Decision 153/QD-TTg 2023 approving Master Plan of Thanh Hoa province for the 2021-2030 period

DECISION

Approving the Master Plan of Thanh Hoa province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045^[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;

Pursuant to the June 15, 2018 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of Eleven Laws concerning Planning;

Pursuant to 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 further improving efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of planning policies and laws and solutions to remove difficulties and problems so as to speed up the formulation and improve the quality of master plans for the 2021-2030 period;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2019/ND-CP of May 7, 2019, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Planning Law;

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

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 119/NQ-CP of September 27, 2021, on tasks and solutions to improve the quality and speed up the formulation of master plans for the 2021-2030 period;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1629/QD-TTg of November 14, 2019, approving the task of formulating the Master Plan of Thanh Hoa province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045;

At the proposal of the People’s Committee of Thanh Hoa province in Report No. 03/TTr-UBND of February 7, 2023, on the approval of the Master Plan of Thanh Hoa province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045; Appraisal Report No. 3796/BC-HDTD of June 9, 2022, and results of the review of the dossier of the Master Plan of Thanh Hoa province in Document No. 7238/CV-HDTD of October 11, 2022, of the Council for Appraisal of Provincial Master Plans for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s opinions in Document No. 421/BKHDT-QLQH of January 14, 2023,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Master Plan of Thanh Hoa province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045 (below referred to as the Master Plan), with the following principal contents:

I. SCOPE AND BOUNDARIES OF THE MASTER PLAN   

The scope and boundaries of the Master Plan embrace the whole land territory of Thanh Hoa province and the marine space determined in accordance with the 2012 Law of the Sea of Vietnam, and the Government’s Decree No. 40/2016/ND-CP of May 15, 2016, detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment.

II. DEVELOPMENT VIEWPOINTS AND OBJECTIVES, AND DEVELOPMENT BREAKTHROUGHS OF THE PROVINCE

1. Development viewpoints

a/ The Master Plan must conform to the development guidelines and line of the Party and the State; be consistent and synchronous with objectives and orientations of the country’s socio-economic development strategy, the national strategy for green and sustainable growth; ensure democracy, compliance, continuity, succession, stability, and conformity with the National Overall Master Plan, national sectoral master plans and regional master plans.

b/ To bring into full play the particularly important strategic position as well as specific potential and competitive advantages of the province for fast and sustainable socio-economic development and harmonious and balanced development among different regions, especially between delta and coastal regions and mountainous regions and between urban areas and rural areas; to properly deal with the relationship between fast development and sustainable development and between rational extensive development and intensive development, regarding intensive development as the key factor; to turn Thanh Hoa province into a new growth pole and form a development quadrangle in Northern Vietnam that embraces Thanh Hoa province and Hanoi, Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province.

c/ To uphold the spirit of self-reliance, self-sufficiency and innovation; to attract talents; to improve the quality of human resources and capacity for international economic integration; to carry out digital transformation, regarding digital government as the driving force to develop digital economy and digital society, create breakthroughs in administrative reform and improve the business investment environment; to arrange space for development of sectors and fields to ensure harmony and rational use of resources for development, focusing on the development of circular economy and green economy in conformity with the capacity to meet socio-economic infrastructure requirements for improving the quality of growth and restructuring the economy.

d/ To combine economic development with the realization of social progress and equality, poverty reduction and improvement of the quality of cultural, spiritual and material life for the people; to ensure the harmony of economic, social and environmental benefits throughout the development process; to ensure environmental protection, ecological balance, rational, economical and efficient use of natural resources, and adaptation to climate change; to link the process of urbanization with the building of a new-style countryside that is civilized and modern in harmony with nature.

dd/ To closely combine socio-economic development with maintenance of national defense and security, regarding maintenance of national defense and security as a strategic and important task and economic development as the focus; to actively grasp the situation so as not to fall into the state of unprepared in all circumstances, particularly in strategic areas, border areas and islands; to expand external relations, and take the initiative in international integration to create a favorable environment for socio-economic development cooperation.

2. Development objectives by 2030

a/ General objectives

To strive to turn Thanh Hoa province into one of major centers of the region and the country in terms of heavy industry, energy industry, processing and manufacturing, large-scale agriculture with high added value, logistics services, tourism, education and training, specialized healthcare, culture and sports. By 2025, Thanh Hoa will be one of the country’s top provinces - a new growth pole with fast and sustainable economic development and will, together with Hanoi, Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province, form a development quadrangle in Northern Vietnam; by 2030, Thanh Hoa will become a modern industrial province where the people will enjoy a living standard higher than the national average, national defense and security will be maintained and social order and safety will be kept stable.

b/ Specific targets

- Economically: The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the 2021-2030 period will be 10.1% or higher. By 2030, the proportions of economic sectors in GRDP are as follows: agro-forestry-fisheries, 5.1%; industry-construction, 57%; services, 33.3%; and product taxes, 4.6%.

+ Per-capita GRDP will reach about USD 4,200 or more by 2025 and USD 7,850 USD or more by 2030.

+ The total investment capital amount mobilized from the entire society will be VND 750 trillion or more in the 2021-2025 period and VND 900 trillion or more in the 2026-2030 period.

+ The annual average food output will be kept stable at 1.5 million tons.

+ The export value will reach USD 8 billion by 2025 and USD 15 billion by 2030.

+ The urbanization rate will be 50% or more by 2030.

+ The rate of communes meeting new-style countryside standards will be 88% by 2025 and 100% by 2030.

+ The average labor productivity growth rate will surpass 9.6% per year in the 2021-2025 period and 8.1% per year in the 2026-2030 period.

+ The contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to the GRDP will reach 40% in the 2021-2025 period and 45% in the 2026-2030 period.

- Socially:

+ The population growth rate will be 0.5-0.75% per year.

+ The ratio of agricultural laborers to the total social labor will be below 30% by 2025 and below 20% by 2030.

+ There will be 13 medical doctors and 15 medical doctors per 10,000 people by 2025 and by 2030, respectively. The rate of population covered by health insurance will surpass 92% by 2025 and 95% by 2030.

+ The rate of trained workers will reach 75% by 2025 and 80% by 2030.

+ The rate of poor households will reduce annually by 1.5% or more on average.

- Environmentally:

+ The forest coverage rate will be 54% by 2025 and 54.5% by 2030.

+ The rate of rural residents having access to clean water will reach 98.5% by 2025 and 99.5% by 2030.

+ To strive for the target that the rate of domestic solid waste collected and treated up to standards will reach 90% in rural areas and 98% in urban areas by 2030.

- Regarding national defense and security: The rate of communes, wards and townships meeting social security standards will be 70% or more per year. To assure national defense and security, and safeguard border sovereignty, political stability and social order and safety.

3. Development breakthroughs

a/ To synchronously improve socio-economic development institutions, focusing on administrative reform, improvement of the business investment environment, and assurance of a favorable, transparent and fair environment for development; to formulate mechanisms and policies to promote investment attraction in accordance with law; to build a contingent of cadres and civil servants who have stable political ideology, moral qualities, professional capacity, sense of responsibility, prestige and dedication in association with building a streamlined, effective and efficient administrative apparatus to serve the people and enterprises.

b/ To mobilize and efficiently and economically use all resources, create breakthroughs in building a synchronous and modern socio-economic infrastructure system, focusing on key projects with spillover effects, transport infrastructure projects, economic zones, industrial parks and urban infrastructure facilities in adaptation to climate change; to develop information and telecommunications infrastructure facilities to build the province’s database in compatibility with the national data infrastructure, thereby creating a foundation for digital transformation and development of digital economy and digital society.

c/ To research, apply, transfer and strongly develop science, technology and innovation; to develop human resources, particularly high-quality human resources for key economic sectors of the province.

4. Vision toward 2045

By 2045, Thanh Hoa will become a rich, beautiful, civilized and modern province; a comprehensively developed and model province of the country. To develop Thanh Hoa province after the model of economic growth based on digital and knowledge-based economy and creativity with high-quality human resources; an environment-friendly industry with high technological contents and added value; modern infrastructure facilities of service sectors that are completely connected to infrastructure facilities of the country and other countries in the region; an advanced and modern agricultural sector with safe products; and a smart infrastructure system compatible with smart citizens.

