Phu Tho Moves Toward Green and Modern Urban Development

Following the provincial merger, Phu Tho Province has focused on reviewing and refining its planning system to restructure its development space and promote the development of green, modern urban areas. This strategic approach is expected to unlock new resources, create momentum for growth, and support integrated, sustainable, and modern development.

Viet Tri Ward is planned to serve as the province’s urban core and the national center for festivals honoring the ancestral roots of the Vietnamese people. Photo: Tung Vy.

The Provincial People’s Committee has issued Decision No. 2468/QD-UBND, approving the adjustment of the Phu Tho Provincial Master Plan for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050. The decision establishes an important legal framework, clearly defining planning categories and implementation responsibilities to avoid overlap and improve planning effectiveness.

Alongside rural planning, Phu Tho’s urban system is being restructured into a multi-center model aimed at easing population pressure while maximizing regional economic efficiency. By 2030, the province targets the development of four Grade-II cities and ten Grade-III cities. Looking ahead to 2045, the goal is to increase these numbers to eight Grade-II cities and twenty Grade-III cities.

Major urban centers, including Viet Tri, Vinh Yen, Hoa Binh, and Phuc Yen, are currently undergoing comprehensive planning reviews and adjustments to align with the province’s new administrative boundaries. At the same time, the master plan for the Hoa Binh Lake National Tourism Area is being comprehensively revised to integrate strategic transport corridors, creating new opportunities for investment attraction. Improved infrastructure connectivity among urban areas is expected to form an integrated industrial, service, and tourism economic corridor.

The province is also implementing several breakthrough planning initiatives that will shape its future urban landscape. These include the development of urban areas along both banks of the Lo River, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) centered on public transportation hubs, and integrated zones combining residential, tourism, and golf course developments. These projects are expected to become new growth engines for the province.

With the determination to place planning at the forefront of development and promote green growth as the foundation for sustainability, provincial departments, agencies, and local authorities are accelerating urban and rural revitalization based on the principles of being green, clean, and beautiful. Priority is being given to upgrading technical infrastructure, expanding public spaces and urban greenery, developing smart and eco-friendly cities, and making effective use of the major rivers flowing through the province to create distinctive urban landscapes.

Vinh Phuc Ward, with its modern and well-developed infrastructure, is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for investors.

According to Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Tran Duy Dong, building modern and civilized urban areas is not only an important political task but also an urgent requirement for improving residents' quality of life and creating sustainable development momentum. He instructed provincial departments, agencies, and local authorities to promptly complete planning work and effectively implement approved plans by establishing clear roadmaps, schedules, responsibilities, and measurable outcomes. He emphasized the need for strong determination and decisive action to bring about visible improvements in the province’s urban landscape.

Under the direction of the Provincial People’s Committee, the Department of Construction has been assigned as the lead agency responsible for state management of urban renewal and green spaces. The department will oversee the review of urban planning and formulate urban development programs, smart city initiatives, and plans for parks, urban greenery, and water bodies for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

At the local level, communal and ward-level People’s Committees have been instructed to strengthen supervision of construction activities, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas such as riverbanks, lakesides, and tourism zones. Authorities will strictly address illegal tree cutting while promoting community initiatives such as “Green Residential Areas,” “Green Streets,” and flower-lined roads.

In rural areas, development will focus on building advanced new-style rural communities while preserving the cultural identity of the ancestral land of Vietnam. Beyond improving physical infrastructure, priority will also be given to digital infrastructure and modern environmental treatment systems, paving the way for the development of smart villages and the “town within a village” model. This approach aims to provide residents with a modern quality of life while preserving the tranquility and traditional values of rural communities.

Accelerating the planning process is not only an immediate priority but also a long-term strategy for realizing Phu Tho’s vision of becoming a green, civilized, modern, smart, and sustainable province, while strengthening its role as a leading economic growth center in Vietnam’s Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region.

Ngoc Lam