HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Thị Hoàn, 60, is happy that her life and the lives of local residents in her commune has gradually improved over the last 10 years after the neighbouring province of Hà Tây was merged into Hà Nội and became a part of the capital city.

Hoàn, from Cộng Hòa Commune, in old Hà Tây Province, said that her commune had previously faced many challenges.

Roads were degraded, and classrooms lacked the necessary teaching supplies and infrastructure.

Local residents had to use water from wells for their daily lives, she said.

“After being merged to Hà Nội, authorities at different levels started to pay more attention and invest in building new roads and upgrading schools,” she said.

Thanks to the renewed attention, Cộng Hòa Commune was recognised as a new-style rural area last year.

Even better, Hoàn said, was that at the beginning of this year, all households in the commune were able to access clean water instead of using polluted well water like before.

“Our long-term dream came true,” she said.

On Saturday Hà Nội marked the 10th anniversary of the implementation of Resolution 15 of the National Assembly on the adjustment of the administrative boundaries of the capital and received the first class Medal of Independence.

As many as 2,500 delegates who were leaders, former leaders of the Party, the State, the Fatherland Front, representatives of many ministries, branches and localities, revolutionary elders, heroic Vietnamese mothers and typical citizens of the city attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee Hoàng Trung Hải reiterated the history of the formation and development of the capital, from the decision to move the capital from Hoa Lư to Đại La Citadel of King Lý Công Uẩn in 1010 to the decision to choose Hà Nội as the capital in 1945.

Hải said that in the process of development, Hà Nội had received regular attention and help. One of the policies that showed special care for the capital city was Resolution 15, which regulated the adjustment of administrative boundaries of Hà Nội and some other provinces.

Asserting the correctness and historical value of the above resolution, the Party Secretary stressed that Hà Nội "would vow to continue to uphold the tradition" and overcome all difficulties and challenges, as well as promoting its achievements.

"All for the purpose of bringing Thăng Long – Hà Nội to new heights, worthy of great attention and belief of the Party Central Committee and the people of the country and international friends," he said.

Dynamic city

Reviewing the difficulties in the early days of the transition, Hà Nội People’s Committee Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung stated that the size of the area, population and administrative units increased, the rate of poor households in mountainous areas increased, socio-economic infrastructure had not developed and the gap between rich and poor was still great.

Most communes in the widened areas did not reach new rural standards, and environmental pollution was present in many trade villages and residential areas.

After 10 years, the city has achieved great results, contributing significantly to the overall achievement of the country. The capital’s economy continues to grow rapidly, reaching an average of 7.41 per cent growth per year, and is one of the two main economic areas of the country.

Per capita income reached US$3,910 per person per year last year, 2.3 times higher than in 2008.

The number of tourists increased by 12 per cent per year. International visitors increased from 1.3 million in 2008 to 4.95 million in 2017, rising nearly four-fold.

So far, Hà Nội has eight industrial zones with stable operation, 629 investment projects and turnover last year reached US$6.5 billion, which was 2.5 times higher than in 2008.

Hà Nội attracted 3,237 foreign direct investment projects with registered capital of $19.1 billion. In the two years of 2016, 2017 and the first six months of this year, the capital city attracted $12 billion, equivalent to 59 per cent of total foreign investment capital from 1986 to 2015.

"The confidence of domestic and foreign investors has risen significantly, and Hà Nội is ranked in the top 10 most dynamic cities in the world," Chung said.

More work needed

Giving a speech at the ceremony, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân highly appreciated the capital city’s efforts to continuously innovate its leadership and work style and achieve important results.

Chairwoman Ngân said that besides the achievements, Hà Nội still had weaknesses that need to be addressed.

"All levels and branches of Hà Nội, especially the leaders of municipal committees, should not be satisfied with the results achieved. They should seriously analyse and clarify the causes of weaknesses and shortcomings, so as to take effective and timely remedies,” she said.

Also at the ceremony, to honour the outstanding achievements of the Party, government and people of Hà Nội after 10 years of adjustment, President Trần Đại Quang on behalf of leaders of the Party and State awarded the First Class Independence Medal for the party, government and people of Hà Nội.

On May 29, 2008, over 92 per cent of National Assembly deputies approved the resolution to adjust the administrative boundaries of Hà Nội.

Under the resolution, with the consolidation of the whole area of ​​Hà Tây Province, Mê Linh District of Vĩnh Phúc Province and four communes of Lương Sơn District of Hòa Bình Province, the expanded Hà Nội capital city would cover an area of ​​3,324 sq.km.

The population is nearly 6 million, with 29 administrative units of districts and 575 units of communes, wards and towns. — VNS