III. DEVELOPMENT OF SECTORS AND FIELDS

1. Orientations for development of important sectors of the province (development pillars)

a/ Processing and manufacturing industry: To develop Thanh Hoa province into one of major centers of the North Central Coast and the country in terms of the processing and manufacturing industry, serving as the foundation for economic restructuring toward industrialization and modernization; to prioritize the development of industries with the province’s advantages, competitive advantages, values and high productivity. Orientations for development of major industries are as follows:

- Petrochemical, chemical and petrochemical product processing: To create the most favorable conditions for Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Limited Liability Company to bring into the fullest play, expand and increase its capacity; to accelerate the implementation for commissioning of the project of Duc Giang Chemical Complex and Radial Tire Factory, and continue to invest in their expansion; to promote the attraction of investment in projects implementing stages after oil refinery and petrochemical stages.

- Power generation and supply: To stabilize the operation of existing hydropower and thermo-power plants; to speed up the implementation of solar power projects; to attract investment in the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power plants, and form an LNG-fired power center in Nghi Son economic zone.

- Mechanical engineering, electronics and metal production: To promote investment in industrial projects in support of mechanical engineering, production of equipment and spare parts of industrial machines, and electronics-telecommunications; to maintain the operation of the Nghi Son Steel Plant - phases 1 and 2, and accelerate the implementation of phase 3 of the project.

- Construction material production: To create conditions for Dai Duong Cement Plant to commission production lines 1 and 2 and implement production lines 3 and 4, and for Long Son Cement Factory to complete production lines 3 and 4.

- Textile and garment and leather footwear: To develop Thanh Hoa into the largest area for textile and garment and leather footwear development in the North Central Coast. In the 2021-2025 period, to attract a number of investment projects on textile and garment and supporting industries for textile and garment and leather footwear sectors with a large scale, advanced technology, and environmental treatment technology up to standards. In the 2026-2030 period, to limit and stop attracting investment in new garment and leather footwear projects in the delta and coastal areas; to encourage garment and leather footwear enterprises to renovate technology, production lines and management process to improve productivity, quality and product value.

b/ Agriculture: To restructure the agricultural sector, focusing on development of large-scale crop production and livestock production models with high added values which are closely linked with the food value chains in order to improve production efficiency; to apply high technology and organic technology to agricultural activities to improve land use efficiency and increase productivity of crops and livestock and labor productivity. Orientations for development of major agricultural industries are as follows:

- Crop production: To speed up land accumulation and large-scale production; to carry out hi-tech specialized commodity production in association with product preservation, processing and sale.

- Livestock production: To develop livestock production with centralized and hi-tech industrial farms based on value chains in close association with hi-tech food processing; to improve the efficiency of farm-household-based livestock production in a safe and sustainable manner.

- Forestry: To sustainably develop forestry in combination with biodiversity conservation and ecological environment protection; to intensify the management, conservation and sustainable development of special-use forests, protection forests and production forests, and development of medicinal plants and trees under the forest canopy.

- Fisheries: To develop the fisheries sector into a large-scale and hi-quality commodity production industry based on value chains from production to processing and sale; to protect and regenerate aquatic resources in a sustainable manner, conserve biodiversity and adapt to climate change.

c/ Tourism: By 2030, Thanh Hoa province will become one of major tourism centers of the country with high-quality tourism products, affirming their brands and competitiveness. To focus on development of tourism with three main types below:

- Sea tourism: To be concentrated in coastal districts, particularly Sam Son sea-tourism urban center, Hai Tien and Hoang Truong tourist zones (Hoang Hoa district), Hai Hoa tourist zone (Nghi Son town) and the coastal area of Quang Xuong district; to develop sea-island tourism products on Hon Ne and Hon Me islands; deep-sea tourism services and other types of combined tourism services such as wellness tourism, conferences, seminars, etc.

- Community-based ecotourism: To be concentrated in areas where tourism development is allowed in national parks, nature reserves and surrounding areas, focusing on Ben En National Park, Pu Luong and Pu Hu Nature Reserves, Cam Luong Fish Stream, Ham Rong-Nui Do area, and eco-tourism sites in mountainous districts, etc.

- Cultural and historical tourism: To focus on developing tourism in cultural and historical relics in combination with scenic spots and landscapes of the province such as: the World Cultural Heritage of Ho Dynasty Citadel; the special national relic sites of Lam Kinh, Le Hoan, Ba Trieu, Con Moong cave, Sam Son, Am Tien temple-Nua mountain, Phu Na and Cua Dat, and classified and recognized cultural festivals in the province.

2. Plans on development of other sectors and fields

a/ Service sector: To quickly develop and diversify services and high-quality service products with high added values; to build a grade-I regional-level logistics center in Nghi Son economic zone; to combine tourism development with conservation and promotion of cultural and ethnic values, preservation of landscapes and environmental protection; to develop transport, warehousing and yard services, trade, education and training, information and communications, real estate business, and science and technology transfer, thus creating a driving force for growth promotion and socio-economic development of the province.

b/ Science and technology: To raise the capacity of science and technology, and innovation; to promote research, application and transfer of scientific and technical advances and new technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; to invest resources in science and technology development, especially in high-quality science and technology human resources.

c/ Education and training: To renovate and improve the quality of comprehensive education, narrow the gap in education quality among different regions; to maintain and promote spearhead education achievements of the province in the country’s top localities; to develop the education system toward openness, flexibility, diversification of training models, educational programs and learning models, and intensified application of information technology and digital transformation to teaching and learning activities; to build a contingent of teachers and administrators who are quantitatively sufficient and rationally structured and meet qualification requirements; to review and rearrange the network of early childhood and general education institutions; to increase investment to ensure sufficient schools, classes and teaching equipment as required.

To develop a network of continuing education institutions toward open education; to expand the system of specialized education institutions for people with disabilities and the system of centers to support the development of inclusive education.

To prioritize investment in the development of higher education institutions and vocational training institutions in the province; to facilitate the establishment of non-public vocational education institutions; to develop a number of vocational colleges to provide training in key occupations that are up to national and ASEAN standards; to coordinate with major universities in the region to establish their branches in Thanh Hoa province.

d/ Health and public healthcare: To develop a modern and sustainable health system; to combine modern medicine with traditional medicine; to promote the development of high and specialized techniques; to quickly develop high-quality medical services and mobilize social resources for establishment of a number of high-quality service hospitals, striving for the target that Thanh Hoa province will become one of hi-tech medical service centers in the North Central Coast.

dd/ Culture and sports: To build and develop Thanh Hoa’s culture and people meeting fast and sustainable development requirements; to strengthen development linkages, cooperation and exchange among regions; to sustainably develop culture in harmony with socio-economic development, national defense-security maintenance and environmental protection; to comprehensively develop physical training and sports activities for everyone, high-achievement sports and professional sports; to improve the health and longevity and prevent diseases for the people, and develop the physical strength and stature of young people; to focus on investment in breakthrough development of a number of key sports, striving for the province to maintain its position among the country’s top localities in terms of physical training and sports.

e/ Labor, employment and social security: To create favorable conditions for the people to access and benefit from social assistance services; to properly implement social policies and take care of people with meritorious services to the nation; to help disadvantaged people integrate into the community; to mobilize social resources to create conditions for organizations and individuals to develop networks of vocational education institutions and participate in vocational education activities; to synchronously and effectively implement programs, schemes and policies to support poverty reduction and increase the poor’s accessibility to basic social services.

g/ National defense and security: To build the all-people national defense in association with the people’s security posture; to proactively prevent and fight hostile forces and crimes, maintain territorial sovereignty, political security, and social order and safety in any circumstances.

3. Transport network development plans

a/ Plans on development of national transport infrastructure facilities:

- Expressways, national highways, coastal roads, railways and waterways: To comply with relevant national master plans.

- Airports: To comply with the approved Master Plan on Tho Xuan international airport for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

b/ Plans on development of provincial-level transport infrastructure facilities:

- Roads:

+ To plan the adjustment of the existing 63 provincial roads with the total length of 1,499.67 km, in which 2 roads and 1 road section with the total length of around 100 km will be upgraded into national highways; and 3 roads with the length of 20.5 km will be converted into urban roads.

+ To upgrade 99 district roads and urban roads into provincial roads, and convert 2 national highways’ routes into local roads with the total length of 2,044.35 km.

- Inland waterways: By 2030, to put into management and operation 818.5 km of inland waterways, in which 249.5 km will be managed by central agencies and 569 km will be managed by local authorities.

