Decision 1086/QD-TTg 2023 aprove Master Plan of Yen Bai for 2021-2030

DECISION

Approving the Master Plan of Yen Bai province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the November 24, 2017 Planning Law; the June 15, 2018 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of Eleven Laws Concerning Planning; and the November 20, 2018 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of Thirty-Seven Laws Concerning Planning;

Pursuant to the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 61/2022/QH15 of June 16, 2022, on continuing to enhance the effect and effectiveness of planning policies and laws and a number of solutions for removing difficulties and obstacles, accelerating the formulation and improving the quality of master plans for the 2021-2030 period;

Pursuant to the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 81/2023/QH15 of January 9, 2023, on the National Overall Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2019/ND-CP of May 7, 2019, detailing a number of articles of the Planning Law; and the Government’s Decree No. 58/2023/ND-CP of August 12, 2023, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government’s Decree No. 37/2019/ND-CP of May 7, 2019, detailing a number of articles of the Planning Law;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP of February 5, 2018, on organizing the implementation of the Planning Law;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1421/QD-TTg of September 17, 2020, approving the task of formulating the Master Plan of Yen Bai province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050;

Pursuant to Appraisal Report No. 422/BC-HDTD of January 17, 2023, of the Council for Appraisal of Provincial Master Plans, on the appraisal of the Master Plan of Yen Bai province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, and its Strategic Environmental Assessment Report;

At the proposal of the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province in Report No. 79/TTr-UBND of August 24, 2023, on approval of the Master Plan of Yen Bai province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050; opinions of the Council for Appraisal of Provincial Master Plans in Document No. 3935/CV-HDTD of May 25, 2023; and opinions of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Document No. 4858/BKHDT-QLQH of June 23, 2023, and Document No. 7191/BKHDT-QLQH of August 31, 2023.

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Master Plan on Yen Bai province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050 (below referred to as the Master Plan), with the following major contents:

I. SCOPE AND BOUNDARY OF THE MASTER PLAN

The scope and boundary of the Master Plan embrace the whole administrative boundary of Yen Bai province, with a total natural area of​​6,892.67 km², with 9 district-level administrative units including: Yen Bai city, Nghia Lo town and 7 districts (Mu Cang Chai, Tram Tau, Van Chan, Van Yen, Tran Yen, Luc Yen and Yen Binh). The province’s geographical coordinates are from 21°24’ to 22°16’ north latitude and from 103°56’ to 105°03’ east longitude. Yen Bai province borders on Ha Giang, Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces to the north and northwest; Phu Tho province to the south; Tuyen Quang province to the east; and Son La province to the west and southwest.

II. DEVELOPMENT VIEWPOINTS, GOALS AND BREAKTHROUGHS

1. Development viewpoints

a/ Conforming with the Party’s line, guidelines and orientations, the national socio-economic development strategy for the 2021-2030 period, National Overall Master Plan, national sectoral master plans, and the Master Plan of the Northern midland and mountainous region for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

b/ Renewing the growth model, building and developing Yen Bai province on the basis of exploiting and effectively using its resources, potential and advantages; promoting the application of science and technology, digital transformation and innovation, improving competitiveness, and creating motivation for rapid and sustainable development; harmoniously developing economic regions; making the private economic sector truly become an important driving force of the economy.

c/ Closely combining economic development with cultural and social development, environmental protection, effective use of resources, proactive response to disasters, and adaptation to climate change; paying attention to economic, cultural and social development in highland, ethnic minority and mountainous areas; reducing poverty quickly and sustainably, effectively implementing social security policies, ensuring social progress and justice, and improving the quality of life and happiness index of the people.

d/ Closely combining socio-economic development with consolidating and enhancing national defense and security potential and building a strong political system; improving the effectiveness of external affairs, expanding international integration in a comprehensive, extensive, flexible and effective manner, with the focus placed on international economic integration, and maximizing the exploitation of international resources for socio-economic development.

2. Development goals up to 2030

a/ General goals

To promote the strength of great unity, the spirit of self-reliance and the desire for development; to effectively exploit all potential and advantages; to promote the application of science and technology, digital transformation, and innovation; to mobilize and effectively use all resources for rapid, comprehensive and sustainable development in the direction of “green, harmony, identity and happiness”; to bring into full play the value of national cultural identity and develop Yen Bai people to be “friendly, compassionate, united, creative, and ready for international integration”; to protect the ecological environment, effectively use resources, proactively respond to disasters, and adapt to climate change; to strengthen national defense and security, maintain political security, and ensure social order and safety. To strive to bring Yen Bai province into the group of top 5 developed provinces in the Northern midland and mountainous region.

b/ Specific goals

- Economic goals

+ The average growth rate of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) will reach 8.5%/year.

+ Economic structure: Agro-forestry-fisheries will account for about 14.8%; industry-construction, about 39%; services, about 41.5%; and taxes less subsidies on products, about 4.7%.

+ The per-capita GRDP will surpass VND 125 million.

+ The state budget revenue will increase by an average of 15%-18%/year.

+ The society’s total development investment capital in the 2021-2030 period will reach around VND 280 trillion. The average contribution of total development investment capital to GRDP will be 43%-48%.

+ Digital economy will account for 13.5% of GRDP.

+ The urbanization rate will reach 28%-30%.

+ The average social labor productivity will increase by 7.3%/year.

- Social goals

+ The average population growth rate will reach 0.92%/year.

+ The average life expectancy will reach 75 years; the number of healthy life years will be at least 68.

+ The happiness index will increase by 25% compared to the 2020’s figure.

+ The rate of trained workers will reach 75%, in which the rate of trained workers possessing diplomas or certificates will be 45%.

+ The rate of labor restructuring from the agriculture sector to non-agriculture sectors will be 2%/year and 1.5%/year in the 2021-2025 period and 2026-2030 period, respectively.

+ The poverty rate will decrease by an average of 3.3%/year in the 2022-2025 period as measured by the multidimensional poverty standards and by an average of 2-2.5%/year in the 2026-2030 period as measured by the poverty standards applicable to each period.

+ There will be 15 medical doctors and 37 hospital beds per 10,000 people; the health insurance coverage rate will surpass 97%.

+ By 2030, there will be 7 district-level administrative units meeting new-style countryside standards or having completed the building of new-style countryside with one of them meeting model new-style countryside standards and 2 others meeting advanced new-style countryside standards; 90% of communes will meet new-style countryside standards, of which 40% will meet advanced new-style countryside standards and 20% will meet model new-style countryside standards.

- Regarding people’s living standards and environmental protection

+ 95% of the urban population will be provided with clean water through centralized water supply systems; 50% of rural population will have access to clean water up to quality standards.

+ Over 95% of urban solid waste will be collected and treated. To strive for the target that 100% of urban solid waste will be collected and treated by traditional incineration method and incineration with energy recovery and enhance the ability to recycle, reuse, and combine treatment with organic fertilizer production.

+ Over 60% of rural solid waste will be collected. To strive for the target that the whole volume of collected rural solid waste will be treated at centralized facilities. To make the fullest use of organic waste in the volume of rural solid waste not yet collected and treated at centralized facilities for re-use or recycling into compost or household-based treatment into compost for on-the-spot use, ensuring hygiene.

+ 95% of medical waste will be treated.

+ 100% of industrial solid waste will be treated.

+ The rate of collected and treated wastewater will be 100% in urban residential areas and 75% in rural residential areas.

+ 100% of industrial parks will have centralized wastewater collection and treatment systems meeting environmental technical regulations.

+ The forest coverage rate will be kept stable at about 63%.

3. Development vision toward 2050

To strive to make Yen Bai become a province which is developed in a comprehensive, sustainable, green, and harmonious manner while ensuring identity and happiness; belongs to the group of top developed provinces in the Northern midlands and mountainous region, and is a model of green development for the region and the whole country. To develop socio-economic and urban infrastructure systems to be synchronous, smart and modern; to preserve and promote cultural identities of ethnic groups; to protect the ecological environment; to ensure the harmony between society and nature and happy life for people; to firmly guarantee national defense and security.

4. Development breakthroughs

a/ To renew and improve socio-economic development mechanisms and policies; to delegate and decentralize power in a reasonable and effective manner in association with increasing inspection, examination, supervision and control of power; to promote digital transformation and administrative reform, strongly improve the business investment environment, attract investment, and develop economic sectors.

b/ To develop human resources, especially high-quality human resources, focusing on improving the quality of human resources in agriculture and rural areas, and human resources in ethnic minority areas; to build a contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees at all levels and in all sectors to meet task requirements.

c/ To promote the application of scientific and technological advances in socio-economic management and development. To develop training services in association with research and application of scientific and technological advances to production and business activities, following the business-centered approach and gradually developing scientific and technological services into a sector with important contributions to the growth and development of the province.

d/ To mobilize and effectively use investment resources, first of all public investment; to attract as much as possible social resources for investment in building synchronous and modern socio-economic infrastructure systems, focusing on transport infrastructure (for intra-regional connection and connection to the Red River Delta and Hanoi Capital region), hydraulic work; urban infrastructure, industrial parks and cottage industry zones; information technology, telecommunications and digital transformation infrastructure; infrastructure linking rural areas with urban areas, linking agriculture with industry and services, and regional linkage, meeting development requirements; to effectively and sustainably use natural resources, especially land resources, water resources, mineral resources, etc.

III. ORIENTATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF IMPORTANT SECTORS AND FIELDS AND PLANS FOR ORGANIZATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

1. Orientations for development of important sectors and fields

a/ Agriculture, forestry and fisheries

To focus on restructuring the agriculture sector toward improving quality, efficiency and added value, promoting the development of rural economy in association with building modern and sustainable new-style countryside. To encourage the development of green, clean, organic agriculture and hi-tech, smart agriculture. To develop multi-purpose forestry, improve the quality and efficiency of large timber plantations and grow medicinal plants under the forest canopy. To promote comparative advantages and diversity of ecological areas, develop key, specialty, organic products, products under the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) Program associated with development of tourism, services, processing industry, and product preservation and sale, thus meeting domestic and export demands. To form and develop value chain-based production linkage models; to attract and encourage businesses and cooperatives to invest in the production, processing and sale of agricultural products.

b/ Industry

To develop industry toward sustainability, efficiency and eco-friendliness. To focus on developing key industries and cottage industries with competitive advantages such as: agro-forestry product processing associated with exploitation and development of raw material areas, focusing on hi-tech plantation wood processing, thus turning Yen Bai into one of the forest product processing centers of the Northern midland and mountainous region; exploitation and deep processing of minerals and production of high-quality construction materials; mechanics, electronics, supporting industries; and clean energy and renewable energy; at the same time, to reasonably develop a number of industries capable of employing a large number of local workers such as textile-garment and leather-footwear. To prioritize hi-tech, resource- and energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and biotech industrial projects. To continue to support the development of rural industry and craft villages associated with agro-forestry product processing and sale. To promote the development of value chain-based production, closely linking industry with agriculture and related service sectors such as trade, transport, logistics, import-export, etc.

c/ Services

- To concentrate resources on developing a number of service sectors that have potential and advantages such as tourism, trade, education, vocational training, medicine, health care, finance, banking, logistics, transport, etc., toward modernity, professionalism, efficiency, and improvement of quality and competitiveness.

- Tourism: To develop green, unique, attractive tourism, turning it into an important economic sector; to improve tourism infrastructure, and develop high-quality and diverse tourism routes and tourism products, making Yen Bai one of the top tourist destinations in the Northwest region bearing the brand “safe, friendly, unique, attractive and impressive destination”. To concentrate investment in developing some types of tourism such as: ecotourism, experiential tourism; leisure tourism; cultural-historical-religious tourism; and community-based tourism. To attach importance to developing tourism associated with agriculture, preservation and promotion of the value of national cultural identity, cultural heritages and scenic spots, etc.

- Trade and logistics: To develop trade, especially e-commerce toward modernity, civilization, and rapid and sustainable growth, acting as an important factor linking and promoting socio-economic development. To develop the system of modern trade infrastructure that operate based on digitalization technology. To develop logistics into one of growth pillars of the service sector, striving to build Yen Bai into one of logistic centers of the Northern midland and mountainous region.

2. Plan for organizing socio-economic activities; areas restricted from development and plan for arranging district-level administrative units

a/ Plan for organizing socio-economic activities

- Forming economic axes

+ North-South vertical axes

The first axis will run along the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (expressway 05), the Hanoi-Lao Cai railway route and the inland waterway route along the Red River (Lao Cai-Yen Bai-Viet Tri-Hanoi), be the backbone economic axis of the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh economic corridor, pass through the central region of Yen Bai province (embracing Yen Bai city and Tran Yen and Van Yen districts); and be planned for multi-sectoral economic development, and development of supporting industries, logistics, trade, education, healthcare, tourism and ecological agriculture.

The second axis will run along National Highway 70, passing through the center of the eastern region of Yen Bai province (embracing Yen Binh and Luc Yen districts); and be planned for development of urban areas, industry, tourism, forestry and pharmaceuticals.

The third axis will run along National Highway 32, passing  through the center of the western region of the province (embracing Nghia Lo town and Van Chan, Mu Cang Chai and Tram Tau districts); and be planned for development, eco-tourism, leisure and wellness tourism, adventure tourism, ecological agriculture, trade and services, etc.

+ East-West horizontal axes

The fourth axis will be formed by upgrading provincial roads 175 and 174 and Tram Tau (Yen Bai)-Bac Yen (Son La) road into National Highway 32D which will be connected to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway through interchange 14, connecting Tram Tau, Van Chan and Van Yen districts and Nghia Lo town with Bac Yen district of Son La province; and from interchange 14 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway, horizontally connect from east to west, linking Yen Binh and Luc Yen districts to Bac Quang district of Ha Giang province, along the route connecting the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway to Ha Giang province (expressway 12) as planned; and be planned for development of supporting industries, logistics, tourism, urban areas, ecological agriculture and forestry.

The fifth axis will run along the newly formed traffic axis connecting Mu Cang Chai district to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway at interchange 15 and Van Yen district (the inter-regional route connecting Muong La district (Son La province), Than Uyen and Tan Uyen districts (Lai Chau province), and Mu Cang Chai, Van Chan and Van Yen districts (Yen Bai provice) to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (interchange 15), existing provincial roads and planned routes (Khanh Hoa-Van Yen, provincial road 171 to Bac Quang district, Ha Giang province); and be planned for development of tourism, industry, services, logistics and forestry.

The sixth axis will run along National Highway 37 and be the southern corridor of Yen Bai province (embracing Yen Bai city and Yen Binh, Tran Yen and Van Chan districts); and be planned for development of trade, logistics, education, health and tourism.

- To form 2 important centers to act as the driving force for economic development: Yen Bai city-Yen Binh district and Nghia Lo town

+ Yen Bai city-Yen Binh district will be a political, administrative, cultural, science-technology, health, education, services, tourism hub.

+ Nghia Lo town will be an urban center of culture and heritages associated with trade, services, tourism, ecological agriculture, hi-tech agriculture, etc.

- To form socio-economic areas according to the natural status and new development trends and orientations

+ The economic area of Yen Bai city (embracing Yen Bai city and Tran Yen and Van Yen districts): To be developed into one of the driving-force economic centers of the province with Yen Bai city becoming one of the economic centers on the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh economic corridor; the economic engine of the province; a political, administrative, industry, trade, service, tourism, science-technology, education, culture, sports and health hub.

+ The western economic area (embracing Nghia Lo town and Van Chan, Mu Cang Chai and Tram Tau districts): To be developed into one of the driving-force economic centers of the province with Nghia Lo town becoming a cultural-tourist town, an economic, cultural, trade, service and tourism hub of the region; Van Chan district becoming a driving-force center for economic development in the western area; and Mu Cang Chai district becoming a tourist district.

+ The eastern economic area (embracing Yen Binh and Luc Yen districts): To develop industrial parks specialized in exploitation and intensive processing of minerals and production of high-quality construction materials in Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts; to develop the national tourist site of Thac Ba lake to become one of the key tourist centers of the Northern midland and mountainous region.

- Sector-based development orientations

+ Key agricultural economic development areas: (i) commercial rice production areas in Nghia Lo town and Van Chan, Van Yen, Luc Yen, Tran Yen and Yen Binh districts; (ii) specialized cassava growing areas in Van Yen, Yen Binh, Van Chan and Luc Yen districts; (iii) concentrated vegetable growing areas in Yen Bai city, Nghia Lo town and Van Yen and Mu Cang Chai districts; (iv) concentrated mulberry growing and silkworm farming areas in Tran Yen, Van Yen and Van Chan districts; (v) fruit tree growing areas in Nghia Lo town and Van Chan, Tran Yen, Van Yen, Luc Yen, Yen Binh, Mu Cang Chai and Tram Tau districts; (vi) concentrated tea growing areas in Van Chan, Yen Binh, Tran Yen, Luc Yen, Tram Tau and Nghia Lo districts; (vii) rubber growing areas in Van Chan and Van Yen districts; (viii) concentrated livestock production areas in Van Yen, Van Chan, Luc Yen, Yen Binh, Tran Yen, Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai districts; and (ix) specialized aquaculture areas in Yen Binh, Tran Yen, Luc Yen, Van Yen and Van Chan districts, etc.

+ Key forestry economic development areas: (i) cinnamon growing areas in Van Yen, Tran Yen, Van Chan and Luc Yen districts; (ii) Bat Do bamboo growing areas in Tran Yen, Van Yen, Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts; (iii) medlar growing areas in Mu Cang Chai and Tram Tau districts; (iv) macadamia growing areas in Van Chan and Mu Cang Chai districts and other districts with suitable conditions; and (v) raw-material plantations and large-timber plantations in Van Chan, Van Yen, Tran Yen, Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts, etc.

+ Combined agricultural production and tourism development areas: (i) the area of Thac Ba lake and along Chay river: to focus on developing rice fields and fruit tree, medicinal plant and tea growing, and aquaculture; (ii) the area of Yen Bai city and vicinities: to develop traditional products such as organic tea and vegetables up to food safety standards, and aquaculture; (iii) the western area: to conserve and maintain the space of Muong Lo fields; and develop terraced rice fields and flower, medicinal plant, fruit tree, tea and cinnamon growing; and (iv) the northern Tran Yen-Van Yen area: to develop medicinal plant and cinnamon growing, mulberry farming and silkworm raising, and aquaculture.

+ Industrial development areas: (i) the central industrial development area: along the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh economic corridor, connecting to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway at Yen Bai city and Tran Yen and Van Yen districts; (ii) the eastern industrial development area: along National Highway 70 and the road connecting the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (interchange 14) with Ha Giang (expressway 12) at Yen Binh and Luc Yen districts.

(Details are provided in Appendix I to this Decision).

b/ Areas restricted from development

- Nature conservation areas; biodiversity corridors; agricultural and forestry areas serving as ecological belts: To restrict urban development and economic activities with a high risk of environmental impacts.

- Areas for conservation and embellishment of architectural works, historical-cultural relics and scenic spots in the province: To restrict economic activities with high environmental impacts.

