Stimulate human resource development to ensure balanced and uniform production forces in the region.
- Encourage rural and agricultural production development.
- Grant particular policies and mechanisms to Ho Chi Minh city.
10. Investment preference programs and projects:
Prioritize development of projects of national significance and regional ones which is the main driving force in spreading such development to Sub-regions within the region. Concentrate on giving priority for investment in projects that play their role as the driving force for socio-economic development of the region and provinces thereof specific to particular sectors:
- As regards engineering infrastructure, prioritize development of framework engineering infrastructure having international, national and regional connections, including expressway routes such as Ho Chi Minh city – Trung Luong – Can Tho – Ca Mau; Ha Tien – Rach Gia – Bac Lieu; Chau Doc – Can Tho – Soc Trang; water transport routes and class-I and class-II seaports. Develop water resources management facilities to build areas intended for management of inundation and storage of freshwater in Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle; interprovincial water resources, flood control and salinity invasion prevention projects. Build and improve regional-level water plants, including interprovincial clusters of water plants such as Hau River 1 and Hau River, Hau River 2 and Tien River 2.
- As regards social infrastructure, invest in key medical, educational and training, cultural, sports and physical activity projects at the regional level in Can Tho city and key urban areas within Sub-regions.
- As regards trading, service, science, technology and tourism, prioritize major projects within Sub-regions, which are connected with major traffic junctions.
- As regards agricultural economic and rural development, prioritize investments in development of agricultural economic zones applying high technologies. Develop large-scale mono-cropping areas, high-quality rice cultivation areas and those intended for growing fruits, raising fish having high economic value.
Article 2. Cooperation responsibilities and implementation organization
1. Regional development management model:
Establish the Government-controlled Steering Committee that is an entity giving the Prime Minister advice on performing his directive and managerial tasks in developing the Mekong Delta region. The Steering Committee shall be assigned duties to organize and cooperate with Ministries, centrally-governed sectoral departments and local jurisdictions within the region in implementation under the Proposal for revision of the regional construction planning for the Mekong Delta region by 2030 with vision to 2050.
2. Authorities of ministries and sectoral administrations:
- The Ministry of Construction: Conduct examination and inspection of implementation of the specified Planning; organize activities helping to review and revise the Planning under the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister. Cooperate with ministries, sectoral administrations, People’s Committees of provinces and cities in the region on monitoring of implementation of the Planning. Prepare the proposed list of construction planning schemes for the purpose of actualizing the Planning for submission to the Prime Minister to request his review and grant of his decision. Collaborate with the Ministry of Home Affairs in preparing the proposal for establishment of the Steering Committee and the regional Council.
- The Ministry of Planning and Investment: Collaborate with the Ministry of Finance and Ministries or sectoral administrations in compilation of the list of investment projects and preparation of regulatory policies concerning finances to call for investments in key engineering socio-economic infrastructure facilities within the region.
- The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training: Collaborate with ministries, sectoral administrations and local jurisdictions in developing plans, solutions and regulatory policies and mechanisms for development of regional social infrastructure within their jurisdiction in order to share opportunities for gaining benefits from health, educational and training services between Mekong Delta provinces.
- The Ministry of Transport: Focus on executing projects for development of significant traffic infrastructure in the region, prioritize development of expressway, water transport routes and seaports in line with key urban areas within the region.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment: Cooperate with the Ministry of Construction, ministries, sectoral administrations and local jurisdictions in revision of the planning and plan to use land in conformity with the approved planning.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: Cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and local jurisdictions in review of the planning schemes for prevention and control of floods and salinity invasion with a view to adjusting and supplementing functions relating to land use, effective operation of unoccupied land pieces and riverside landscapes to stimulate socio-economic development, and assuring anti-flood safety. Release instructions for exploitation of unoccupied land pieces located along the river banks and sea coasts.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs:
- Preside over and collaborate with the Ministry of Construction and local jurisdictions in the region in preparation of the proposal for establishment of the Steering Committee.
- Collaborate with ministries, sectoral administrations and local jurisdictions in study, review, revision and supplementation of legislative documents related to regulatory institutions, policies, mechanisms and directions for regional development.
- Establish, revise and supplement planning schemes and strategies for sectoral development in accordance with the approved planning within their jurisdiction and competence.
- Organize activities to review and revise relevant planning schemes within the jurisdiction of each province, city and implement activities specified in programs and projects after the Planning is approved.
Article 3.This Decision takes effect on the signing date.
The Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defence; People s Committee of Can Tho city, Long An province, Tien Giang province, Ben Tre province, Dong Thap province, Vinh Long province, Tra Vinh province, Hau Giang province, An Giang province, Soc Trang province, Kien Giang province, Bac Lieu province, Ca Mau province, and Heads of relevant entities shall implement this Decision./.
For the Prime Minister
The Deputy Minister
Trinh Dinh Dung