- Inland waterway ports: To include in plans 7 ports, including Ham Rong passenger port, and 6 general cargo ports, namely Hoang Ly, Do Len, Hai Chau, Binh Minh (Lach Bang), Lach Truong and Mong Giuong.

- Inland waterway wharves: To include in plans 80 inland waterway wharves serving socio-economic development and meeting travel and goods transport demands.

(See details in Appendices I, II and III to this Decision).

- Inland container depots and logistics centers: To build a grade-I regional logistics center in Nghi Son economic zone; a provincial logistics center in the western area of Thanh Hoa city on a land area of at least 10 ha, and a logistics center in Lam Son-Song Vang industrial park on a land area of at least 20 ha.

4. Plans on development of power sources and power supply networks

To develop power sources in association with the province’s socio-economic development orientations in conformity with the national power master plan; to continue to build, upgrade and renovate transformer stations and 500kV, 220kV and 110kV transmission lines, and medium-voltage and low-voltage transmission lines connected to new power sources with a view to meeting the increased load demand, especially in economic zones, industrial parks and cottage industry zones; to focus on transforming 10kV power grids into 22kV or 35kV power grids; to gradually remove intermediate transformer stations and replace them with 110kV transformer stations or new medium-voltage feeders; to incrementally put the existing medium-voltage and low-voltage power grids underground, thus ensuring safe and stable power supply for deep-lying and remote areas.

(The list of investment projects on development of power sources; and the list of 500kV, 220kV and 110kV transformer stations of Thanh Hoa province are provided in Appendices IV and V to this Decision).

5. Plans on development of information and communications infrastructure facilities

a/ Public telecommunications service stations: To install some 230 public Wi-Fi hotspots (or new radio-access technologies) in central areas and crowded places such as trade centers, supermarkets, bus stations, aerodromes, railway stations, parks, museums, tourist sites, entertainment and recreation zones, schools and hospitals.

b/ Telecommunications station infrastructure facilities: To develop 110-130 fixed telecommunications stations in the central areas of districts, towns, cities, economic zones and industrial parks; to convert infrastructure facilities of fixed switching stations and build telecommunications stations for installation of next-generation network (NGN) access devices with 400-450 stations; to build 1,700-2,000 base transceiver stations (BTS), thereby increasing the total number of BTS in the province to 4,700-5,000.

c/ Base transceiver antenna infrastructure facilities: To additionally build 1,700-2,000 BTS antennas, increasing the total number of BTS antennas in the province to 4,700-5,000; to renovate and convert 850-900 type-A2 antennas into type-A1 antennas, increasing the number of type-A1 antennas to at least 1,650 (accounting for more than 35%).

d/ Telecommunications cable networks: The rate of intra-provincial and inter-provincial peripheral cable networks put underground in the province will reach 35-40%; such rate in urban areas will ,reach 60-65%; on national highways, provincial roads and district roads, 40-45%; and in new urban areas, economic zones and industrial parks, 100%; to complete the renovation and embellishment of telecommunications suspended cable networks for all infrastructure facilities of peripheral cable networks in the province.

dd/ Digital transformation infrastructure facilities: To develop information and telecommunications infrastructure facilities as a foundation for digital transformation; to operate the special-use data transmission networks to all agencies of the Party and the State; to connect internal network systems of agencies and units; to invest in and upgrade data centers, meeting digital transformation requirements; to invest in infrastructure facilities of, and implement, Internet of Things applications, and integrate sensors and digital technologies into such essential infrastructure facilities as transport, environment, agriculture, energy, urban management, order and security, etc.; to universalize the fiber-optic broadband Internet service, 5G mobile network services and next-generation technologies.

e/ Press, radio, television and grassroots information networks: To retain the existing 5 press agencies; to apply and renew technologies and carry out digital transformation in content management and production; to develop multi-media press agencies, combining different types of communications and OTT applications for provision and transmission of information and images; to gradually transform the traditional operation methods into the newsroom convergence model; to modernize grassroots information systems.

6. Plans on development of trade infrastructure facilities

a/ Markets and trade centers

- By 2025, the province will have 420 markets, including 14 grade-1 markets, 43 grade-2 markets, and 363 grade-3 markets. By 2030, the province will have 486 markets, including 14 grade-1 markets, 44 grade-2 markets and 428 grade-3 markets.

- By 2025, the province will have at least 15 trade centers, including 7 trade centers in grade-I urban areas, 2 trade centers in grade-III urban areas, at least 2 trade centers in grade-IV urban areas, and 4 trade centers to be built in grade-V urban areas; for other grade-V urban areas, to reserve land areas for attracting investment in trade centers in the subsequent period. By 2030, the province will have 36 trade centers, including at least 10 trade centers in grade-I urban areas, at least 8 trade centers in grade-III urban areas, at least 8 trade centers in grade-IV urban areas, and at least 10 trade centers in grade-V urban areas.

(See details in Appendices VI, VII to this Decision).

b/ Convention and exhibition centers: The province will have 2 provincial-level trade fair, exhibition and advertising centers, specifically as follows: 1 provincial trade fair, exhibitions and advertising center will be retained in Dong Hai ward, Thanh Hoa city; to attract investment for construction of a trade fair, exhibition and advertising center on a land area of at least 20 ha in Lam Son-Sao Vang urban area.

c/ Petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storages

- Petroleum storages: By 2025, to include in plans 20 petroleum storages (specifically, to retain the 6 operating storages, build 5 new storages for which the investment policy has been approved, and add 9 storages in Bim Son town, and Ngoc Lac, Nhu Xuan, Thach Thanh, Ba Thuoc, Tho Xuan, Cam Thuy, Vinh Loc and Trieu Son districts). By 2030, to include in plans 20 storages (specifically, to retain the 11 storages formed and put into operation before 2025 and attract investment in 9 new storages).

- LPG storages: By 2025, to include in plans 12 storages (specifically, to build 9 new storages in Nghi Son economic zone, Thanh Hoa city, Bim Son town, and Ngoc Lac, Nhu Xuan, Thach Thanh, Ba Thuoc and Tho Xuan districts; and include in plans 3 storages in Cam Thuy, Vinh Loc and Trieu Son districts). By 2030, to retain the number of storages as in the 2021-2025 master plan and attract investment in 3 new storages.

7. Plans on development of hydraulic work and water supply networks

a/ Zoning for irrigation water supply

There will be 7 zones for irrigation water supply, including: Zone 1 (the upstream areas of Ma river, embracing Quan Hoa, Quan Son, Ba Thuoc, Muong Lat and Cam Thuy districts, with water taken from Ma river); Zone 2 (Buoi river basin, embracing Thach Thanh and Vinh Loc districts, with water taken from Ma river and Buoi river); Zone 3 (Ma river’s northern areas, embracing Ha Trung, Nga Son, Hoang Hoa and Hau Loc districts, Bim Son town, and Thanh Hoa city, with water taken from Len, Hoat, Bao Van and Ma rivers); Zone 4 (the southern areas of Ma river and northern areas of Chu river, embracing Yen Dinh, Ngoc Lac and Thieu Hoa districts, with water taken from the Cau Chay river system and pumping stations on the main flows of Ma and Chu rivers); Zone 5 (Am river basin, mainly Lang Chanh district, with water taken from Am and Chu rivers); Zone 6 (the upstream areas of Chu river to Bai Thuong dam, mainly Thuong Xuan district, with water taken from the upstream areas of Chu river to Bai Thuong dam); and Zone 7 (the southern areas of Chu river, embracing Trieu Son, Nong Cong, Dong Son, Tho Xuan, Nhu Xuan, Quang Xuong and Nhu Thanh districts, Sam Son city, and Nghi Son town, with water taken from the Bai Thuong dam system, Yen river and Bang river).

b/ Zoning for waterlogging drainage

There will be 6 zones for waterlogging drainage, including: Zone 1 (the upstream areas of Ma river, embracing high-mountainous districts, namely Muong Lat, Quan Hoa, Quan Son, Ba Thuoc, Cam Thuy and Ngoc Lac); Zone 2 (the upstream areas of Chu river, embracing Thuong Xuan district, part of Nhu Xuan district, and Lang Chanh district); Zone 3 (Buoi river basin, embracing Thach Thanh and Vinh Loc districts); Zone 4 (the northern areas of Ma river, embracing the entire Nga Son district and Hau Loc district, and part of Ha Trung, Hoang Hoa and Vinh Loc districts and Thanh Hoa city); Zone 5 (delta areas in Ma river’s southern areas and Chu river’s northern areas, embracing Yen Dinh district, and part of communes in the northern areas of Tho Xuan and Thieu Hoa districts); and Zone 6 (the southern areas of Chu river, embracing part of the districts and towns of Nghi Son, Nhu Thanh, Nhu Xuan, Nong Cong, Quang Xuong, Trieu Son and Dong Son, Thanh Hoa city, Sam Son city, and the remaining part of Tho Xuong and Thieu Hoa districts).

