Hanoi is considering absorbing more than 4,000 hectares from neighboring Phu Tho province, a move experts say could strengthen conservation of Ba Vi National Park while opening new opportunities for tourism and regional development.
Hanoi is seeking public feedback on a proposal to adjust its administrative boundaries with Phu Tho province, potentially bringing an additional 4,006.38 hectares under the capital's jurisdiction.
The proposed transfer covers 2,529.38 hectares within Ba Vi National Park and another 1,477 hectares of surrounding buffer zones.
The adjustment would affect Thinh Minh and Luong Son communes and Ky Son ward in Phu Tho, as well as Ba Vi and Yen Xuan communes in Hanoi.
City authorities say the objective is to improve the management, conservation and sustainable use of Ba Vi National Park while safeguarding residents' rights, social welfare and living standards.
Speaking to VietNamNet about urban planning and resource development, Dr. Dao Ngoc Nghiem, vice chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, and Professor Dang Hung Vo, former deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environment, emphasized that the proposed boundary change should be assessed within the broader development needs of the region.
Both experts stressed the importance of clearly defined objectives and adequate infrastructure investment.
Expansion must serve clearly defined development goals
Map showing the proposed administrative boundary expansion between Hanoi and Phu Tho province. Photo: Hanoi People's Committee.
Dr. Dao Ngoc Nghiem noted that Hanoi has undergone four administrative boundary adjustments, including periods of both expansion and contraction.
These experiences, he argued, demonstrate the importance of establishing a clear purpose before making further changes.
Each province occupies a particular position within the Hanoi Capital Region, he explained. Any adjustment to administrative boundaries should therefore be carefully assessed for its potential impact on the status, functions and development prospects of the localities involved.
Such an assessment is essential to determining whether the proposed expansion is necessary.
For the area that could be transferred from Phu Tho to Hanoi, Nghiem suggested evaluating its contribution to the capital's ambition of becoming a greener city.
He referred to planning concepts such as "forests within the city" and "cities within forests," arguing that expanding green space should go hand in hand with cultural tourism, heritage preservation and the sustainable use of natural landscapes.
This approach would require a comprehensive assessment of both the area's natural and cultural assets.
Nghiem particularly emphasized the need to identify heritage values before undertaking urban redevelopment.
"To preserve something, you must first recognize its value," he said.
Professor Dang Hung Vo, meanwhile, said the border area between Phu Tho and Hanoi possesses substantial natural resources and is closely connected to the wider Ba Vi landscape and Ba Vi National Park.
Adjusting the administrative boundary could provide Hanoi with additional development resources while creating new economic opportunities for the transferred area.
"An area that becomes part of the capital will have greater development opportunities than one belonging to a province neighboring the capital," Vo said.
He argued that Hanoi's reputation and visibility could help attract greater attention to the area's untapped potential, creating the conditions for natural and cultural resources to generate economic activity.
Existing assets could support tourism, resorts, recreation and entertainment, alongside improvements to the landscape that make the area more attractive to visitors.
As services expand and visitor numbers increase, local residents could benefit from new business opportunities and stronger demand for tourism-related activities.
However, Vo warned that realizing this potential would require addressing weaknesses in transport infrastructure.
He described the area's current transport network as relatively underdeveloped.
Improving accessibility, he said, should be the first priority for attracting tourists, alongside investment in facilities and infrastructure serving the tourism industry.
Beyond transport, Vo suggested developing additional recreational activities, improving scenic landscapes and encouraging farmstay accommodation.
Such services could diversify the visitor experience, strengthen the destination's appeal and generate additional tourism revenue.
Conserving and developing Ba Vi National Park after the boundary adjustment
Professor Dang Hung Vo, former deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Photo: TN.
As part of preparations for the proposed administrative changes, Hanoi has instructed relevant agencies to review land use, population, forest resources, infrastructure, public assets and projects that could be affected.
The city is also preparing plans for the management, conservation and development of Ba Vi National Park following the adjustment.
Management of Ba Vi National Park was transferred in its existing condition from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to the Hanoi People's Committee on June 22.
Officials from the ministry said Hanoi's management could create more favorable conditions for infrastructure investment, ecotourism development and more effective use of the park's natural and tourism assets while maintaining conservation requirements.
Hanoi has also instructed agencies to prepare the handover and reception arrangements alongside the boundary adjustment proposal.
The aim is to ensure that administrative procedures and essential public services continue without interruption.
Residents' access to education, healthcare, social assistance and insurance benefits must be maintained throughout the transition.
At an October 5 press briefing, Do Thu Hang, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Finance, said commerce, services and tourism already account for a substantial share of the capital's economic structure and retain considerable room for further development.
The city intends to make greater use of its existing advantages and resources to support economic growth.
Hanoi has incorporated the development of these sectors into its long-term capital planning framework, which looks ahead over a 100-year horizon.
Nevertheless, city authorities maintain that economic and social development must be accompanied by measures to protect social welfare and improve residents' quality of life.
Vietnamnet.vn
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