Ho Chi Minh City authorities have proposed to the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee the selection of a central lake site in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area for the construction of a centralized administrative center.

After merging administrative boundaries, Ho Chi Minh City remains a special urban area and the country's economic hub. The city aims to evolve into a global megacity, leading Southeast Asia in finance, commerce, education, science-technology, and innovation.

Currently, the city’s administrative offices are scattered across various locations, which hampers coordination and efficient governance. The fragmented system poses challenges in direction, management, and task execution across departments and agencies.

"Many current office buildings are deteriorating, lack sufficient space, and are not equipped with adequate infrastructure or IT systems, significantly affecting service quality for both citizens and businesses," stated the city government.

The proposed new administrative center will be publicly funded and built in a central location for easy public access. It will accommodate approximately 7,000 civil servants, with staffing expected to decrease to about 5,800 by 2030 under an ongoing restructuring and downsizing initiative.

Three locations were considered: the former headquarters of the Thu Duc City People's Committee (with a proposed extension of 7.73 hectares in Thanh My Loi Ward), the Ha Tien Cement land plot in Truong Tho Ward (11.6 hectares, expandable to 19.6 hectares), and a cluster of plots in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area totaling 9.6 hectares adjacent to To Huu Street in An Khanh Ward.

According to city assessments, both the former Thu Duc headquarters and the Thu Thiem land plots already have available space and good infrastructure, making them suitable for immediate construction.

The Ha Tien Cement site offers an 8-hectare expansion opportunity and convenient access to Metro Line 1. Its potential supports a smart administration model integrating services and green spaces. However, as the land is designated for industrial use, it requires decontamination and site clearance, which would significantly delay the project.

As a result, the city proposes to locate the new administrative center at the central lake site within the Thu Thiem New Urban Area. While the area benefits from well-connected transportation, adjustments to existing approved urban planning will be required.

If the plan receives approval, the city will begin reviewing and modifying the planning documents, aiming to break ground in the first quarter of 2026.

Back in 2015, the city had proposed building a centralized administrative center at 86 Le Thanh Ton Street, combining this site with adjacent plots for a total of 1.8 hectares, expected to accommodate nearly 1,700 civil servants.

That project covered an entire block bounded by Le Thanh Ton, Pasteur, Ly Tu Trong, and Dong Khoi streets, including the headquarters of the Departments of Information and Communications, Construction, Agriculture, and Environment.

Although a design competition was held for this site, the city's restructuring has since increased the number of civil servants to 7,356. With ongoing downsizing, the number is expected to fall to 5,885 by 2030 - a reduction of about 20%.

Given the rising number of public employees, the original 1.8-hectare site is now considered inadequate for the city’s future administrative needs.

Anh Phuong