8. Plans on development of water supply networks

a/ Zoning for domestic water supply

- Domestic water in rural areas shall be supplied in 2 zones, with one zone covering mountainous districts and the other zone covering delta and coastal districts.

- Water supply in urban areas: To comply with approved technical and specialized master plans.

b/ Plans on development of inter-district water plants

- Ham Rong water plant in Ham Rong ward, Thanh Hoa city: To supply water to Thanh Hoa and Sam Son cities, and Dong Son district.

- Mat Son water plant in Ngoc Trao ward, Thanh Hoa city: To supply water to Thanh Hoa and Sam Son cities.

- Quang Thinh water plant in Quang Thinh ward, Thanh Hoa city: To supply water to Thanh Hoa city and Quang Xuong district.

- Thang Tho water plant in Thang Tho commune, Nong Cong district: To supply water to Nong Cong district and Nghi Son town.

- Hoang Vinh water plant in But Son township, Hoang Hoa district: To supply water to Hoang Hoa district and Thanh Hoa city.

- Trieu Son water plant in Trieu Son township, Trieu Son district: To supply water to Trieu Son and Nong Cong districts.

- Nui Go (Tan Chau) water plant in Tan Chau commune, Thieu Hoa district: To supply water to Thieu Hoa and Dong Son districts.

- Nam Nga Son clean water plant in Nga Thang commune, Nga Son district: To supply water to 7 communes in the southern areas of Nga Son district and 2 communes of Hau Loc district.

- The water plant in Cam Van commune, Cam Thuy district: To supply water to 2 communes of Cam Thuy district and 1 commune of Yen Dinh district.

9. Plans on development of waste treatment zones

a/ There will be three inter-district waste treatment zones, including: (1) The solid waste treatment zone in Dong Nam commune, Dong Son district; (2) The inter-district solid waste treatment zone in Truong Lam commune, Nghi Son town; and (3) The inter-district solid waste treatment zone in Dong Son ward, Bim Son town.

b/ There will be 29 waste treatment zones in districts of the province, in which delta, coastal and low-mountainous districts each will have 1 waste treatment zone using incineration technology or hybrid technologies (particularly, Yen Dinh district will have 2 waste treatment zones); and mountainous districts (Lang Chanh, Quan Hoa, Ba Thuoc, Quan Son and Muong Lat), each will have 2 sanitary landfills.

(See details in Appendices VIII to this Decision).

10. Plans on development of social infrastructure facilities

a/ Plans on development of cultural and sports institutions

- Cultural institutions: To build 1 library up to standards in every district, town and city; to build 310 commune-level libraries; to invest in modern and synchronous physical and technical foundations for the province’s library which is capable of being connected with district- and commune-level libraries.

+ For the 2021-2025 period: To build 1 children’s cultural palace; a provincial-level literature-arts exhibition house; and the provincial culture-cinema center; to strive for the target that all of district-level administrative units and 80% of communes, wards and townships will have culture-sports centers; 90% of hamlets, villages and residential groups will have cultural houses; and 80% of hamlets (60% in mountainous areas) will have cultural houses and sports zones with their equipment invested according to the law-prescribed criteria; to conserve, embellish, and promote the values of, the World Cultural Heritage of Ho Dynasty Citadel; special national relics of Lam Kinh, Hang Con Moong and their adjacent areas, and Ba Trieu Temple; and historical and cultural relic sites of Ham Rong, Trieu Tuong Mausoleum relic site, Phu Trinh relic site, etc.

+ For the 2026-2030 period: To invest in provincial-level cultural institutions such as the provincial traditional arts theater, the provincial museum, and Thanh Hoa cultural park; to invest in multi-functional cultural institutions in districts, towns and urban areas, and upgrade district cultural centers; to build cultural institutions in communes, hamlets and villages in association with the program on building a new-style
countryside. By 2030, all delta and coastal districts and 80% of mountainous districts will have village cultural houses. To invest in construction of general cultural institution facilities with 1-3 function(s) (cinema, cinema complex; theater and exhibition house) in Sam Son city, Bim Son town, Nghi Son urban area, Ngoc Lac urban area, and the hi-tech industrial park linked with Lam Son-Sao Vang urban area.

To invest in construction of cultural and sports institutions for workers in industrial parks/cottage industry zones/economic zones; and cultural-sports centers for the communities in the western mountainous areas.

To include in plans and invest in key works, and regional cultural-sports institutions (5 inter-district centers).

To develop 13 golf courses in association with development of tourist resorts, high-class ecological urban areas, and other places with appropriate conditions.

- Sports facilities

+ For the 2021-2025 period: To complete the project on Thanh Hoa football training center; to build a 30,000-seat central stadium; to build a number of facilities of the province’s physical training and sports complex and 3 physical training and sports centers in district areas. Every district, town or city will have at least 2 out of 3 basic physical training and sports facilities (including stadiums, gymnasiums and swimming pools) and other sports facilities.

+ For the 2026-2030 period: To complete the 30,000-seat central stadium; to build the Thanh Hoa athlete training center (for the North Central Coast); to continue to build a number of facilities of the province’s physical training and sports complex and physical training and sports centers of district areas. Every district, town or city will have 3 basic physical training and sports facilities and other sports facilities.

b/ Science and technology infrastructure facilities: To focus on building Hong Duc University; the Culture, Sports and Tourism University; and Thanh Hoa Agriculture Academy into big training and research centers of Central Vietnam; to promote the development of university branches in the province and non-public scientific research institutions, and build capacity for science and technology service organizations; to develop a centralized database in harmony with relevant national databases to create a foundation for digital economy development.

c/ Education and training infrastructure facilities: To invest in, and raise the quality of, infrastructure facilities of the school network, striving for the target that by 2030, 95% of primary schools, 87% of lower-secondary schools and 70% of upper-secondary schools in the province will meet national standards. By 2030, Thanh Hoa province will have 2,090 schools, including 771 early childhood schools, 585 primary schools, 98 primary-cum-lower secondary schools, 530 lower-secondary schools, 88 upper-secondary schools, 10 lower secondary-cum-upper secondary schools, and 8 primary-lower secondary-upper secondary schools.

To retain the existing higher education institutions, including 3 universities under the province’s management, and 2 university branches; to intensify the mobilization of all social resources for development of education and training institutions.

d/ Medical infrastructure facilities: To modernize 13 provincial-level hospitals; to upgrade and expand 3 general hospitals of Ha Trung, Quan Hoa and Tho Xuan districts (including investment in physical foundations, equipment and human resources) into 3 regional general hospitals; to establish a number of specialized health centers such as a dialysis center, pre-hospital emergency center and stem cell center in the province’s general hospital; to establish a branch of Hanoi Medical University; to invest in the Thanh Hoa branch of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital with mobilization of social resources, proceeding to establish a medical center in the province.

By 2025, to complete the construction, upgrading and expansion of medical centers in districts, towns and cities; to maintain investment in physical foundations and equipment in district-level hospitals; to continue to invest in renovating, expanding and upgrading general hospitals up to grade-II hospital criteria, ensuring that all district-level hospitals and local general clinics will have medical devices invested according the Ministry of Health’s standards; to build capacity for preventive medicine activities, meeting epidemic prevention and control requirements in the new situation.

dd/ Infrastructure facilities for labor, employment, people with meritorious services to the revolution, and society:

- Vocational education infrastructure facilities: By 2025, the province will have 57 education institutions (including 12 colleges, 16 intermediate schools and 29 vocational education centers). By 2030, the province will have 56 education institutions (including 16 colleges, 12 intermediate schools and 28 vocational education centers).

(See details in Appendix IX to this Decision).

