The master plan for Vietnam's capital city has been adjusted, nearly doubling the metropolitan area.

Under the adjustments to the Hanoi Capital Region Construction Master Plan to 2030 with a vision to 2050, announced on Thursday by the Ministry of Construction, the Hanoi capital region now includes Hanoi and nine neighbouring provinces: Vinh Phuc, BacNinh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, and Bac Giang. 

The last three are three newly added provinces, increasing the region’s area from 13,000 sq.km to over 24,000 sq.km. 

Ngo Trung Hai, Director of the Việt Nam Institute of Urban and Rural Planning (VIUP), said the plan aims to meet the demands for development and the management of planning and investment during the construction of the region to create linkage among the localities. 

It also ensures the effective distribution of national resources, limits the negative aspects of urbanisation on the living environment and the impacts of climate change in order to turn the region into one of prosperity with a sustainable environment. 

The master plan is also the basis for drawing and adjusting provincial level planning, planning for belt roads, inter-provincial highways, specialised zones, the overall planning for urban areas, planning for new-style rural areas, and the overall infrastructure plan. 

It is also the basis for creating a database for management, recommending policies and regional management models. 

According to the master plan, Hanoi,Vinh Phuc and Bac Ninh will form a key development triangle thanks to their advantages in industry, training, human resources and infrastructure. 

Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Ha Nam are gateways to the sea with the Hanoi - Pho Noi - Hai Duong - Hai Phong corridor and the economic triangle to the south of Hanoi (Hung yen - Dong Van - Phu Ly). 

The three provinces will develop urban-industrial services connecting the region to the maritime economic gateways, while developing clean energy, support industry, logistics, health, sports and agricultural processing. 

Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen and Bac Giang are transitional gateways between the region and the northern midland and mountain region. 

VNS