A design for the Tứ Liên Bridge construction project connecting both sides of the Red River with a total estimated investment of about VNĐ20 trillion. Photo courtesy of the Tứ Liên Bridge project management board

HÀ NỘI — The Government has approved the master plan for the Red River Delta region, with the vision of transforming it into a modern, civilised, and environmentally sustainable development area, to establish itself as a major economic and financial centre of global and regional significance by 2050.

This objective is outlined in Decision No. 368/QD-TTg, issued on May 4, 2024, which approves the master plan for the Red River Delta region in the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, under the leadership of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính.

Under the master plan, the Red River Delta will be divided into two sub-regions: the Northern Red River Delta and the Southern Red River Delta. The Northern sub-region comprises seven cities, including Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh, Hải Dương, Hưng Yên, Bắc Ninh and Vĩnh Phúc while the Southern sub-region comprises four provinces of Thái Bình, Nam Định, Hà Nam and Ninh Bình.

The development strategy for the Red River Delta involves the establishment of a national driving force region, which includes Hà Nội and districts along National Highway 5 and National Highway 18 through Bắc Ninh, Hưng Yên, Hải Dương, Hải Phòng và Quảng Ninh.

Additionally, there will be four growth poles, namely Hà Nội, Bắc Ninh, Quảng Ninh and Hải Phòng along with five economic corridors, including two international connectivity corridors and three regional connectivity corridors.

Recognised as a strategically vital area, the Red River Delta will serve as a pivotal force in driving development and leading the nation's efforts in economic restructuring and the transformation of its growth model, aiming to achieve rapid and sustainable development breakthroughs.

The Government has demanded that the Red River Delta develop a synchronised, modern infrastructure system, ensuring rational, efficient organisation of space, uniformity, internal and regional connectivity, maximising the advantages and spillover effects of dynamic regions, growth poles, economic corridors, and international ports.

By 2050, the vision for the Red River Delta entails it evolving into a modern, civilised, eco-friendly, high-income development area and a major economic and financial hub. It is planned to become the nation's leading centre for culture, education, science, technology, innovation, digital economy, digital society, healthcare, and public health.

Specifically, industries will develop using modern technology with products of international standards, deeply participating in global value chains, developing new industrial sectors and being proactive in research, design and manufacturing processes.

The region is set to establish large-scale service centres with regional and global influence in trade, tourism, finance, and logistics in Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh.

Of notable significance, Hà Nội will be developed as the economic centre of the northern region and the entire nation with international competitiveness. The Hải Phòng – Quảng Ninh region is envisioned as a modern maritime economic zone and a gateway of the region connected to the international gateway port of Lạch Huyện.

Especially, the region will prioritise a network of green, smart, sustainable urban areas adaptable to climate change, with high-quality urban environments and good standards of living, assuming a prominent role and position within the Asia-Pacific urban landscape.

Growth rate of about 9.0-9.5 per cent

In the master plan until 2030, the Red River Delta region aims to achieve an average annual growth rate of about 9.0-9.5 per cent for the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). The per capita GRDP, based on current prices, is projected to reach around US$11,000-12,000 per person by 2030.

The composition of GRDP is expected to be approximately 41 per cent from the service sector, around 47 per cent from industry and construction, about 3.5 per cent from agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, while taxes less subsidies on products account for around 8.5 per cent of GRDP, and the digital economy contributes about 35 per cent to GRDP.

The proportion of enterprises engaged in innovative activities is targeted to reach 50 per cent of the total number of active businesses, with a social labour productivity growth rate exceeding 7.0 per cent per year.

The proportion of trained labourers is targeted to reach 48-52 per cent of the total. The urban unemployment rate is expected to be maintained below 3 per cent.

The region will have a comprehensive and modern infrastructure, including the completion of the North-South Expressway, connecting road networks, the Capital Region's ring roads, and coastal roads. Expansion of Nội Bài International Airport, improvement of seaport infrastructure in Hải Phòng and Quảng Ninh and the completion of the urban metro in Hà Nội are also planned.

In the Northern sub-region, the focus will be on developing high-tech industries, especially in electronics, semiconductors, digital technology products, artificial intelligence, and robotics manufacturing.

Additionally, there will be a push for the development of services, commerce, finance-banking, transportation-logistics services and international tourism.

Meanwhile, the Southern sub-region will focus on developing coastal economic zones and industrial parks to drive significant economic restructuring. This includes the development of high-tech, organic, and sustainable agriculture sectors, as well as industries related to agricultural preservation, processing, support industries, renewable energy, and clean energy.

There will be a focus on developing eco-tourism, resort tourism, cultural tourism, and spiritual tourism, aligned with environmental protection efforts. — VNS