- Infrastructure facilities of social assistance establishments:

+ For the 2021-2025, to invest in upgrading and expanding the operational scale of the existing 4 public social assistance establishments; for the 2026-2030 period, to develop 6 public social assistance establishments.

+ To continue to invest in upgrading physical foundations of the existing 2 drug rehabilitation centers, namely drug rehabilitation center No. 1 in Hoang Giang commune, Nong Cong district; and drug rehabilitation center No. 2 in Xuan Phu commune, Quan Hoa district.

+ Establishments for provision of care and nursing for people with meritorious services to the revolution: To comply with the approved national master plan.

+ Thanh Hoa employment service center: To retain its location in Phu Son ward, Thanh Hoa city; to intensify investment in its physical foundations and equipment so as to improve the quality and operational efficiency of the center.

IV. TERRITORIAL-SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Plan on construction of inter-district regions: To zone off the province’s inter-district space into 5 regions which are:

a/ Region 1, the central inter-district region, including: Thanh Hoa city, Sam Son city and Quang Xuong, Dong Son and Hoang Hoa districts.

b/ Region 2, including: Tho Xuan, Trieu Son, Yen Dinh, Thieu Hoa and Thuong Xuan districts.

c/ Region 3, including: Bim Son town and Ha Trung, Nga Son, Hau Loc, Thach Thanh and Vinh Loc districts.

d/ Region 4, including: Nghi Son town and Nhu Thanh, Nhu Xuan and Nong Cong districts.

dd/ Region 5, including: Ngoc Lac, Lang Chanh, Cam Thuy, Ba Thuoc, Quan Hoa, Quan Son and Muong Lat districts.

2. Development plan:

a/ Dynamic economic centers: To develop 4 dynamic economic centers in the following order of priority:

- The southern dynamic center (Nghi Son economic zone): To develop Nghi Son economic zone into one of the key coastal urban, industrial and service centers of the country; a multi-sectoral development area with the core being heavy industries, basic industries, energy, processing, and manufacturing industries and services in association with efficient exploitation of Nghi Son seaport.

- The dynamic center of Thanh Hoa city-Sam Son city: To develop multi-sectoral services, focusing on high-quality services; to develop clean industries and hi-tech industries of high added value; to train and develop high-quality human resources; to develop sea tourism and cultural tourism, turning Sam Son tourist-urban center into one of the key sea tourism destinations of the country.

- The western dynamic center (Lam Son-Sao Vang): To develop the Lam Son-Sao Vang area into a new dynamic economic region of the province in association with Tho Xuan airport and industrial and hi-tech agricultural area; to form Lam Son-Sao Vang urban area; to develop heritage tourism in association with Lam Kinh and Le Hoan special national relic sites.

- The northern dynamic center (Bim Son-Thach Thanh): To develop Bim Son and Thach Thanh into a dynamic economic center in the north of the province in association with Bim Son industrial park.

b/ Economic corridors: To develop economic corridors in the following order of priority:

- The coastal economic corridor, which is the corridor connecting Thanh Hoa with northern coastal provinces and city (Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh) and Nghe An province via coastal roads and national highway 10.

- The North-South economic corridor, which is the central axis of the province in the north-south direction, playing as the main axis connecting Thanh Hoa with Hanoi capital, northern and north central provinces via national highway 1A and North-South expressway.

- Central economic corridor, which is the central axis of the province in the east-west direction; playing the key role in regulating economic, urban and service activities of the whole province, connecting Sam Son city-Thanh Hoa city-Tho Xuan district via South Ma River boulevard, Le Loi boulevard, and the road from Thanh Hoa city to Tho Xuan airport.

- The international economic corridor, which is the corridor connecting Nghi Son seaport-Tho Xuan airport with northwest provinces and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, via the route from Tho Xuan airport to Nghi Son economic zone,
Ho Chi Minh Road, national highway 15, national highway 217 and Na Meo international border gate.

- The Ho Chi Minh road economic corridor (agricultural highway), which is the axis connecting Thanh Hoa with Hanoi, northern provinces and Nghe An province; especially in midland and mountainous districts of the province.

- The northeast economic corridor, which is the corridor connecting Lach Sung port-Nga Son-Bim Son-Thach Thanh with northern provinces via national highways 217B and 217 and Ho Chi Minh Road.

3. Plan on development of areas with difficult or extremely difficult conditions

a/ To arrange and stabilize population in necessary places; to solve the shortage of residential land, production land, and domestic water: By 2030, to plan and arrange 100% of households living in disaster-affected areas, scattered households, and free migrants in mountainous districts. To review and arrange land areas to allocate land to households that do not have or lack production land, and households that do not have or lack residential land.

b/ To develop production, carry out crop restructuring and agricultural, industrial economic, cottage industry and service restructuring; to promote the application of high technologies. To promote the development of silvopasture in a safe and sustainable manner, gradually reducing small-scale livestock production for shifting to concentrated livestock production; to develop cage fish farming on irrigation and hydropower reservoirs.

To diversify resources for investment in infrastructure development. To continue to invest in building and completing the system of transport infrastructure, information technology and socio-economic infrastructure works in service of production and people’s life.

c/ To build physical foundations, teaching and medical equipment, and grassroots cultural and sports institutions. To pay attention to training and further training to improve the quality of human resources. To preserve and promote the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in association with development of ecotourism and community-based tourism.

4. Plan on organization of the urban system and rural territory

a/ Urban development plan

- By 2025, the province will have 47 urban centers of all grades, of which 1 city is grade-I urban center (Thanh Hoa urban center: to merge Dong Son district into Thanh Hoa city); 2 grade-III urban centers (Sam Son city and Bim Son town); 1 grade-IV urban center (Nghi Son town); and 43 grade-V urban centers.

- By 2030, the province will have 47 urban centers, of which 1 city is grade-1 urban center (Thanh Hoa urban center); 2 grade-III urban centers (Sam Son city and Nghi Son city); 4 grade-IV urban centers (to merge Ha Trung district into Bim Son town and establish 3 new towns, including Tho Xuan, Hoang Hoa and Quang Xuong; and 40 grade-V urban centers.

(See details in Appendix X to this Decision).

b/ Plan on organization of the rural territory

The territorial organization of rural areas shall be associated with the urbanization process of the province and socio-economic characteristics of each locality. The spatial arrangement for rural development must ensure economical use of land and infrastructure investment costs, improve material conditions for people in combination with concentrated agricultural production areas and upgrading of village, commune and hamlet models, create favorable conditions for production, and avoid areas at high risk of landslides and areas prone to flashfloods.

5. Plan on spatial organization for development of economic zones, industrial parks, and cottage industry parks

a/ Economic zones: To focus on developing Nghi Son economic zone under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1699/QD-TTg of December 7, 2018, approving the adjustment and expansion of the general master plan on construction of Nghi Son economic zone. To build Nghi Son economic zone into one of the key coastal urban-industrial and service centers of the country. After 2030, to develop Na Meo international border gate into Na Meo border-gate economic zone.

b/ Industrial parks

- To continue building 8 industrial parks with a total area of 1,424.2 ha under the approved master plan, including: (1) Le Mon industrial park; (2) Dinh Huong-Tay Bac Ga industrial park; (3) Bim Son industrial park; (4) Hoang Long industrial park-urban area; (5) Lam Son-Sao Vang industrial park; (6) Thach Quang industrial park, Thach Thanh district; (7) Ngoc Lac industrial park; and (8) Bai Tranh industrial park, Nhu Xuan district.

- To develop 9 new industrial parks with a total area of 2,281.5 ha, including: (1) an industrial park in the west of Thanh Hoa city; (2) Phu Quy industrial park, Hoang Hoa district; (3) Bac Hoang Hoa industrial park, Hoang Hoa district; (4) Ha Long industrial park, Ha Trung district; (5) Luu Binh industrial park, Quang Xuong district; (6) Tuong Linh industrial park, Nong Cong district; (7) Giang Quang Thinh industrial park, Thieu Hoa district; (8) Nga Tan industrial park, Nga Son district; and (9) Da Loc industrial park, Hau Loc district.

After 2030, to develop 2 new industrial parks with an area of 872 ha, including: (1) Phong Ninh industrial park, Yen Dinh district, and (2) Ha Linh industrial park, Ha Trung district.