- Areas along rivers and streams affected by floods and flashfloods: To restrict urban development and relocate residents to safe areas.

c/ Plan on reorganization of district-level administrative units

Yen Bai province has 9 district-level administrative units, including: 1 city, 1 town and 7 districts which shall be reorganized in the 2023-2030 period as follows:

- The 2023-2025 period: There are no district-level administrative units subject to reorganization.

- The 2026-2030 period: To reorganize district-level administrative units whose land area and population criteria are concurrently less than 100% of the law-prescribed levels; and district-level administrative units whose land area criterion is less than 30% of the law-prescribed level and population criterion is less than 200% of the law-prescribed level.

IV. PLANNING ON THE SYSTEM OF URBAN CENTERS AND RURAL AREAS AND FUNCTIONAL AREAS

1. Planning on the system of urban centers and rural areas

a/ Planning on the urban center system

By 2030, the province will have 26 urban centers, including:

- One grade-II urban center (Yen Bai city): To develop synchronous and modern socio-economic infrastructure, meeting grade-II urban criteria, being an administrative, political, economic, culture, health and education center of Yen Bai province; a cultural and biological urban center combined with economic development in which industry supports the development of agriculture and services bearing typical identities of the northern mountainous provinces; a center for exchange and connection between the Northwest region and the Northeast region and between the Northern midland and mountainous region and the Hanoi capital and Northern delta region; an important transportation hub associated with the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh economic corridor.

- One grade-III urban center (Nghia Lo town): To be a sustainable ecological and humanistic cultural tourism area, associated with protection and promotion of the value of heritages ​​and natural landscapes; and a satellite urban center in the chain of urban centers along the East-West corridor.

- Four grade-IV urban centers: Yen Binh township (Yen Binh district), Yen The township (Luc Yen district), Co Phuc township (Tran Yen district), and Mau A township (Van Yen district).

- Twenty grade-V urban centers: 3 townships being district-level administrative centers (Mu Cang Chai, Son Thinh and Tram Tau); 2 agricultural farm township (Lien Son and Tran Phu), Van Chan district; 1 district township (Thac Ba), Yen Binh district; 14 new urban centers (Hung Khanh, Bao Dap and Van Hoi, Tran Yen district; An Thinh, Xuan Ai and An Binh (Trai Hut), Van Yen district; Khanh Hoa, Luc Yen district; Cam An and Cam Nhan, Yen Binh district; Tu Le, Cat Thinh, Tan Thinh and Gia Hoi, Van Chan district; and Pung Luong, Mu Cang Chai district).

b/ Planning on rural areas

- The arrangement and reorganization of rural development space must ensure efficient use of land, save costs for investment in infrastructure, improve material conditions for people, ensure convenience in production and long-term stability, and avoid areas highly prone to landslides and flashfloods.

- For large urban centers (Yen Bai city and Nghia Lo town): To develop rural areas to be synchronous, modern and green, mainly developing new and specialized industries such as cottage industries, construction and services, and hi-tech agricultural production activities.

- For districts

+ To develop high-quality rice production areas in Nghia Lo town (Muong Lo rice field); Van Yen district (Dai Phu An-Dong Cuong rice field); Luc Yen district (Muong Lai-Vinh Lac-Lieu Do and Mai Son-Khanh Thien rice fields); and Tran Yen, Yen Binh and Van Chan districts.

+ To develop concentrated cassava growing areas in Van Yen, Van Chan and Yen Binh districts; concentrated Bat Do bamboo growing areas in Tran Yen, Van Yen, Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts; medlar growing areas under the canopy of protection forests in Mu Cang Chai and Tram Tau districts.

+ To develop concentrated specialized fruit tree growing areas in Van Chan district, Nghia Lo town (citrus fruit trees), Luc Yen district (king orange, custard apple), Yen Binh district (grapefruit and banana), Van Chan and Van Yen districts (longan and banana), and Mu Cang Chai (plum, pear and peach).

+ To develop concentrated specialized tea growing areas in Van Chan, Yen Binh, Tran Yen and Luc Yen districts; concentrated mulberry growing and silkworm raising in Tran Yen, Van Yen and Van Chan districts; medicinal plant growing areas in Van Chan, Tram Tau, Mu Cang Chai, Yen Binh and Van Yen districts; and concentrated cinnamon growing areas in Van Yen, Van Chan, Tran Yen, Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts.

+ To develop concentrated livestock production areas in Van Yen, Van Chan, Luc Yen, Yen Binh, Tran Yen, Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai districts; and concentrated aquaculture areas in the districts of Yen Binh, Tran Yen, Luc Yen, Van Yen and Van Chan, etc.

+ To maintain rubber growing areas in Van Chan and Van Yen districts; to develop raw material plantations in all localities of the province.

- Craft village development: To restore and develop craft villages located in rural residential areas, harmoniously combining traditional techniques with modern technologies; to develop rural cottage industry in conformity with the conditions of each locality and preserve identities of ethnic groups.

- Rural residential areas: To form medium- and large-scale concentrated residential areas closely linked with the urban network so as to accelerate the process of urbanization and economic development associated with agro-forestry-fisheries production areas in conformity with practical conditions of each locality and development orientations of the province.

c/ Plan on reorganization of urban administrative units: Based on the law-prescribed criteria, in the 2023-2025 period, Yen Bai province has 1 grade-V urban center being Tram Tau township, Tram Tau district, subject to reorganization. However, as Tram Tau township has an important position in terms of national defense and security, it shall not be reorganized.

3. Planning on functional areas

a/ The system of industrial parks and cottage industry zones

- Industrial parks: By 2030, to maintain the area of the 3 industrial parks of Southern, Au Lau and Tran Yen; to expand the area of ​​Minh Quan industrial park; and plan the construction of 4 industrial parks, namely Y Can, Dong An, Thinh Hung and Luc Yen.

- Cottage industry zones: By 2030, to maintain the area of ​6 cottage industry zones which are Thinh Hung, Son Thinh, Bao Dap, Hung Khanh, Dong An and Minh Quan; plan the development of 16 cottage industry zones; to remove 3 cottage industry zones of Dam Hong, Bao Hung and Tay Cau Mau A from the master plan on cottage industry zones; to expand 2 cottage industry zones of Au Lau and Yen The; and reduce the area of ​​Bac Van Yen cottage industry zone.

(Details are provided in Appendices II and III to this Decision).

b/ Hi-tech agricultural production areas

To form and develop concentrated hi-tech agricultural production areas to minimize the intensive use of labor and land; to focus on attracting and investing in capital- and technology-intensive production and creating a momentum for socio-economic development. To plan the development of hi-tech agricultural production area such as: tea growing area in Van Chan district; fruit tree growing areas in Van Chan and Yen Binh districts; vegetable growing area in Yen Bai city; pig and poultry farming areas in Van Yen, Van Chan, Yen Binh, Luc Yen and Tran Yen districts; and aquaculture area on Thac Ba lake; to build a hi-tech forestry production area in Tran Yen district.

c/ Tourist sites

- To focus on attracting investment in building 2 large-scale tourist sites with outstanding brands, creating spillover effects for the province’s tourism development and striving to meet standards and criteria applicable to national tourist sites. These tourist sites include Thac Ba lake national tourist site and Mu Cang Chai national tourist site.

- To invest in developing provincial-level tourist sites: Suoi Giang tourist site (Van Chan district); Tram Tau tourist site (Tram Tau district); Van Yen tourist site (Van Yen district); Van Hoi lake tourist site (Tran Yen district); and Nghia Lo cultural tourist site (Nghia Lo town).

- To invest in golf courses in Thac Ba lake area in Luc Yen and Yen Binh districts; and eco-tourism golf resorts in Dam Hau lake area, Minh Quan commune, and Van Hoi and Viet Hong communes, Tran Yen district.

d/ Research and training zones

- To expand the production workshop and science and technology research, experiment, transfer and application facility in Yen Bai city. To encourage the mobilization of social resources for investment in and upgrading of physical foundations and equipment; to practice autonomy in management and administration, and connect with businesses so as to ensure that workers are trained and updated with knowledge and skills to meet the needs of businesses.

- To develop Yen Bai College for training human resources with high technical expertise in the fields of culture, tourism, health and pedagogy. To renew and organize activities of vocational intermediate schools and the network of vocational education establishments with a reasonable scale in conformity with development orientations.

dd/ Conservation areas

To conduct conservation associated with development of eco-tourism, experiential  tourism and discovery tours in Na Hau nature reserve, Mu Cang Chai species and habitat conservation area, and ancient Shan Tuyet tea area; to embellish and restore historical and cultural relics and scenic spots in the locality.

e/ Military and security zones

To comply with regulations of the Prime Minister, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security and other current regulations.

g/ Plan on development of areas with the driving-force role

Areas that have a high urbanization rate, make up a large proportion to the province’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) and have spillover effects on production activities to peripheral areas and other areas in the province include Yen Bai city, Nghia Lo town and Yen Binh and Van Yen districts. In these areas, major economic activities cover processing industry, tourism, trade, production support services and hi-tech agriculture, etc.

h/ Plan on development of areas with difficult or extremely difficult conditions

- To prioritize agro-forestry production development, and select a number of suitable plants and animals; to build medium-sized farm-based economic development models to attract local workers.

- To relocate residents in disaster-frequented areas to clusters of communes and areas capable of receiving such residents.

- To increase the attraction of and mobilize investment capital sources, and incorporate funding sources in national target programs and other programs and projects for investment in socio-economic infrastructure and production development. To complete transport infrastructure to commune centers, village roads, water supply and drainage, waste treatment and power infrastructure facilities and other infrastructure facilities.

- To accelerate the implementation of health, culture and education policies, contributing to raising population quality; to promote vocational education and training for people in remote and deep-lying areas and areas with extremely difficult conditions to supply workers to concentrated production areas, industrial parks and cottage industry zones so as to accelerate labor restructuring.

