Dreaming of a livable Hai Duong city

Unique identity

From the bustling and noisy capital of Hanoi, anyone who sets foot in Hai Duong City will immediately feel that this is a green and peaceful city. From the Hanoi-Hai Phong highway, to Hai Duong City through the southern gateway, the wide, clean dual carriageway with rows of Bauhinia flowers stretching along the median strip, leads to a city that is not too wide but truly peaceful.

The Sat River and Thai Binh River flow through, Binh Minh Lake and Bach Dang Lake are located in the heart of the city, bringing freshness to the living space and calming the noise of a city that is developing every day.

Looking at the first-class urban area today, Dr. Nguyen Tien Hoa, Chairman of the Hai Duong Province Construction Association said: "If Hai Duong City in the future continues to maintain the three criteria that have created the identity of Thanh Dong urban area in recent years, which are green, clean, and peaceful, then it is the right direction and very valuable."

Mr. Hoa believes that Hai Duong city has maintained its “countryside” character over the years, with life being very peaceful, unlike big cities. And this is the soul that creates the unique identity of Hai Duong city, and is the criterion that brings quality of life to the people.

“Living in Hai Duong is very pleasant. Hai Duong city is peaceful, has lots of trees, and friendly people. Moreover, the cost of living here is very affordable, the roads are not congested, food services are quite developed, and there is no feeling of hustle and bustle like in other big cities,” said Nguyen Thi Mai, who left Hanoi to return to her hometown of Hai Duong to live for several years now and is very satisfied.

Hai Duong urban area needs to have its own unique features in the future, which is also the opinion of many experts in architecture and construction at the Consultation and Feedback Workshop on the draft "Adjustment of the Urban Development Program of Hai Duong Province to 2030" in October 2024. Experts believe that more methods are needed to assess the current status of Hai Duong urban area; the current status of urban areas is not separate from rural areas, this relationship will create the unique identity of the province. In addition, it is necessary to assess the relationship between Hai Duong urban area and surrounding urban areas, thereby helping to visualize the urban system in the future...

Smart, modern city

The city has always been a political, economic and cultural center with strong influence, making an important contribution to the comprehensive development of the region. Hai Duong City, from an unclear capital in the years before the renovation when the two provinces of Hai Duong and Hung Yen shared the same name Hai Hung, has developed very quickly after the renovation.

Since Hai Duong - Hung Yen province was separated (in 1997), Hai Duong city has gradually taken shape with all the basic "rules" of an urban area. Construction works have gradually improved, from the city stadium, theater, cinema, to businesses being built and upgraded. The health system has the Provincial General Hospital, Traditional Medicine Hospital. Colleges have been upgraded to universities; industrial clusters have been formed; services have commercial centers... The streets have a more modern appearance.

Especially since the year 2000, the market mechanism has been launched, 10 programs, 32 projects of Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee have brought about clear changes in the province in many fields. And when Hai Duong was identified as the central region of the Red River Delta, belonging to the northern key economic triangle including Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh, the socio-economy of the province in general and Hai Duong city in particular has also been increasingly expanded.

Currently, some orientations and goals for the development of large urban areas and the province's driving force have been basically completed and completed ahead of schedule, such as the completion of upgrading Hai Duong city to a type I urban area, the establishment of Chi Linh city and Kinh Mon town to a type III urban area...

Hai Duong has 16 urban areas. The urbanization rate is about 42%, almost reaching the target of 45% by 2025 according to the Provincial Party Resolution.

Notably, the only type I urban area, Hai Duong City, has made a strong transformation when the urban space was expanded, technical infrastructure, and socio-economic infrastructure were given attention in a synchronous manner. Initially, a number of new urban areas were formed associated with investment in building public spaces and architectural highlights such as the ecological urban area along the Thai Binh River (Ecorivers), Phu Quy urban area, and the new urban area in the south of Hai Duong City. These projects have contributed to changing the urban appearance in Hai Duong and have also become tourist and entertainment spots for people inside and outside the province.

The technical infrastructure system in urban areas is of interest, especially the transport infrastructure system is invested to ensure intra-regional and inter-regional connectivity, meeting the requirements of socio-economic development.

In the newly approved master plan of Hai Duong province, urban development is identified as one of the five important strategic pillars of the province, aiming to promote the construction and development of urban areas in a green, modern, and smart direction to improve the quality of life of residents. The economic development axis along the rivers, with a focus on the axis along the Thai Binh River, along with the development of urban space associated with the river space, in harmony with nature.

The potential of the dense river system such as Luc Dau River, Thai Binh River, Kinh Thay River, Luoc River, Sat River, Cuu An River, Huong River, Dinh Dao River, etc. will also be unleashed.

Currently, there are some residential areas and urban areas along the river such as Ecorivers, the new urban area across the Han bridge bordering the Thai Binh river... and there are also planned ecological urban areas. These rivers not only carry great cultural and historical values ​​but also play an important role in socio-economic development as well as creating unique landscape values.

"The urban development orientation has been synchronous and visionary. However, in addition to preserving the identity of a green, clean, peaceful urban area, a smart, modern urban area not only has a camera system installed everywhere, widespread internet or high-rise buildings springing up close together, but also must be a livable place, suitable for all Hai Duong people, meeting the needs of everyone from young to old, all subjects", Dr. Nguyen Tien Hoa shared.