(See details in Appendix XI to this Decision).

c/ Plan on development of cottage industry parks: By 2030, the province will have 115 cottage industry parks with a total area of 5,267.25 ha. After 2030, the province will have 126 cottage industry parks with a total area of 5,893.65 ha.

(See details in Appendix XII to this Decision).

6. Plan on spatial organization for development of trade and service

To develop trade centers in urban areas, townships and commune centers, on the basis of ensuring conformity with land-use master plans and urban and rural master plans. To develop logistics services in Nghi Son economic zone, the western area of Thanh Hoa city, and Lam Son-Sao Vang industrial park. To develop resorts, high-class ecological urban areas and some other locations with suitable conditions.

7. Spatial arrangement for development of agriculture, forestry and fisheries

a/ Agricultural production areas

- Concentrated rice cultivation areas: To focus on developing high-yield and high-quality intensive rice areas in Yen Dinh, Trieu Son, Tho Xuan, Thieu Hoa, Quang Xuong, Nong Cong, Hoang Hoa, Hau Loc, Dong Son, Vinh Loc, Ha Trung and Nga Son districts; and rice seed production areas in Yen Dinh, Tho Xuan, Nong Cong, Hoang Hoa and Thieu Hoa districts.

- Industrial tree material areas: To arrange intensive sugarcane farming areas in Thach Thanh, Ngoc Lac, Tho Xuan, Cam Thuy, Ba Thuoc, Thuong Xuan, Nhu Thanh, Nhu Xuan, Lang Chanh, Yen Dinh, Nong Cong and Trieu Son districts. To arrange cassava material areas in Nhu Xuan, Ngoc Lac, Quan Hoa, Lang Chanh, Quan Son, Thuong Xuan, Ba Thuoc, Muong Lat, Tho Xuan, Nhu Thanh, Cam Thuy, Thach Thanh, Trieu Son, Vinh Loc, Yen Dinh and Ha Trung districts; and green hemp material areas in Cam Thuy, Ngoc Lac, Tho Xuan, Nhu Xuan, Thuong Xuan, Lang Chanh, Quan Son, Trieu Son, Quan Hoa, Ba Thuoc, Ha Trung and Hoang Hoa districts, etc.

- To arrange concentrated fruit tree-growing areas in some districts such as Trieu Son, Nhu Thanh, Thach Thanh, Ba Thuoc, Tho Xuan, Ngoc Lac, Thuong Xuan and Nhu Xuan districts, etc.

b/ Development of concentrated livestock production areas

- Lean pork production areas: To develop in Nga Son, Ha Trung, Nhu Thanh, Hau Loc, Tho Xuan, Trieu Son, Vinh Loc and Yen Dinh districts, Nghi Son town, etc.

- Dairy farming areas: To develop in Yen Dinh, Ngoc Lac, Cam Thuy, Tho Xuan, Nong Cong, Nhu Thanh, Trieu Son and Nhu Xuan districts, etc.

- High-quality beef cattle raising areas: To develop in Ba Thuoc, Ngoc Lac, Thach Thanh, Lang Chanh, Thuong Xuan, Cam Thuy, Nhu Xuan, Yen Dinh, Thieu Hoa, Quang Xuong, Thach Thanh and Trieu Son districts, striving to develop in most midland and mountainous districts and some delta districts.

c/ Development of concentrated forestry production areas

- Large timber forests: To develop mainly in Muong Lat, Thuong Xuan, Quan Son, Nhu Xuan, Quan Hoa, Ba Thuoc, Lang Chanh, Cam Thuy and Ngoc Lac districts.

- Medicinal herb exploitation under the forest canopy: To develop in Muong Lat, Quan Son, Ba Thuoc, Lang Chanh and Thuong Xuan districts.

- Medicinal plant cultivation areas: To develop mainly in Thuong Xuan, Trieu Son and Thach Thanh districts.

8. Spatial arrangement for national defense and security assurance

To arrange military zones, spots especially prioritized for national defense purposes, spots of high importance prioritized for national defense purposes and land serving public security purposes so as to ensure performance of national defense and security assurance tasks.

V. PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY; EXPLOITATION AND USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES; DISASTER PREVENTION AND CONTROL AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

1. Plan on environment and biodiversity protection

a/ Environmental zoning: 3 main zones, including:

- Strictly protected zones: (1) core areas of natural heritages (Ben En national park, Cuc Phuong national park’s part in Thanh Hoa province; Pu Luong, Pu Hu and Xuan Lien nature reserves; landscape protection areas of Ba Trieu temple, and Truong Le, Lam Kinh, and Ham Rong; 2 species and habitat conservation areas of Sen Tam Quy and (expanded) Nam Dong and other nature reserves); (2) forest park in Ham Rong historical and cultural relic site, the province’s medicinal plants in Quang Thanh ward, Thanh Hoa city; (3) domestic water supply zones as specified in the water resource functional zoning of Thanh Hoa province; (4) urban residential areas, including 30 wards in Thanh Hoa city, 8 wards in Sam Son city and 6 wards in Bim Son town; and (5) cultural heritage and historical relic preservation zones.

- Low-emission zones: (1) buffer zones of conservation areas; (2) suburban areas of Thanh Hoa city, Sam Son city, Bim Son town, and urban areas of grade V or higher grade that are included in master plans, except those planned for urban centers for industrial development and located in the expanded Nghi Son economic zone; (3) tourism development zones; (4) mangrove forests, natural forests on limestone mountains and natural forests on soil mountains; (5) water resource protection corridors in upstream areas of large river systems (water source protection areas for domestic water supply).

- Other environmental zones: the remaining zones in the province which are not listed above.

(See details in Appendix XIII to this Decision).

b/ Nature and biodiversity conservation

- To ensure that important natural ecosystems, and endangered, precious and rare species and genetic resources are conserved and developed sustainably; to maintain and develop ecosystem services adaptive to climate change in order to promote sustainable development of the province; to build and raise public awareness about the province’s biodiversity conservation.

- To complete the master plans on, and put into operation, existing conservation areas, including: Ben En national park, Cuc Phuong national park’s part in Thanh Hoa; and provincial-level conservation areas, including Pu Luong, Pu Hu and Xuan Lien nature reserves; landscape protection areas of Ba Trieu temple, Truong Le, Lam Kinh and Ham Rong; and 2 species and habitat conservation areas of Sen Tam Quy and (expanded) Nam Dong.

- To develop and upgrade the system of botanical gardens and rescue stations in Pu Luong, Pu Hu, Xuan Lien national parks and nature reserves, to plan a forest park in Ham Rong historical and cultural relic site; to plan the province’s medicinal plant gardens in Quang Thanh ward, Thanh Hoa city, and Pu Luong, Pu Hu and Xuan Lien national parks and nature reserves.

- To establish and put into operation 4 biodiversity corridors connecting Pu Luong nature reserve - Cuc Phuong national park; Pu Luong - Hang Kia - Pa Co; Xuan Lien - Pu Hoat and the corridor connecting the two subzones of Pu Luong nature reserve.

c/ Plan on environmental monitoring

- Water environment:

+ Surface water: To maintain 47 existing river monitoring points; and 7 lake monitoring points. By 2030, to add 7 river monitoring points (watershed areas and pollution-prone areas).

+ Groundwater: To maintain 32 existing monitoring points in 4 zones. By 2030, to add 10 monitoring points in key areas (industrial parks; concentrated livestock production areas in Yen Dinh, Nhu Xuan and Hau Loc districts; Sam Son, Hai Tien and Hai Hoa tourist attractions and Nghi Son island commune).

+ Coastal seawater: To maintain 3 existing coastal monitoring points. By 2030, to add 5 monitoring points at Lach Bang, Lach Hoi, Lach Sung, Lach Truong and Lach Ghep estuaries; to build 3 automatic coastal seawater monitoring stations (the deep-water port of Nghi Son economic zone, Lach Hoi, Sam Son city, Lach Bang and Nghi Son town).

+ Offshore seawater: To maintain 7 existing monitoring points.

- Soil environment: To maintain 30 existing monitoring points in 3 zones. By 2030, to add 3 points (in areas affected by mineral exploitation; industrial-tree forests and areas likely to cause integrated pollution such as industrial parks).