- To promulgate a number of specific policies to support ethnic minority people, prioritize human resource development, job creation and income increase for ethnic minority children after their graduation.

V. PLANS ON DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

1. Plan on development of the transport network

a/ Roads

- Expressways: To coordinate with related ministries, central sectors and localities in upgrading and expanding the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (with 6 lanes) under the relevant master plan; to build a new road connecting the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway with Ha Giang (expressway 12).

- National highways: To upgrade and renovate existing national highways, such as national highways 37, 70, 32, 32C and 2D; to plan 2 national highways 32D and 3B.

- Provincial roads: To upgrade and renovate existing provincial roads, such as provincial roads 163, 164, 165, 166, 170, 171, 172, 173 and 175B. To plan a number of new roads such as bypass section of national highway 37 in Yen Bai city connecting Yen Binh district with Tran Yen district; the interchange connecting provincial road 172 and national highways 37 and 32D with national highway 32 to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (IC15); the road connecting provincial road 170, national highway 70 and provincial roads 163 and 166 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway; the interchange connecting provincial road 170 and national highway 70 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (the An Phu-Tan Nguyen-Mau A section); the interchange connecting the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (IC14),  national highway 70 and Tan Nguyen; the interchange connecting Muong La (Son La), Than Uyen and Tan Uyen (Lai Chau), Mu Cang Chai, Van Chan and Van Yen (Yen Bai) with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (IC15); the interchange connecting national highway 32 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (IC14); the interchange connecting national highway 32 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (IC15); the interchange connecting Doan Hung district (Phu Tho province) and Yen Son district (Tuyen Quang province) with Yen Binh district and Yen Bai city (Yen Bai province) with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (IC12); the road connecting An Phu, Minh Tien, Lieu Do and Muong Lai (Luc Yen district, Yen Bai province) with Dong Yen (Bac Quang district, Ha Giang province), etc., and urban roads, inter-provincial, inter-district and inter-commune roads in the province.

- Bridges: Gioi Phien and Tuy Loc bridges in  Yen Bai city; Nga Quan and Bao Dap bridges in Tran Yen district; Dong Cuong bridge in Van Yen district; To Mau bridge crossing Chay river on provincial road 171 (Khanh Hoa-Minh Xuan) in Luc Yen district; the bridge crossing Thac Ba lake on the road section connecting provincial road 170 and national highway 70 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (the An Phu-Tan Nguyen-Mau A section); Dai Minh bridge (crossing Chay river), bridge crossing Thac Ba lake along the road section connecting provincial road 170, national highway 70 and provincial roads 163 and 166 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway; at the same time, to build other medium and small bridges along  provincial and district roads, and rural roads to communes, wards and townships.

b/ Railways: To coordinate with related ministries, central sectors and localities in upgrading and renovating the 1,000mm-gauge railway line (Hanoi-Lao Cai) to maintain their effective operation; to coordinate in studying and investing in an 1,435mm-gauge railway line (Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong).

c/ Inland waterways

- National inland waterways: To coordinate with related ministries, central sectors and localities to develop an inland waterway route on the Red river, the section running through Yen Bai province up to grade-III standards. The major inland waterway route on Thac Ba lake, the section from Thac Ba dam to Cam Nhan, will be planned to meet grade-III technical standards. 

- Local inland waterways: To invest in the inland waterway’s feeder route on Chay river and Thac Ba lake to meet technical standards. To invest in a number of new tourist terminals on Chay river and Thac Ba lake; to build a system of key ports and cargo and passenger terminals on the Red River and Thac Ba lake; to build passenger terminals on rivers in Tran Yen, Van Yen, Yen Binh and Luc Yen districts and Yen Bai city.

- Inland waterway ports and landing stages: To build Yen Bai port clusters, upgrade Huong Ly and Mong Son ports, and build cargo ports on the Red River including Van Phu and Au Lau ports in Yen Bai city, and Mau A port in Van Yen district; to build passenger ports in the Thac Ba hydropower reservoir area, and add tourist landing stages in tourist centers.

d/ Aviation: To study investment in dual-use operation of Yen Bai military airport as a specialized one (combining military and civil purposes).

dd/ Other transport infrastructure facilities

- Logistics infrastructure: To attract investment in building a grade-II logistics center in the Van Phu port area connected with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway, and railway and inland waterway systems; sub-regional logistics centers in vicinities of interchanges IC12, IC13, IC14 of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway, and vicinities of interchanges of national highway 32 with national highway 32D in Van Chan district and Nghia Lo town.

- Bus stations: To relocate existing bus stations in urban centers to the vicinities on the axes of gateways to expressways and national highways or urban belt roads. By 2030, to upgrade bus stations in Luc Yen, Mu Cang Chai, Van Yen and Yen Binh districts; to  build bus stations in Yen Bai city and Tran Yen, Tram Tau and Van Chan districts; at the same time, to study the construction of bus stations in new urban centers in line with the province’s urban development process.

- Public parking lots: To develop concentrated public parking lots in the centers of districts, towns and cities and in industrial parks, residential quarters, commercial and service areas and administrative areas.

- Rest stops: To build rest stops along national highways and provincial roads to provide services for passengers and vehicles. To build rest stops on national highway 32’s section in Van Chan district, and national highway 70’s section in Yen Binh district, and a number of other rest stops on other national highways and provincial roads in conformity with development orientations.

(Details are provided in Appendix IV to this Decision).

2. Plan on development of the power supply network

a/ By 2030, to continue maintaining the effective operation of existing power sources; to develop potential power projects such as wind power, solar power, biomass power, hydropower and other renewable energy sources in conformity with the National Power Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, and the plan to implement the National Power Development Plan, as well as the province’s potential and development conditions so as to ensure the compliance with current regulations on protection of the environment, forests and water sources and other relevant regulations.

b/ To renovate to increase the capacity of the Yen Bai 220kV transformer station; to build 220kV transformer stations in Nghia Lo and Luc Yen and 110kV transformer stations. To build double-circuit 220kV and 500kV transmission lines; to upgrade and improve the capacity of existing 220kV transmission lines.

c/ To step by step put underground the power systems in urban centers and the centers of districts, towns and cities (Yen Bai city, Nghia Lo town, etc.).

(Details are provided in Appendix V to this Decision).

3. Plan on development of petroleum and gas storage and supply systems

a/ The petroleum storage and supply system: To develop petrol filling stations on national highways and provincial roads in areas without petrol filling stations, new roads, new urban centers and industrial parks and cottage industry zones; to attract investment in areas without petrol filling stations and in deep-lying and remote areas with difficult socio-economic conditions. By 2030, each commune cluster will have at least 1 grade-III petrol filling station; to attract investment in commercial storage facilities to store and supply petroleum to meet the province’s consumption demand.

b/ The gas storage and supply system: To maintain and upgrade 3 existing gas filling stations; to build 1 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling station in Yen Bai city; to develop bottled LPG retail stations to serve the people’s consumption, production and business demands.

4. Plan on development of the information and communications network

a/ To develop postal infrastructure into an important one of digital economy, e-commerce and logistics; to apply digital technology, develop e-commerce exchanges of postal enterprises in cooperation with other e-commerce exchanges. To develop the provincial-level public postal network associated with regional and district-level postal centers.

b/ Development of telecommunications and digital infrastructure: To maintain and develop inter-provincial transmission lines along the Yen Bai-Phu Tho, Yen Bai-Lao Cai, Yen Bai-Son La and Yen Bai-Lai Chau lines. To build high-capacity intra-provincial optical transmission lines facilitating connectivity of inter-district and inter-regional areas, dynamic areas and key economic regions to serve the development of high-speed and high-quality broadband services and smart urban centers. To develop comprehensive digital infrastructure, including broadband infrastructure and IoT, AI, BigData platforms, cybersecurity, digital identification, and e-payment; to expand WLAN coverage in public places, tourist spots, industrial parks, etc.

c/ To develop a multi-platform, multimedia and people-centered press and media network.

5. Plan on development of hydraulic-work and water supply and drainage networks

a/ To invest in hydraulic structures for multi-purpose water supply, with combined natural disaster prevention and control, aquaculture, water supply for domestic and industrial use and rehabilitation of the ecological environment. To invest in facilities supplying water for irrigation and domestic use in ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions, areas suffering drought and water shortage, hi-tech agriculture production areas, and concentrated commodity production zones applying advanced and water-efficient irrigation technology. To repair, upgrade and complete the hydraulic-work system to be modern and synchronous; to upgrade and renovate dams and reservoirs serving irrigation; to develop small-scale and on-farm irrigation structures.

b/To continue to invest, complete, expand, renovate and upgrade water plants and water supply pipe networks to meet water demand of urban centers, industrial parks and cottage industry zones. To build water plants and water supply pipe networks to ensure water supply for new urban centers. To build a centralized water supply system with scale and capacity appropriate for each rural residential area.

c/ To continue to invest, upgrade, expand, and improve the effectiveness of collection and treatment of, centralized wastewater treatment systems in urban centers, industrial parks and cottage industry zones; to build urban and rural wastewater drainage systems.

(Details are provided in Appendices VI and VII to this Decision).

6. Plan on development of waste treatment facilities

To develop a waste treatment infrastructure system to ensure all generated solid wastes are treated; to develop centralized waste treatment by region (at inter-district and inter-commune solid waste treatment facilities); to treat wastes using biological treatment technology with biomass recovery or incineration then waste-to-energy technology; to thoroughly handle polluting landfill sites.

(Details are provided in Appendix VIII to this Decision).

7. Plan on development of fire prevention and fighting and salvage and rescue infrastructure facilities

To build head offices of fire brigades and salvage and rescue police units in the centers of districts, towns and cities and facilities that meet the law-prescribed standards and norms and suit actual conditions. To set up head offices of specialized fire brigades in industrial parks.

