The Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Projects Management Unit has issued Decision No. 117/QD-BHTDT on the city’s green space development plan.

A 150-hectare green park will be developed in Thanh Xuan Ward in District 12 at a cost of VND7.5 trillion, while a 128-hectare ecological park will be built in Thu Duc City at a cost of VND6.4 trillion. These two parks will be developed in 2026-2030.

Under the plan, HCMC from 2026 to 2030 will focus on major park investments in Thu Duc City, District 12, Cu Chi District, and Hoc Mon District to raise the green coverage to at least one square meter per capita by 2030.

Apart from these two park projects, during 2024-2025, the Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Projects Management Unit will propose three more park projects for development in the 2026-2030 period.

The HCMC Department of Construction identified funding as the primary challenge for the 2020-2025 green space development program. To meet the target of 150 hectares of new public parkland, the city needs at least VND9 trillion for 54 projects.

So far, only eight projects have been completed and proposed for investment approval after evaluation by the Department of Planning and Investment. The city’s People’s Council and People’s Committee have approved four projects with a total budget of VND1,590 billion.

Investment in green spaces is currently hindered by regulations in the Investment Law No. 64/2020/QH14 and Government Decree No. 59/2014/ND-CP, which exclude parks from public-private partnership and participatory development. This limits external investment in park development.

Currently, HCMC has over 500 hectares of parks, or approximately 0.55 square meter per person, which is significantly below the urban greenery standard of 15 square meters per person.

Saigon Times