- Air-noise environment: To maintain 50 existing monitoring points. By 2030, to add 14 monitoring points at major intersections, build 2 automatic emission monitoring stations at intersections on the national highway 1A’s section in Thanh Hoa city and Nghi Son town; 8 monitoring points in residential areas next to Nghi Son economic zone and industrial parks, build 1 automatic emission monitoring station in Nghi Son economic zone; 20 residential monitoring points in the center of Sam Son city and townships of the remaining districts, and build 2 automatic emission monitoring stations in Thanh Hoa and Sam Son cities.

- Biodiversity:

+ Aquatic ecosystem: To maintain 20 existing lake monitoring points. By 2030, to add 13 monitoring points at Hon Me island and hydropower reservoirs.

+ Forest ecosystem: To maintain 5 existing monitoring points in Nga Tan mangrove forest, Pu Hu, Pu Luong and Xuan Lien nature reserves. By 2030, to add 3 forest ecosystem monitoring points at Sen Tam Quy species-habitat conservation area, Cuc Phuong national park, and Nam Dong species-habitat conservation area.

d/ Orientations for forest protection and development

- Special-use forests: To focus on managing, conserving and sustainably developing existing special-use forests in the direction of conserving the status quo of ecosystems of primitive and rich forests to improve the quality and biodiversity of poor and medium forest areas. To promote the zoning of bare land areas for regeneration and afforestation; to plan a nature conservation system to effectively manage and conserve important natural ecosystems, biological species and genetic resources.

- Protection forests: To stabilize the existing protection forest areas. By 2030, to review and adjust watershed protection forests and wave prevention, sea encroachment and environmental protection forests. To focus on formulating investment projects for protection and restoration of watershed protection forests, and projects for protection, restoration and development of mangrove forests in coastal areas to adapt to climate change.

- Production forests: To focus on building and establishing material forests, focusing on intensive cultivation of large and high-yield timber forests for processing and export; to effectively exploit and manage forest resources; to support businesses and forest owners to establish chains in forestry production; to implement silvicultural measures to improve and restore forests. To promote forestation and reforestation. To improve exploitation output of assorted timber and bamboo.

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

a/ Areas where mineral activities are prohibited: Land areas where exist historical-cultural relics or scenic spots already ranked or delimited for protection in accordance with the Law on Cultural Heritages; areas under protection forests, special-use forests and nature reserves; geological conservation zones; land areas used by religious institutions; land areas under traffic projects; land areas within oil and gas safety corridors; land areas planned for use as beaches and coastlines to serve tourism; and land areas planned for national defense or security purposes.

b/ Delimitation of specific mining areas and types of mineral resources that require prospecting and exploitation investment

- To integrate 200 mines (including 187 quarries for common construction materials and 13 scattered mineral mines assigned by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to provincial-level People’s Committees for management and licensing).

- To integrate 124 sand and gravel mines for use as common construction materials (including 116 locations of sand and gravel mines for use as construction materials; 8 areas where river fairways need to be dredged) and 100 locations of sand storage yards.

- To integrate 233 mines of earth for use as construction materials (including 60 clay mines for brick making; 17 mines of earth for use as dike construction materials; 156 mines of earth for leveling).

(See details in Appendix XIV to this Decision).

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

a/ Function-based zoning of water courses: To divide water sourses into 7 functional zones as follows (in line with Thanh Hoa province’s hydraulic master plan): Region I (Ma river upstream); Region II (Buoi river basin); Region III (northern Ma river); Region IV (southern Ma river - northern Chu river); Region V (Am river basin); Region VI (Chu river upstream to Bai Thuong); and Region VII (southern Chu river).

b/ Allocation of water resources: To prioritize the allocation of water sources to different water exploiters and users in order to ensure (1) sufficient supply of quality domestic water; (2) minimum flow for the environment to maintain aquatic ecosystems in the main rivers of each water use area; (3) needs for water for industrial development with priority given to industrial parks and cottage industrial zones that contribute great economic value to the province; and (4) water supply for agriculture with priority given to livestock production and aquaculture.

c/ Protection of water resources: To rationally exploit and use surface water and groundwater resources; to improve water quality, remedy environmental pollution, establish a network of monitoring and surveillance of water resource exploitation and use; to maintain and protect water quality in river sections that are not yet contaminated; to restore and protect water generation sources and water courses of conservation value; to strictly control the exploitation and use of ground water, restrict the exploitation of saline infiltration-prone aquifers with the exploited volume not exceeding potential reserves; to control polluting sources; to step up the planting and protection of watershed forests, protection forests and special-use forests, thereby raising the forest coverage rate.

d/ Prevention, control and remediation of water-caused harms: To establish and upgrade the system of monitoring network for surface water, groundwater and coastal sea water; to increase afforestation area, pay special attention to the protection of watershed forests and protection forests and improving forest quality; to build warning and forecast systems, anti-flashflood and -inundation facilities in upstream and downstream areas of rivers, and anti-drought and anti-saline infiltration facilities; to attach importance to building a system of household and industrial wastewater collection and treatment facilities; to formulate risk management plans and flashflood and inundation prevention, control and mitigation plans.

4. Plans on prevention and control of natural disasters and response to climate change

a/ Zoning of areas prone to natural disaster risks

- Coastal areas directly affected by storms, tropical depressions and storm surge: 49 communes and wards in 6 coastal districts, towns and cities.

- Mountainous areas frequently hit by flashflood and landslide: 17 districts (including 11 mountainous districts).

- Residential areas in river stretches (in 17 districts, towns and cities with dikes) that are directly affected by flood and riverbank erosion.

- Riparian residential areas where no dikes exist mainly in the upstream areas of Ma river (including Ba Thuoc, Lang Chanh and Quan Hoa districts), upstream areas of Chu river (including Tho Xuan district), and along Lo and Luong riverbanks in Quan Son district) that are prone to inundation upon occurrence of flood.

- Residential areas in low-lying areas mainly in the basins of Yen river, Bang river in Nghi Son town, Len river in Hau Loc district, Ma river in Ba Thuoc district, and Muc river in Nhu Thanh district that are prone to inundation upon occurrence of heavy rains.

b/ Plans on prevention and control of disasters and response to climate change

- To continue reviewing, amending and supplementing existing legal documents and regulations and promulgating new ones on coordination among all levels and sectors in ensuring synchronicity and meeting practical requirements of the province; to formulate mechanisms and policies to provide support and relief for areas frequently hit by disasters and flood in the province; to promulgate policies to mobilize all social resources for disaster prevention and control, especially in scientific research, investment in building facilities and provision of insurance against disaster risks.

- To consolidate the organization of the state management apparatus in charge of risks, disasters and adaptation to climate change, centering on the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue at all levels toward uniformity, professionalism, neatness and effectiveness; to build the contingent of cadres engaged in the disaster prevention and control who are regularly trained and further trained for better professional skills; to formulate a mechanism for payment of adequate remuneration to those engaged in the disaster prevention and control.

- To invest in improving the capacity and resilience of infrastructure facilities, consolidating and upgrading river dikes, sea dikes, reservoirs and ship shelters; to improve water drainage capacity, restrict the filling of ponds, lakes and internal urban and rural drainage systems; to invest in risk and natural disaster information receiving and processing equipment; to modernize the monitoring system, intensify the mobilization of all social resources for hydro-meteorological activities and a specialized monitoring system for disaster prevention and control.

- To invest in equipment suitable to each region or area to ensure the transmission of timely and accurate risk and disaster forecasts and warnings; to disseminate knowledge about disaster prevention and control in schools, and socio-political and professional organizations; to organize training to improve risk and disaster prevention and control skills to be applied in each region or area.

- To review and improve financial mechanisms and policies for disaster prevention and control; to intensify the mobilization of social resources and create favorable conditions for the private sector to participate in providing meteorological, hydrological and natural disaster prevention and control services; to efficiently use external financial resources for the province.

- To study and apply scientific and technological advances in the monitoring, supervision, direction and regulation of response to disasters; to focus on the application of automation and remote sensing technologies in the monitoring, supervision, forecasting and real-time data transmission, application of new materials and new solutions in the building of anti-natural disaster infrastructure facilities.