VI. PLANS ON DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

1. Plan on development of the network of medical and healthcare facilities

a/ To develop a smart and digital health system; to accelerate the application of information technology; to form a smart medical system to exploit, use and share healthcare data on a smart urban platform. To modernize the people’s health care and protection services to ensure that all people receive continuous and comprehensive health management, monitoring and care; to attach special importance to the development of equitable, quality and effective health systems in deep-lying, remote and difficulty-hit areas; to improve health indicators, and increase life expectancy and life quality of the people.

b/ To develop a number of specialized health facilities, regional and inter-provincial health facilities such as the Center for Disease Control and Drug-Cosmetics-Food Testing Center. To expand the scale and develop a number of specialized medical centers in the Provincial General Hospital to make it become an inter-provincial central-level hospital in the Northwest region. To upgrade and expand the scale of Nghia Lo General Hospital and provincial-level specialized hospitals.

c/ To build and develop a quality grassroots-level medical network. To develop district-level medical centers to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, preventive medicine and disease control capacity. To focus on improving the capacity of regional polyclinics in difficulty-hit areas to increase the people’s access to medical examination and treatment services. To replicate the model of family medicine-based medical stations meeting national criteria for commune health. To build the capacity and bring into play the effectiveness of population and food safety and hygiene assurance systems.

2. Plan on development of the network of education and training institutions

To invest in and improve education and training quality; to review, arrange and adjust school and class sizes in a reasonable manner to create favorable conditions for learners and suit actual conditions of the locality; to formulate and supplement mechanisms and policies in order to mobilize investment resources for education and encourage organizations and individuals to participate in education activities. To develop a system of early childhood and general education schools that are key in terms of quality. To make focused and priority investment in boarding and semi-boarding general education schools for ethnic minority students and schools to be built into national-standard ones. To develop the network of continuing education institutions toward open education; to develop a system to support the development of inclusive education to ensure equality in education access. To build a contingent of education administrators and teachers to meet task requirements and education and training needs. To step up learning promotion and talent promotion activities, and step by step build a learning society. To replicate and synchronously deploy the “happy school” model. To devise and implement a green smart education project. To study the founding of a multidisciplinary university.

3. Plan on development of science and technology

To develop infrastructural facilities and network of science and technology organizations to directly and effectively serve socio-economic development and improve the people’s material and spiritual life. To increase investment in and upgrade infrastructural facilities and equipment of existing non-business science and technology units with multidisciplinary research orientations, large scale and strong scientific capacity. By 2030, to set up 15-20 science and technology enterprises, innovative startup enterprises and enterprises with innovation activities. To upgrade the Provincial Center for Science and Technology Application, Engineering and Information. To increase investment in infrastructure, equipment and training of human resources for the science and technology sector. To expand and upgrade production zones, and stations for scientific and technological advance research, testing, transfer and application.

4. Plan on development of vocational education institutions and social assistance establishments

a/ To develop the network of vocational education institutions in a streamlined and effective manner; to invest in high-quality vocational education institutions to meet development requirements, and promote the development of non-public education institutions to form the network of vocational education institutions toward openness, flexibility, diverse types and forms of organization, and effectiveness, satisfying diverse needs of the labor market. By 2030, the province will have at least 14 vocational education institutions, including 10 public vocational education institutions and 4 non-public vocational education institutions.

b/ To develop the social security system, improve the network of social infrastructure facilities in the fields of labor, invalids and social affairs, and properly implement social assistance policies to ensure that all eligible subjects will benefit from such policies. Social assistance benefits are provided according to regulations. By 2030, to continue to maintain the operation of the Job Placement Center and the Nursing Center; the province will have at least 11 social assistance establishments caring for the elderly, children without caretakers and people with disabilities, including at least 1 public social assistance establishment and the others being non-public social assistance establishments; and 1 public drug addiction treatment establishment.

5. Plan on development of the network of culture and sports institutions

a/ To invest in physical foundations and upgrade culture and sports facilities to meet the people’s cultural and entertainment needs. To build provincial-level cultural centers, cultural houses and centers for youth and children, and upgrade the Provincial Museum. To stick to the principle of protecting and upholding traditional cultural values, natural landscapes, and traditional architecture identities of ethnic groups.

b/ To invest in the library system to be complete and modern. To step up the mobilization of social resources for and digitalize the development of libraries, to attract private library projects to diversify types of libraries and attract readers. To build the Yen Bai Library into a central library and practice interlibrary collaboration. To build, renovate and upgrade district-level libraries meeting required standards.

c/ To build and put into operation the Provincial Sports Complex; to upgrade degraded gymnasiums. To strive for the target that every district, town and city will have a gymnasium, a stadium and a training ground meeting scale and feature standards.

d/ To combine the development of entertainment and leisure areas with commercial and tourist centers and theme parks; to develop a system of accommodation establishments diverse in scale and form; to prioritize models of mega malls combined with tourist and entertainment and tourist areas in the gateways to urban centers.

6. Plan on development of the network of service and commercial establishments

To comprehensively develop commercial infrastructure systems (including also the traditional market system and modern commercial infrastructure systems such as shopping centers and supermarkets associated with mini-supermarket system, convenience stores, and sale points for the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) Program’s products, etc.). To develop the space-based network of commercial service establishments for the 2021-2030 period that will be distributed based on the current situation and socio-economic development prospects of each region and locality. By 2030, to continue to build or upgrade and renovate markets, supermarkets, shopping centers, and commercial and service clusters; to eradicate inappropriate markets.

VII. PLANS ON LAND ALLOCATION AND ZONING

1. Plan on allocation of land use norms through 2030: The total land area will be  689,267 ha, including 606,283 ha of agricultural land; 75,149 ha of non-agricultural land; and 7,835 ha of unused land.

2. To exploit and use land in a reasonable and effective manner, focusing on improving the land use coefficient. To arrange land use based on land repurposing and adjustment of irrationalities in the current land use status in conformity with the province’s socio-economic development objectives, land potential and advantages, meeting land use demands of sectors, fields, districts, towns and cities in the province during the 2021-2030 period and creating foundations for stable development in the next period; to ensure the comprehensiveness and synchronicity among sectors and localities in the province and the compatibility with the capacity to balance resources for as well as the feasibility in implementation.

(Details are provided in Appendix IX to this Decision).

VIII. PLANS ON CONSTRUCTION OF INTER-DISTRICT AREAS AND DISTRICT AREAS

1. Plan on construction of inter-district areas

a/ The Western inter-district area, consisting of 4 administrative units, namely Nghia Lo town and Van Chan, Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai districts

- Characteristics: This area will be an administrative, cultural, educational, medical, multi-sector industry, ecological agriculture, hi-tech agriculture, service and tourism center.

- Spatial development orientations: To develop space after the model of “satellite city” combined with the model of “sub-area center”, whereby forming satellite urban clusters around the central urban area being Nghia Lo town. Urban spots will serve as sub-area centers where social infrastructure and economic activities develop and provide support for the development of surrounding communes.

+ To develop the central urban axis associated with National Highway 32, connecting townships and towns in the area into an urban chain; this is the main driving-force axis of the area.

+ To develop urban, economic and commercial centers in combination with the interchanges of the main economic development axes of the area, such as: the interchange of national highway 32 and the road connecting Muong La (Son La), Than Uyen and Tan Uyen (Lai Chau), and Mu Cang Chai, Van Chan and Van Yen (Yen Bai) with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (interchange 15); national highway 32 with national highway 32D; national highway 32 with the road section connecting national highway 32 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (interchange 15); the road section connecting national highway 32 with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway (interchange 14); and the interchange between national highway 37 and provincial road 172, etc.

- Development orientations for functional zones: To develop green, modern and hi-tech industries; to step by step form industrial clusters; to develop trade toward civilization, modernity, utility and high quality; to develop agriculture and forestry toward modernity and application of advanced science and technology as a basis for developing a system of modern sub-zone centers; to develop unique tourism products in association with regional connectivity for development of complementary tourism services for major tourist zones of the province.

b/ The Eastern inter-district area, consisting of 2 administrative units, namely Yen Binh and Luc Yen districts

- Characteristics: This area will be an urban center with mining industry, high-class construction materials and ecotourism services.

- Spatial development orientations: To develop space after the model of “multipolar area” combined with “sub-area centers”, thereby forming a chain of development poles around the Thac Ba lake area, at intersections and current and future trade exchange points along national highway 70 and provincial road 170. The main development poles include Yen Binh township and Yen The township, specifically as follows:

+ To develop the national highway 70 axis connecting Yen Binh township, Cam An urban center, Khanh Hoa urban center and surrounding areas, especially Yen Bai city, into the western dynamic development axis of the area.

+ To develop the provincial road 170 axis connecting Yen The township, Cam Nhan urban center, Thac Ba urban center and surrounding areas into the eastern dynamic development axis of the area.

+ To develop urban, economic and commercial centers associated with the interchanges of the main economic development axes of the area, such as: the interchange between national highway 70 and road section connecting the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway with Ha Giang (expressway 12); and the interchange between national highway 70 and national highways 37 and 2D.

- Development orientations for functional zones: to develop tourism into a spearhead industry of the area based on ecotourism products associated with the Thac Ba lake area, which will become a center of mining industry, construction materials and ecotourism of the province and the Northwest region; to apply technology in the mining industry and processing of construction materials; to develop agriculture and forestry toward modernity and application of high technologies as a basis for the development of sub-area centers.

c/ The Yen Bai city area, consisting of 3 administrative units, namely: Yen Bai city and Van Yen and Tran Yen districts

- Characteristics: This area will be an administrative and cultural center with ecotourism, commercial and industrial services.

