VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's urban development may have been fast during the past 15 years, but it is far from sustainable, according to the latest Construction Ministry report.

The report said that while urbanisation had created cities and enlarged existing ones, the development of roads, power and water reticulation, drainage systems, solid-waste treatment and the provision of green spaces and social services had been neglected.

To rectify the situation, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has told the Construction Ministry to speed up the 2009-20 national programme to upgrade urban areas. The programme, which was approved last year, will receive about VND175 trillion (US$8.75 billion) from the State budget.

The number of cities and towns in Viet Nam reached 750 this year, up by about 40 per cent compared to 1995.

They include Ha Noi and HCM City and 10 cities with at least 500,000 people – Hai Phong and Thai Nguyen in the north, Vinh, Da Nang, Hue, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon in the coastal centre, Da Lat and Buon Ma Thuot in the Central Highlands, and Can Tho in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

Twelve cities with populations of at least 250,000 people are classified as being in the second-class group.

There are also 45 third-class cities (with at least 100,000 people) and 37 fourth-class ones (with at least 50,000).

The ministry report indicated that Viet Nam's urban populations are not evenly spread. It said the Song Hong (Red River) Delta and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta had more cities and towns than in central Viet Nam and the northern highlands.

While some provinces, such as Dien Bien, Hai Duong, Hoa Binh and Ha Giang, haven't had much urban growth, others, such as Vinh Phuc, Binh Thuan, Ben Tre and Tien Giang, witnessed sharp increases.

Construction Deputy Minister Nguyen Tran Nam said a free flow of rural workers had put so much pressure on urban infrastructure that it was unable to cope.

In 2009, 26 million Vietnamese, or 30.5 per cent of the population, lived in cities and towns compared to 14.9 million, or 20.7 per cent in 1995.

In 2000, the urban population was 18.8 million (24.2 per cent of the population) and in 2005, 22.4 million (27 per cent).

More than 50 per cent of the urban population now lives in Ha Noi and HCM City.

"The massive immigration into cities is not something to be encouraged," said Deputy Minister Nam.

It is a view shared by Deputy Minister of Public Security Le The Tiem.

"The flows of rural people has made it difficult to improve the transport situation in big cities," he said.

The Construction Ministry report showed that although the infrastructure for urban transport had improved, the area of land set aside for this purpose was less than 10 per cent of the urban building area, much lower than the international standard of 16-25 per cent.

Transport Minister Ho Nghia Dung said the investment in transport infrastructure had been inadequate and predicted that it would continue to decrease next year.

Meanwhile, the number of cars in 2010 increased by 12.1 per cent over 2009 and the number of motorbikes rose by 10.3 per cent.

The report showed that many cities had not paid adequate attention to planning and investing in green open areas.

The area of tree-covered urban land remained small – 5.3 square metres per head in Ha Noi, and 3.5 square metres in HCM City.

Deputy Prime Minister Hai said urban development in Viet Nam had failed to meet requirements for environment protection, water drainage, solid waste treatment and housing.

Deputy Minister Nam said more efforts were needed to improve infrastructure in rural areas to induce people to remain there, reducing the burden on cities.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News