Joining hands to build modern and civilized urban areas

The movement to build civilized urban areas has gained widespread traction across the province. Through innovative and effective approaches, local Party committees, authorities, and residents have collaborated to foster a clean, green, and aesthetically pleasing urban environment, thereby promoting a culture of civility and modernity. These efforts have significantly transformed the urban landscape, enhancing the quality of life for residents.

Viet Tri City is evolving into a more modern and civilized urban center.

Major goals

After two years of implementation, Phong Chau Town in Phu Ninh District has successfully met all nine criteria for establishing a civilized urban area, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Party committees, local authorities, and residents. These achievements reflect the strong leadership of the Phu Ninh District Party Committee and People’s Committee, the active involvement of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, and the broad consensus and participation of residents, businesses, and community groups. As a result, public awareness and attitudes toward urban development and quality of life improvement have shifted positively.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Dung, Vice Chairman of the Phong Chau Town People’s Committee, stated, "A total of more than 141 billion VND has been mobilized from the state budget, local budget, and public contributions to develop a civilized urban area. These funds have been allocated for urban planning, infrastructure investment, and renovation projects, ensuring an improved traffic system and putting key infrastructure into operation-greatly enhancing transportation convenience. The urban landscape has been significantly improved, with more spacious residential housing developments. Meanwhile, the material and spiritual well-being of residents has been elevated, political stability has been maintained, social order and safety are ensured, grassroots democracy is strengthened, and positive shifts continue in the local economic and labor structure."

By the end of 2024, all 22 cultural houses in Phong Chau Town will have been renovated and upgraded. These cultural houses are now fully equipped to support meetings, artistic performances, and sports activities, catering to the diverse needs of local residents. Roads in the area have been paved or concreted as planned, while main streets are now equipped with sidewalks, lighting, and greenery.

The Town People’s Committee regularly collaborates with the District Public Works Management Board to raise awareness and guide residents in signing commitments to refrain from encroaching on roadways and sidewalks. Efforts to clear traffic corridors have received significant attention, ensuring better management of violations related to roadway and sidewalk encroachment for business and trading activities that affect traffic safety and order. Additionally, private investment has led to the construction of numerous new apartments and houses, contributing to a more modern urban landscape along provincial roads and in newly developed residential areas. Meanwhile, the Tram Quan urban housing project has been approved by the relevant authorities and is currently under implementation.

The Bai Bang ecological lake area in Phong Chau Town has been enhanced with new lighting and decorative installations, contributing to a more modern urban aesthetic.

After more than four years of implementing the 2021–2025 project to develop a civilized and modern urban area in Viet Tri City, all seven established criteria have been met or even surpassed. Specifically, 92.3% of wards have achieved urban civilization standards (exceeding the project’s target of over 90%), while 100% of communes have met new rural cultural standards (compared to the target of over 90%). Additionally, 100% of schools have implemented key initiatives, including raising awareness of legal compliance in public spaces, promoting cultural codes of conduct, fostering the identity and character of Viet Tri residents, and integrating cultural heritage into both curricular and extracurricular activities (fully meeting the project’s 100% target). Furthermore, all medium- and low-voltage power lines and communication systems have been placed underground in housing projects and land-use rights auction developments. Online public services have also seen significant progress, with 100% of eligible services available at level 4 and 98% of administrative records processed online by the City People’s Committee, as well as by wards and communes (excluding those classified under state secrecy).

Mr. Bui Tan Nghia, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, stated, "Building on these achievements, in 2025, the city will continue its efforts to develop Viet Tri into a green urban area, gradually integrating advanced information technology into all aspects of economic and social life. This initiative aligns with the city’s vision of becoming a “Festival City Returning to the Roots” of Vietnamese heritage. Priority will be given to modernization and the rapid, sustainable, and synchronized development of both urban and social infrastructure. Special attention will be paid to expanding information and telecommunications infrastructure, establishing a strong digital transformation platform, and progressively advancing the digital economy and digital society. Additionally, we aim to enhance public awareness, foster a civilized cultural lifestyle in all spheres of life, and promote appropriate behavior in public spaces, workplaces, and traditional festivals."

In response to the movement, Youth Union members in Phu Tho Town actively participated in the “Peak Day of Volunteers to Build a Bright, Green, Clean, Beautiful, Civilized, and Safe Urban Area,” demonstrating widespread community consensus and engagement.

High consensus

Following the launch of the urban civilization project, extensive media campaigns were conducted to raise awareness among officials, Party members, and residents. These efforts have gradually transformed public perceptions and approaches to urban management and development. The implementation of the City Party Committee’s Resolution on developing a civilized and modern urban area in Viet Tri City for the 2021-2025 period has yielded positive results. The city’s appearance is becoming increasingly spacious, clean, and aesthetically pleasing. Efforts in public awareness campaigns have been well-invested and innovated in both approach and content, leading to a significant shift in people’s attitudes toward voluntarily adhering to urban regulations, maintaining environmental cleanliness, and fostering a civilized urban lifestyle.

One of the most notable achievements in recent urban development efforts has been the restoration of order along roadsides and sidewalks, a task that has been actively pursued by authorities at all levels. Public awareness campaigns have been launched, and commitments have been secured from street-front households to adhere to key urban regulations. These include maintaining a cultural and civilized lifestyle, refraining from encroaching on roads and sidewalks for business purposes, avoiding littering, and voluntarily removing unauthorized awnings, platforms, structures, and advertisements. Ms. Cao Nha Phuong, a shop owner in Tien Cat Ward, shared, "My family strictly follows the city’s regulations on not encroaching on sidewalks to display goods. We arrange our products in accordance with the rules. I believe this is a very appropriate policy that helps maintain the city’s urban landscape and creates clean, beautiful streets."

Currently, Youth Unions at all levels are actively participating in the movement, "Youth of the Ancestral Land Join Hands to Build New Rural Areas and Civilized Urban Areas.“Their efforts focus on initiatives such as launching”Volunteer Days for Urban Civilization“and”Volunteer Soldiers for a Bright, Green, Clean, Beautiful, Civilized, and Safe Urban Area." In 2024, the Provincial Youth Union introduced a model project in Phu Tho Town, mobilizing youth teams to clean up public spaces, promote civilized lifestyles and cultural behavior, enhance security and public order, and contribute to environmental protection and urban beautification. Across the province, 17 provincial-level, 67 district-level, and 788 grassroots-level youth projects have been implemented, further reinforcing the Youth Union’s vital role in collaborating with local authorities to build new rural areas and cultivate a modern, healthy urban environment.

Various practical movements-such as fostering cultural families, neighborhoods, and villages; encouraging civilized customs in weddings and funerals; and engaging in humanitarian efforts, education promotion, talent development, and poverty reduction—have been actively carried out by numerous localities, agencies, and organizations across the province. These initiatives have had a significant positive impact on many aspects of social life, enhancing the spiritual and cultural well-being of residents while advancing civilized lifestyles, fostering a healthy cultural environment, and promoting socio-economic development.

Thu Ha