- Spatial development orientations: To develop space after the model of “urban chain” combined with the model of “sub-area centers”, whereby forming a chain of development centers based on urban clusters to be established along provincial road 163 and the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway. Yen Bai city will be the development center, which will also be a political, economic, cultural and social center of the province. Urban spots will serve as sub-area centers where social infrastructure and economic activities develop and provide support for the development of surrounding communes. Urban centers will be formed in association with important interchanges, especially at the exits of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway, where industrial parks, cottage industry zones and logistics centers will be developed in association with commercial activities, specifically as follows:

+ To deploy development along provincial road 163 connecting Yen Bai city, Co Phuc township, Mau A township, Xuan Ai urban center, and An Binh urban center, especially along the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway, which will be the main driving-force axis of the area.

+ To deploy development along national highway 37 connecting Yen Bai city, Hung Khanh urban center and Nghia Lo town, the Yen Bai-Khe Sang road axis and the provincial road 166 axis, which will serve as auxiliary development axes of the area.

+ To develop urban, economic and commercial centers associated with the interchanges of the main economic development axes of the area, especially at the interchange with the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway.

- Development orientations for functional zones: To develop tourism into a spearhead industry of the area based on ecotourism, leisure tourism and experience tourism products, exploiting forest ecosystem services and unique cultural values to make the area a top destination in the Northern midland and mountainous region; to develop civilized and modern services and trade; to develop modern agriculture and forestry, apply science and technology, and form specialized cultivation areas for agricultural specialties; to develop modern processing and mining industry, limiting impacts on the environment and natural landscape.

2. Plan on construction of district areas

a/ The Van Yen district area

- Characteristics: This area will act as an industrial-commercial and service urban center on the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway; one of economic and cultural-historical tourism centers; and a stop of the cultural and religious tourism route along the Red river.

- Development orientations: To develop urban, convalescence, cuisine and tourism systems; to develop the forestry industry toward high and stable growth; to develop clean agriculture with hi-tech application.

b/ The Tran Yen district area

- Characteristics: This area will act as an industrial-commercial and service urban center on the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway; one of economic and cultural-historical tourism centers; and a center for industrial production development.

- Development orientations: To develop industry and cottage industry in a fast and sustainable manner to make the area become an industrial center of the province; to carry out urban development as support for localities on the cultural and belief tourism route along the Red River; to develop clean agriculture with hi-tech application to meet the market demand.

c/ The Van Chan district area

- Characteristics: This area will be a socio-economic development urban center in the West, acting as a bridge in the urban chain on the East-West economic axis; one of the industrial production, cottage industry and commercial service centers; and a cultural, historical and humanistic tourism area, a natural ecological area, and a sustainable cultural conservation area of ethnic minorities.

- Development orientations: To focus on developing and reorganizing the production model in the direction of intensive processing associated with material areas; to develop processing cottage industries; to develop the agro-forestry-fisheries processing industry; to develop craft villages. To carry out exploration and formulate plans on exploitation of some kinds of minerals and develop the electric energy industry. To maintain and develop rice, tea and fruit tree specialty areas. To develop the service industry into an important economic sector. To build and position the Van Chan tourism brand and then complete the value chain-based green tourism ecosystem.

d/ The Yen Binh district area

- Characteristics: This area will be a general economic area, a sub-regional central urban area of the Eastern economic region, where trade in services and agro-forestry-fisheries will be developed in association with the Thac Ba Lake national tourist zone; an ecotourism urban center of the province and the Northwest region, which will be developed to be green and sustainable with identity, attractiveness and high competitiveness.

- Development orientations: To continue to promote industrial development; to form and develop new and modern trade and service centers. To take advantage of the area’s connectivity, abundant natural resources and the Thac Ba Lake national tourist zone, diversify tourism products and link tours in the area and the whole country. To focus on developing local typical agricultural and fishery products; to scale up the concentrated commodity production.

dd/ The Luc Yen district area

- Characteristics: This area will be a general economic area of the Eastern economic region, where trade in services, processing industry, mining industry and agro-forestry will be developed; act as an eco-tourism and community-based tourism urban center with high attractiveness and competitiveness, adapting to the trends of international integration and climate change.

- Development orientations: To develop industry and cottage industry in a fast and sustainable manner to make the area become an industrial center of the province. To form and develop new and modern trade in services centers. To build unique and characteristic tourism products imbued with national cultural identity. To develop organic and ecological agriculture; to develop forestry based on value chain, striving to turn Luc Yen district into a center of wood production, processing and export of the area.

e/ The Tram Tau district area

- Characteristics: It is a district with an effective typical agricultural-tourism economy in the province, where high-quality agriculture, specialty agriculture, agricultural product processing industry, eco-tourism and adventure tourism will be developed; this will be a traffic hub connecting Yen Bai and Bac Yen (Son La).

- Development orientations: By 2030, Tram Tau district will get rid of poverty; to build the province’s product brands in agriculture and tourism, and maintain the area’s role as a watershed forest conservation and protection area.

g/ The Mu Cang Chai district area

- Characteristics: This area will be “an innovative, different and sustainable destination bearing identity, safety and friendliness”, a key economic-service and tourism district, associated with high-quality, characteristic, typical and attractive tourism products while ensuring natural environment protection.

- Development orientations: To develop the area in a proactive and sustainable manner, combining its potential and advantages, turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector, and affirming a different tourism brand; to harness new energy sources.

h/ Plan on arrangement of commune-level administrative units

Yen Bai province has 173 commune-level administrative units, including: 150 communes, 13 wards and 10 townships. The arrangement plan for the 2023-2030 period is as follows:

- In the 2023-2025 period: There are 12 commune-level administrative units (1 ward, 1 township and 10 communes) subject to arrangement, including: Tram Tau township, Tram Tau district; Nghia Son commune, Van Chan district; Dao Thinh, Viet Thanh, Nga Quan, Cuong Thinh and Bao Hung communes, Tran Yen district; Yen Binh commune, Yen Binh district; Nghia Phuc and Thanh Luong communes of Nghia Lo town, and Tuy Loc commune, Hong Ha ward of Yen Bai city. In which Tram Tau township, Tram Tau district, has an important location in terms of national defense and security; Nghia Son commune, Van Chan district, has an isolated location with distinct cultural, ethnic and customary characteristics; and Thanh Luong commune, Nghia Lo town, is planned to be developed into an urban administrative unit (ward) in the 2023-2030 period.

It is planned to arrange 9 communes and wards, including: Dao Thinh, Viet Thanh, Nga Quan, Cuong Thinh and Bao Hung communes, Tran Yen district; Yen Binh commune, Yen Binh district; Nghia Phuc commune of Nghia Lo town, and Tuy Loc commune of Hong Ha ward, Yen Bai city.

- In the 2026-2030 period: To arrange the remaining commune-level administrative units that satisfy land area and population size criteria at below 100% of the law-specified levels; and commune-level administrative units that satisfy the land area criterion at below 30% and population size criterion at below 300% of the law-specified level.

IX. PLANS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND BIODIVERSITY; EXPLOITATION, USE AND PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES; AND DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

1. Plans on environmental protection, conservation of nature and biodiversity

a/ Plan on environmental protection

- Orientations for environmental protection in environmental protection zones must comply with the law on environmental protection and guiding documents.

- Strictly protected area, covering:

+ The inner Yen Bai city (to be a grade-III urban center planned for upgrading to grade-II urban center in the planning period) and the inner Nghia Lo town (the strictly protected area shall be established at the time the town is recognized as a grade-III urban center in the planning period).

+ Water sources for domestic water supply in accordance with the law on water resources; special-use forests and nature reserves in accordance with laws on biodiversity, forestry and fisheries, including Mu Cang Chai Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Che Tao and Lao Chai, De Xu Phinh, Pung Luong, and Nam Khat communes of Mu Cang Chai district; and Na Hau Nature Reserve in Na Hau, Dai Son, Mo Vang, and Phong Du Thuong communes of Van Yen district.

+ Category-1 protected areas of historical-cultural relics in accordance with the law on cultural heritages; core areas of natural heritages in accordance with the law on environmental protection, including historical-cultural relics that have been ranked and decentralized for management from provincial to commune levels. The scale and boundaries of category-1 protected areas of historical-cultural relics must comply with the law on cultural heritages and core areas of natural heritages in accordance with law on environmental protection shall be determined for each period in conformity with the formation, development, upgrading and embellishment of the heritages according to master plans.

- Low-emission zones, covering all communes of Yen Bai city and communes of Nghia Lo town (from the time Nghia Lo town is recognized as a grade-III urban center); buffer zones of special-use forests and natural reserves; buffer zones of category-1 protected areas of historical-cultural relics, buffer zones of natural heritages; the whole areas of protection forests and production forests being natural forests defined in the forest protection and development master plan; corridors for protection of surface water sources for domestic water supply in accordance with the law on water resources; and concentrated residential areas in the areas planned as the inner areas of grade-IV and grade-V urban centers; and other areas having environmentally sensitive elements that are vulnerable to impacts of environmental pollution and need to be protected.

- Other environmental protection zones, covering the whole area outside strictly protected zones and low-emission zones.

b/ Conservation of nature and biodiversity

To sustainably manage forest resources and biodiversity, improve forest quality and maintain forest coverage. To manage the development of Na Hau Nature Reserve (Van Yen district) and Mu Cang Chai Species and Habitat Conservation Area; to improve livelihoods and the lives of people in buffer zones; to consolidate and strengthen nature reserve management boards for sustainable forest management and development; to conserve wetlands, ecological landscapes and natural landscapes of Thac Ba Lake national historical and scenic relic and other high-biodiversity areas, such as Tan Phuong forest (Luc Yen district), Tram Tau biodiversity area and Khau Pha biodiversity area (Mu Cang Chai district).