- To cooperate and share information and experience in disaster prevention and control with localities, particularly adjacent provinces; to get the best of international aid and assistance in the prevention, control and remediation of disaster consequences.

c/ Plans on prevention and control of floods in diked river sections, and plans on development of dike systems and anti-natural disaster infrastructure facilities

- The Ma river system: To keep existing dikes intact; to build new dikes on the Quy Loc - Yen Lam section on the right bank of Ma river and new dikes on the left bank of Len river in Nga Bach commune and on eastern Cung river; to regulate the construction of new dikes in the K60+150-K65 section on the left bank of Ma river to replace the existing dike section; to build new dikes on both the left and right banks of Can river running through Hoang Cuong area (in Nga Thien and Nga Dien communes, Nga Son district).

- The Yen and Bang river systems: To keep existing dikes intact; to build new dikes on the left banks of Thi Long river, Nong Cong district; on the left and right banks of Tuan Cung river to drain flood to Bang river; dikes along Bot Dot, Khe Luon and Cau Ban - Thang Binh streams to serve drainage and flood control for region III, Nong Cong district.

- The sea dike system: To keep existing sea dike routes intact; to build phase-II Nga Son sea dikes; sea dikes and embankments in Quang Thai commune, Quang Xuong district; to regulate the construction of new sea dikes and embankments to replace the existing ones in Hoang Truong commune; to build a coastal road from Ca Cang area (Cua Hoi) to the North connected with existing Hoang Phu sea dike.

VI. PLAN ON ALLOCATION AND ZONING OF LAND AREAS

1. Allocation of land use norms

By 2030, there will be a total of 1,111,471.36 ha of natural land, including 894,325.36 ha of agricultural land; 202,990 ha of non-agricultural land; and 14,156.00 ha of unused land.

2. Plan on recovery, repurposing, and putting of unused land to use for the 2021-2030 period

To recover 27,240.04 ha of agricultural land and 4,288.24 ha of non-agricultural land for construction of socio-economic development works and projects; to repurpose 30,964.10 ha of agricultural land into non-agricultural land; to change the land use structure for 14,626.59 ha of agricultural land; to change the land use structure for 1,191.14 ha of non-agricultural land; to put to use 8,327.13 ha of unused land for agricultural purposes, and 1,176.44 ha of unused land for non-agricultural purposes.

(See details in Appendix XV to this Decision).

VII. THE PROVINCE’S LIST OF PROJECTS AND ORDER OF PRIORITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

(See details in Appendix XVI to this Decision).

VIII. SOLUTIONS AND RESOURCES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASTER PLAN

1. Solutions for mobilization of funds

To economically and efficiently use public investment funds, making focused and selective investment in key industries and fields, key works of breakthrough nature and with spillover effect, and urgent works. To efficiently exploit projects for which land use rights are auctioned and put land-using projects for bidding; to mobilize all social resources and diversify investment forms in order to mobilize and efficiently use capital from all economic sectors; to increase the mobilization of investment in the form of public-private partnership (PPP); to raise the provincial competitiveness index (PCI), provincial governance and public administration performance index (PAPI), and administrative reform index (PAR INDEX) ranking; to organize the effective implementation of the set of district and department competitiveness index (DDCI); to intensify the provision of level-3 and level-4 online public services on the provincial public service portal and websites of provincial departments and agencies.

2. Solutions regarding development linkage mechanisms and policies

To properly implement incentive mechanisms and policies promulgated by the central government; to review, revise and promulgate new provincial mechanisms and policies to boost the development of industries and fields toward openness and conformity with regulations in order to attract investors in promoting the provincial socio-economic development; to further effectively implement cooperation programs already signed with other localities and at the same time expand cooperation with them; to formulate bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs; to propose the formulation of cooperation programs among provinces in the northern key economic region (including Hanoi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh) and northern Central Vietnam.

3. Human resource development solutions

To improve the training capacity for institutions engaged in training and development of human resources, particularly high-quality human resources; to diversify and efficiently use resources for training and vocational training development; to step up the mobilization of social resources for training and vocational training; to apply the training model for schools and enterprises to share training costs; to intensify cooperation and linkages between provincial training institutions and domestic and foreign institutions in training a contingent of leading experts and workers in key occupations.

4. Environmental protection solutions

To improve the capacity of state management agencies in charge of environmental protection; to diversify investment sources for environmental protection, especially in waste treatment, pollution treatment and environmental rehabilitation; to reasonably exploit and economically and sustainably use mineral resources; to increase budget spendings on environmental protection, focusing on solving pressing and prolonged environmental issues; to attract more investment in developing environmental industries and environmental protection services; to seek and mobilize more foreign non-governmental aid sources for environmental protection programs and projects.

5. Scientific and technological development and innovation solutions

To develop the province’s scientific and technological information infrastructure facilities toward modernity, build a database of scientific and technological information and the Thanh Hoa technology and equipment trading floor; to invest in improving the capacity and operational efficiency of Thanh Hoa center for science and technology transfer, application and information; to consolidate the state management apparatus in charge of science and technology at all levels.

To coordinate and associate with leading domestic and international universities and research institutes in performing a number of breakthrough scientific and technological tasks; to provide support for innovation start-up projects and enterprises, connect and use services at the National Startup Support Center; to attract reputable innovative start-up advisors, experts and investors at home and abroad to support innovative start-ups.

6. Urban and rural development management and control solutions

To promptly announce and publicize plans to implement master plans; to review, inspect and urge the implementation of the master plan; to promptly detect and summarize problems for making adjustments to the master plan; to formulate an appropriate roadmap to expand boundaries of urban centers and elevate their ranking after urban infrastructure facilities in rural areas adjacent to urban boundaries are built and their quality is improved; to invest in building and completing the land information system and cadastral records after a modern, centralized and integrated model; to publicize and make transparent the work of land allocation and land lease; to further improve economic and financial instruments, healthily develop the real estate market, and strictly control and prevent the land speculation.

IX. MAPS OF THE MASTER PLAN

See a detailed list of maps of the master plan of Thanh Hoa province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045 in Appendix XVII to this Decision.

Article 2

1. The master plan of Thanh Hoa province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045 approved in this Decision will serve as a basis for the formulation of rural and urban master plans and technical and specialized master plans in Thanh Hoa province in accordance with relevant laws.

2. To assign the People’s Committee of Thanh Hoa province to perform the following tasks:

a/ To announce and publicize the provincial master plan after it is approved by the Prime Minister in accordance with the planning law.

b/ To review and fully finalize the system of diagrams, maps, databases and dossiers of the province’s master plan in accordance with law and contents of the Decision approving the Master Plan.

c/ To formulate and submit for promulgation the plan to implement the master plan of Thanh Hoa province; to organize the implementation of the provincial master plan while directing the performance of socio-economic development tasks in the locality; to organize the evaluation of provincial master plan implementation results in accordance with the Planning Law.

d/ To formulate and promulgate according to its competence or submit to competent authorities for promulgation mechanisms, policies and solutions to attract investment, seek financial resources, assure social security, national defense and security, develop human resources, science, technology, and protect the environment so as to implement the objectives, tasks and orientations set in the provincial master plan.

dd/ To review and report to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision adjustments to the provincial master plan to ensure its consistency with national and regional master plans decided or approved by competent authorities under Point c, Clause 1, Article 2 of the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 61/2022/QH15 of June 16, 2022.

e/ For projects planned for investment after 2030, if wishing to invest in the socio-economic development and being able to mobilize resources, to report such projects to the competent authority for investment approval as soon as possible.

3. The chairperson of the Thanh Hoa People’s Committee shall take full responsibility before law for the accuracy of contents, information, data, documents, the system of maps and databases in the dossier on the provincial master plan.

4. The approval of or decision on the investment policy and the implementation of investment projects in the locality must conform to the contents specified in Article 1 of this Decision, the enclosed provincial master plan dossier and other relevant master plans, and comply with the order, procedures, competence and relevant current laws.

In the course of implementation of specific projects, agencies competent to approve or decide on the investment policy shall take full responsibility before law for determining locations, areas, scales and capacities of such projects and project investment phases, ensuring their satisfaction of the province’s practical development requirements in each period and conformity with relevant current laws.

Article 3. Related ministries and sectors shall, within the ambit of their functions, tasks and powers, guide the Thanh Hoa People’s Committee in the implementation of the master plan. When necessary, they shall coordinate with Thanh Hoa province in studying, formulating or submitting to competent authorities for promulgation appropriate mechanisms and policies to mobilize and efficiently use resources to implement the master plan.

Article 4. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 5. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and the chairperson of the Thanh Hoa People’s Committee shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
TRAN HONG HA

* The Appendices to this Decision are not translated.