For the first time, two regions with distinct geographical, economic, and social characteristics will converge into a new administrative-economic structure, spanning over 10,000 sqm with a population exceeding 2 million. This is not merely an expansion of boundaries but a rare opportunity to shape a multi-center urban model, where growth hubs are built on strategic connectivity rather than fragmented localities.

On January 28, 2022, the Politburo issued Resolution No 09-NQ/TW, aiming to make Khanh Hoa a centrally governed city by 2030. However, with its previous population, area, and development ecosystem, this goal seemed ambitious. The merger with Ninh Thuan is not just a solution to “meet the criteria” but a way to expand strategic space, reorganize infrastructure, planning, regional connectivity, and institutional frameworks.

Khanh Hoa has long been a bright spot in the central region of Vietnam with its iconic bays like Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, and Van Phong, alongside deep-water ports, an international airport, and emerging industrial zones. Meanwhile, Ninh Thuan is the hub of clean energy – where wind and solar converge – with tens of wind and solar power projects and plans for the country’s first nuclear power plant.

These seemingly distinct strengths – sea and energy – have created a logistics and tourism gateway on one side and a strategic energy production hub for the nation on the other side. This merger not only scales up but also opens opportunities to redesign the region’s economic structure, from port-airport infrastructure to energy, services, and science-technology.

Khanh Hoa is the locality with the longest stretch of the North-South Expressway, and a coastline exceeding 490km. It will be the first province in the country to have four airports. 

Le Quang Trung, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC), said Cam Ranh Port can receive ships up to 70,000 DWT with a natural depth of -22 to -30m, and 3 million tons of cargo annually. 

Once the expressway, inland ports, and coastal industrial zones are completed, the throughput capacity could surge to 10 million tons per year – a figure that positions Khanh Hoa as a strategic logistics gateway for the South-Central Coast to the world.

Khanh Hoa is laying the foundation for four breakthroughs in the new decade: high-quality tourism-services with global brands for Nha Trang, Van Phong, and Cam Ranh; port and logistics infrastructure with an international transshipment port; renewable and nuclear energy, leveraging Ninh Thuan’s strengths; and science-technology tied to smart cities and digital transformation.

Hoang Sy Than of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute said that single nuclear power project could generate 11,000 to 17,000 jobs annually during construction and operation. With early training strategies, local labor could account for up to 60 percent, a significant figure compared to traditional industrial zones.

However, these prospects won’t occur if Khanh Hoa doesn’t take timely action. The great opportunity could become an unfulfilled promise if the administrative system is not streamlined to manage the expanded region from North Cam Ranh to Phan Rang. 

Without updated planning, overlap and fragmentation may arise. If governance cannot keep pace with the new development, Khanh Hoa, even with Ninh Thuan, will remain stuck in old cycles.

At the seminar “Khanh Hoa – Realizing the vision of a centrally governed city and breakthroughs in the new era” held on July 25, Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung affirmed that Khanh Hoa cannot continue developing the old way by allocating investment resources by administrative boundaries or letting sub-regions compete with each other. 

Khanh Hoa must redefine its role in the national development map, focusing on deep-water ports, clean energy, high-end services, and smart cities, driven by a robust, flexible, and visionary institutional framework.

Currently, ministries and branches are coordinating to complete the centrally-run City Project for Khanh Hoa. But that dossier needs commitments to action so that Khanh Hoa can enter the group of the largest urban areas in the country, not only in terms of scale, but also in terms of development organization capacity.

For the first time in its history, Khanh Hoa has the chance to develop and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Da Nang, Hai Phong, and Can Tho. But opportunities knock only once. Without thorough preparation, bold leadership, and a willingness to embrace new institutions, the “unprecedented opportunity” will remain just a slogan.

Khanh Hoa must accelerate its proposal for centrally governed city status while developing mechanisms to attract strategic investment and prepare human resources for high-tech and modern governance. Businesses, scientists, intellectuals, and residents must be at the heart of policies as partners, not just beneficiaries.

Lan Anh