(Details are provided in Appendix X to this Decision).

c/ Environmental monitoring network

- To continue to implement the soil environmental monitoring program at 15 existing locations, and add 26 locations based on the development of industrial parks, cottage industry zones, urban centers, concentrated residential areas, and agricultural crop growing zones.

- To continue to implement the surface water environmental monitoring program at 30 existing locations and add 15 locations based on the development of industrial parks, cottage industry zones, and tourism and service development sites (including 4 automatic surface-water environmental monitoring stations at some main rivers and streams).

- To continue to implement the groundwater environment monitoring program at 30 existing locations and add 20 locations based on the development of industrial parks and cottage industry zones, landfill sites and cemeteries in districts.

- To continue to implement the air environment monitoring program at 32 existing locations and add 30 locations based on the development of industrial parks, cottage industry zones, urban centers, and residential areas (including 7 automatic air-environment monitoring stations located in densely populated areas, areas easily affected by industrial production, mineral exploitation, and transportation
activities).

d/ Arrangement of cemeteries

To plan the building of concentrated cemeteries and crematoriums in urban centers according to urban master plans, centralized cemeteries in communes according to rural construction master plans. To build a concentrated cemetery system in Yen Bai city, including An Binh Vien Cemetery (grade I) and Da Bia Cemetery (grade II) serving Yen Bai city, Yen Binh town and some communes of Yen Binh district. To plan a crematorium at An Binh Vien Cemetery. To build a new cemetery in Nghia Lo town (grade II) and grade-III cemeteries in Yen Binh, Tran Yen, Van Yen, Luc Yen, Van Chan, Tram Tau, and Mu Cang Chai districts.

(Details are provided in Appendix XI to this Decision).

2. Plan for protection, exploitation and use of natural resources

a/ Development of forest resources

- To protect and sustainably and effectively develop existing forest areas, especially special-use forests, protection forests, and production forests being natural forests. To focus on zoning for, and promoting, natural regeneration on more than 10,000 hectares to maximize the potential for regeneration and natural succession of forests by forest protection, prevention of deforestation and forest fire prevention and fighting.

- To strictly manage the application of technical standards to forest seedling production, focusing on production of seedlings of plant species based on development orientations. To select high-yielding, adaptable and disease-resistant varieties for afforestation.

- To develop non-timber forest products, prioritizing plant species with competitive edges. By 2030, the province will have 150,000 hectares of new plantations on planted forests after harvest and unforested land, with an average of 15,000 hectares of new plantations per year.

- To invest in the transport system serving production, exploitation and processing of forest products, forest development, forest patrol and protection, and forest fire prevention and fighting. To invest in building new roads linking to concentrated forest plantations while upgrading and maintaining existing roads.

- To build infrastructure facilities serving forest conservation and development, including offices for forest conservation and development management staffs and forest protection stations that are also used as stopover places along walking trails for eco-tourists.

- To build works serving forest protection and development, such as forest fire watchtowers, facilities for prevention and elimination of forest pests, forestry roads, firebreaks, etc. To restructure forest ranger stations, forest product control stations and forest protection stations. To further improve fire prevention and fighting capacity of forest rangers.

b/ Plan for protection, exploration, exploitation and use of mineral resources

- To carry out exploration and assessment of mineral quality and reserves to ensure sufficient mineral reserves for exploitation and other technical requirements. To carry out exploration of 13 kinds and groups of minerals in 99 areas and mineral mines with a total land area of 1,346.24 hectares.

- To exploit minerals, ensuring reasonable output, applying modern technologies, and protecting the environment and mineral resources in a way suitable to each kind of mineral and each project. To carry out exploitation of 13 kinds and groups of minerals in 190 areas and mineral mines with a total land area of 1,454.94 hectares.

- Areas banned or temporarily banned from mineral activities: To comply with the law on minerals and master plans and plans on function-based zoning of land areas set in the provincial master plan; areas banned from mineral activities in the planning period, including 736 areas with a total land area of 244,312.95 hectares. At the same time, to continue to add and adjust areas banned or temporarily banned from mineral activities when the assessment and demarcation for addition and adjustment thereof are completed and approved by competent agencies in accordance with the Mineral Law.

- In some special cases when it is necessary to exploit minerals for use as ordinary construction materials for prevention and control of disasters, storms and floods, assurance of dike and reservoir safety, national defense and security, state budget-funded works, or projects serving national, public purposes, and socio-economic development, based on the local reality or district-level land use master plans, to license the exploitation of minerals for use as ordinary construction materials in areas not yet planned therein so as to ensure timely response and efficient use of investment capital; the licensing must comply with the procedures specified in the Mineral Law. To give priority to demarcation of areas not subject to auction of the mining right for mining areas to supply materials for the construction of state budget-funded works.

- For mineral areas falling within the licensing competence of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment: Based on master plans approved by competent authorities, to organize the implementation thereof.

- For mine areas and minerals expected to be explored and exploited after 2030, if all law-prescribed conditions are met and it is possible to mobilize investment resources, to report to competent authorities for consideration and approval the earlier implementation to contribute to promoting socio-economic development.

(Details are provided in Appendix XII to this Decision).

3. Plans on exploitation, use and protection of water resources; prevention, control and remediation of water-caused harms

a/ Plan on exploitation, use and protection of water resources: To exploit and use water resources economically and effectively. To ensure that the exploited water volume does not exceed the exploitation limit of rivers and exploitable threshold of groundwater; to allocate and share water resources harmoniously and reasonably among sectors and localities, prioritizing water for domestic use and activities that bring about high economic value and ensure minimum flows; to achieve economic, social and environmental effects.

b/ Function-based zoning of water sources: To supply water for domestic use, agricultural production, industry, business, services, and tourism.

c/ Protection of water resources: To protect water resources, following the  prevention-centered approach, ensuring the protection of water-generating sources, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems, contributing to preserving cultural values and natural landscapes; to associate protection of water resources with allocation of water sources; to prevent, control and remedy water-caused harms; to protect water quality in conformity with water use purposes, with priority given to water sources that are important for maintaining social security.

d/ Plan on prevention, control and remediation of water-caused harms: To build a disaster risk management system to minimize damage and losses and improve resilience, including formulating and updating disaster monitoring and warning maps; building an early warning system for water-caused harms such as flood, drought, and water pollution, especially in urban centers and agricultural production areas; and prioritizing resources to improve capacity for disaster response of high-risk areas.

4. Plan on disaster prevention and control and response to climate change

a/ To effectively perform tasks and solutions to improve capacity for prevention and mitigation of disasters, climate change adaptation, and forest fire prevention and fighting; to intensify renewal and application of advanced technologies that help save natural resources, reduce input costs and prevent plastic waste to protect the environment.

b/ To intensify communication, forecasting, and early warning of disasters and extreme climate and weather in high-risk areas in order to proactively prevent and respond to disaster situations and mitigate damage.

c/ To enhance the state management of environmental protection at all levels and control of climate change; to integrate climate change response tasks in the province’s programs, master plans and plans on socio-economic development.

d/ To well manage water sources to ensure effective exploitation and use of water resources, especially irrigation systems serving agricultural production; to enhance management of reservoirs, proactively formulate plans on disaster prevention, and apply improved irrigation technologies.

dd/ To proactively and effectively respond to adverse impacts of drought, water shortage, flood, inundation, waterlogging, riverbank and streambank erosion, etc., harmoniously combining structural and non-structural measures.

e/ To ensure safety against adverse impacts caused by water-related disasters to urban centers, residential areas, and production activities under climate change conditions.

g/ To ensure the safety of works and areas downstream of dams, irrigation and hydropower reservoirs. To renovate and upgrade dikes; to build river and stream embankment systems to protect agricultural land, administrative areas, and residential areas, and create environmental landscapes; to timely handle riverbank and streambank landslides, etc.

​ X. LIST OF PROJECTS PRIORITIZED FOR INVESTMENT

Based on development orientations of key sectors and fields, to identify large and important projects that have spillover effects and help create a driving force for promoting growth and socio-economic development for investment and investment attraction, depending on demands and capacity to balance and mobilize investment capital in each period.

(Details are provided in Appendix XIII to this Decision).

XI. SOLUTIONS

1. Mobilization of investment capital

a/ To restructure budget expenditures in the direction of saving recurrent expenditures and increasing development investment expenditures, and improving capital efficiency. To mobilize ODA and concessional loans from foreign donors to invest in development of infrastructure facilities in transport, urban centers, agriculture, and rural areas adaptable to disasters, education and health, especially grassroots health.

b/ To formulate policies on development of economic sectors, prioritizing development investment along with preferential policies to create opportunities and a driving force for the private economic sector to invest and seek business opportunities. To promote creative startups and support the private economic sector, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises.

c/ To improve the quality of investment promotion activities; to review and improve mechanisms and policies, reform administrative procedures, create  investment environment that is open, transparent and attractive to foreign investors. To enhance the state management of foreign direct investment, and promptly guide, support investors and resolve their recommendations under regulations. To attract foreign direct investment in agro-forestry product processing, tourism, and automobile assembly; to invest in technical infrastructure facilities outside the fences of tourist sites, industrial parks and cottage industry zones. To effectively conduct site clearance to create conditions for investors to implement their projects as scheduled.

2. Human resource development

a/ To develop human resources, especially high-quality human resources, and closely associate human resource development with the development and application of science and technology, attract talents, experts, scientists, and businessmen to work and live in Yen Bai province.

b/ To intensify and take the initiative in creating linkages, cooperating, sharing and exchanging human resources with other localities in the region and across country such as Hanoi, Thai Nguyen and Son La provinces, etc., in training qualified human resources in the forms of cooperation, joint training, program transfer, etc.

3. Environmental protection

a/ To enhance the state management of environment. To carry out public communication and education to raise awareness of the law on environmental protection; to intensify inspection and examination to detect and promptly handle environmental problems.

b/ To rationally exploit, economically and sustainably use natural resources and minerals; to protect forest environment and develop forest resources; to prevent land degradation, efficiently and sustainably use land resources; to protect and sustainably use water resources; to reduce air and noise pollution in urban centers and industrial parks and cottage industry zones; to adopt a mechanism for effective management of all types of waste, particularly solid waste and wastewater.

c/ To define specific goals for environmental protection in the fields of agriculture, energy, industrial processing, waste treatment, land repurposing and forestry, and implement solutions to reduce threats to biodiversity.

4. Science and technology development, innovation

a/ To prioritize the development of small- and medium-sized industries, craft villages, and industries auxiliary to services and agriculture in the direction of high-level science and technology, eco-friendliness and natural resource conservation.

b/ To prioritize investment in projects to enhance scientific and technological potential; science and technology human resources development projects; and investment projects to strengthen science and technology facilities.

c/ To encourage the application of advanced technologies, promote science, technology and innovation, focusing on businesses and making the fullest use of opportunities brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and international integration process.

d/ To consider and allocate investment capital to science, technology and innovation activities from annual local budgets, ensuring compliance with regulations on spending levels and conformity with practical conditions. To adopt incentive mechanisms and policies (tax, credit, capital support from local budgets, etc.) applicable to enterprises and production facilities that apply scientific and technological research outcomes to production, improve and renew technique and technology, receive and master production technology and technique transferred from developed countries.

5. Development linkage mechanisms and policies

a/ International cooperation

- To establish friendly and cooperative relationships with provinces and cities of foreign countries that have many similarities, potential and advantages in economic development cooperation, technology transfer, cultural exchange, etc. To promote and introduce specialty and key products of the province, especially agricultural products (fruits, vegetables, etc.) to attract international consumers.

- To attract foreign experts to work in Yen Bai province, especially in the fields of tourism and health in order to promote the process of internationalization of standards in these fields; to encourage training and knowledge exchange between countries to improve skills of the local workforce.

- To organize trade and investment expos and seminars in regional countries to introduce and promote the brands of key specialty products of Yen Bai province, contributing to attracting investors.

- To establish relationships and conduct bilateral dialogues with foreign trade promotion agencies to serve the attraction of investment and promotion of business cooperation, such as the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Australian Chamber of Commerce (AusCham), European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (KORCHAM), etc.

b/ Domestic cooperation

- To coordinate with provinces in the Northern midland and mountainous region so as to connect the province’s urban centers, tourism centers and industrial parks to regional transport infrastructure facilities.

- To intensify the exchange between localities of information on master plans, development strategies, implementation results, and solutions to problems through periodic conferences to review regional or inter-provincial development issues.

- To organize investment promotion conferences in the Northern midland and mountainous region and sub-regions.

- To coordinate with provinces so as to reach consensus on strategies and policies on attraction of investment and improvement of regional competitiveness in development of tourism products combining Yen Bai province’s advantages in tourism and those of Ha Giang and Lao Cai provinces, etc., cooperation in education and health development between Yen Bai province and Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho provinces, etc.

- To coordinate with state management agencies, trade associations, research institutes, and domestic enterprises and foreign partners in organizing seminars and conferences on development of value chains of products and groups of industries.

6. Management and control of urban and rural development

a/ To improve the quality of construction of infrastructure facilities, and effectively manage the planning and development of socio-economic infrastructure. To prioritize the development of rural infrastructure and mobilization of social resources for investment.

b/ To formulate and improve general master plans of urban areas, zoning master plans, and detailed master plans, regulations on management of urban architecture and designs in central areas and new traffic axes; at the same time, to ensure the harmony between urban embellishment in peripheral areas and the master plans of urban areas in central areas and the master plans of building of new-style countryside.

c/ To limit unsustainable urban development after the “oil spill” model, causing waste of land. To effectively manage and control ponds, lakes, and dams to serve water regulation and ensure ecological environment.

d/ To improve the capacity of staffs engaged in urban development and, at the same time, have a close cooperation mechanism or hire qualified consultants and experts to design smart urban centers.

dd/ To reasonably arrange commune-level administrative units that satisfy natural area and population size criteria at below 100% of the standards of the corresponding administrative unit specified in the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Resolution on standards of administrative units and classification of administrative units.

7. Improvement of the effectiveness and effect of the state administrative apparatus

a/ Reform of the management apparatus

- To strongly reform the political system, promoting the creativity and sense of responsibility of each official and the people’s sense of mastery. To improve the effectiveness of the Party’s leadership, the quality of state management and promote the people’s right to mastery.

- To adhere to market principles in policymaking and directing and managing the development process.

- To shift the role of government agencies in performing direction and administration from direct intervention to support provision, paying attention to assuring macroeconomic balances, establishing legal framework, policies and enforcement apparatus so as to ensure that all types of markets are continuously improved, operate transparently and effectively in an equal footing; to create open business and startup opportunities for people inside and outside the province.

b/ Policies and mechanisms

- To publicly announce the Master Plan and development orientation of key economic sectors and the mechanisms, policies and supporting solutions of the State, especially the province’s mechanisms and policies applicable to each industry, thus setting orientations for investment activities of current and potential investors in the province.

- To accelerate the implementation of ongoing programs and projects, and formulate a number of long-term breakthrough programs to achieve the goals by 2030.

- To determine the contents and methods to support investors and enterprises in accordance with international commitments that Vietnam has concluded in order to improve enterprises’ competitiveness.

- To diversify resources and methods of implementing poverty reduction programs in the direction of increasing the poor’s accessibility to basic social services (health, education, housing, clean water, etc.) and sustainable poverty reduction.

- To form extensive movements, regularly attract and encourage the participation and support by people, sectors, authorities, mass organizations, and social organizations in support for the poor and poor areas.

c/ Administrative reform

- To accelerate synchronous and comprehensive administrative reform, from reforming the functions and tasks of the organizational apparatus, reasonably arranging employment positions to reforming public finance. To focus on modernizing the administrative system, reforming administrative processes and procedures associated with multi-sectoral single-window mechanism, reforming working styles and public sector ethics of officials at all levels. To enhance the effect and effectiveness of state management at all levels and operation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, promoting the people’s right to mastery.

- To focus on reviewing, arranging, consolidating, and streamlining the focal points of the political system associated with streamlining staffs, restructuring and improving the quality of cadres, civil servants and public employees.

- To modernize the administrative system with crucial changes in the working methods and styles and effectiveness of state management in the province.

XII. MAPS OF MASTER PLAN

A detailed list of maps attached to the Master Plan is provided in the Appendix to this Decision.

Article 2.

1. The Master Plan shall serve as a basis for the formulation of urban and rural master plans, and technical and specialized master plans of Yen Bai province in accordance with relevant laws.

2. The approval of, or decision on, the investment policy and implementation of investment projects in the province must comply with Article 1 of this Decision and ensure conformity with other relevant master plans, ensuring compliance with the law-specified order, procedures and competence and proper implementation of relevant current regulations.

In the process of researching and implementing specific projects, the boundaries of planned locations, areas, scale, and capacity of works and projects may be adjusted to ensure compliance with in conformity with the province’s progress and practical development requirements in each period and in accordance with relevant current regulations. Agencies competent to approve or decide on investment policy for such projects shall take full responsibility before law for the determination of project locations, areas, scale, capacity and investment phasing.

3. When it is needed to invest in projects planned for investment after 2030 to serve socio-economic development and it is impossible to mobilize investment resources, to report thereon to competent authorities for approval for ahead-of-schedule investment.

Article 3.

1. Responsibilities of the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province:

a/ To announce and publicly notify the Master Plan after it is approved by the Prime Minister in accordance with the planning law.

b/ To formulate and submit for promulgation the Plan on implementation of the Master Plan; to organize the implementation of the Master Plan associated with directing the implementation of socio-economic development tasks in the province; to evaluate the implementation of the Master Plan in accordance with the Planning Law.

c/ To study, formulate and promulgate according to its competence, or submit to competent authorities for promulgation, mechanisms and policies and solutions to attract investment, ensure financial resources, social security, national defense and security, develop human resources, science and technology, and protect the environment so as to fulfill the objectives, perform tasks and implement orientations set in the Master Plan.

d/ To continue implementing environmental protection requirements and contents upon the implementation of projects for enforcement of the Master Plan, ensuring the harmony between socio-economic development and environmental protection, thus contributing to the province’s sustainable development; to organize environmental monitoring, surveillance, management and protection; to store databases and share environmental information and databases to serve digital transformation in the course of implementation of the Master Plan.

dd/ After national-level and regional master plans are approved by competent authorities, if the contents of the Master Plan are contrary to those of higher-level master plans, the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province shall review, update and report it to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval of adjustments under regulations.

2. The Chairperson of the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province shall take responsibility for the accuracy of data, documents, diagrams, maps and databases included in the Master Plan’s dossier, ensuring compliance with the law on state secrets and other relevant laws.

Article 4. Related ministries and sectors shall, within the ambit of their functions and tasks, guide the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province in implementing the Master Plan; and coordinate with the province in studying and formulating, or submitting to competent authorities for promulgation, a number of appropriate mechanisms and policies in order to mobilize and efficiently use resources for the implementation of the Master Plan.

Article 5. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 6. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, the Chairperson of the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province, and related units shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
 Deputy Prime Minister
 TRAN HONG HA

* The appendices to this Decision are not translated.