In August 2008, Ha Noi merged with Ha Tay Province, Vinh Phuc Province's Me Linh District and four communes from Hoa Binh Province's Luong Son District, making it the world's 17th largest capital city by area.
Dr Nguyen Minh Phong, Ha Noi Institute for Socio-economic Development Studies
During the past three years, Ha Noi's leadership, businesses and residents have made much progress in many sectors. Nowadays, expanded Ha Noi contributes about 13 per cent of the country's GDP, more than 13 per cent of the State's Budget, 13.2 per cent of national industrial production and about 20 per cent of national social investment.
Over 70 per cent of the country's leading scientists are in Ha Noi and trained labourers account for 33 per cent of the city's labour force. Electricity reaches all of its communes, including those in absorbed areas. The city's expansion also facilitates traffic infrastructure development including the road network and ring roads.
In education, 77 per cent of children under age 5 go to pre-school, 98 per cent of secondary-school students pass graduation exams and 75 per cent of youths graduate from high school. 100 per cent of the city's teachers meet national standards.
The city has also reduced rates of malnutrition in children, rural unemployment and poor households; 70 per cent of its communes and wards have healthcare facilities that satisfy national standards; more than 2,000 of its import-export companies reach 187 countries and territories in the world; it has friendship relationships and co-operation with 60 capitals and cities of more than 50 countries and territories.
The newly ratified Master Plan for Ha Noi will provide an important legal base and new driving force for the city's development.
Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, former director of Ha Noi Department of Architecture and Planning
The expansion has given Ha Noi new potential for comprehensive and sustainable development, making it a city of high competitiveness.
However, the city still faces many difficulties in managing land, environment, planning and architecture. Almost all sectors have had their own development plans so it's necessary to review and adjust the plans to ensure that they are in accordance with the Master Plan.
This requires effort and co-operation from authorities and sectors of the city and in neighbourhoods. Then, we need to design detailed plans to call for investment. There is a big job ahead and it must be done properly.
Another notable point is the harmony of urban and rural development. At present, about 28 per cent of Ha Noi's land has been developed for urban and rural areas and by 2030 the percentage will be 47 per cent. This makes the completion of plans for agriculture and rural development urgent. It has been suggested that the city mobilise resources to make plans and offer proper mechanisms to attract investment from the private sector.
Under the Master Plan, Ha Noi targets to become a "green, civilised, cultural and modern" city. It's an inevitable trend to become a modern city but it is the culture or national character that underpins the city's competitiveness. Ha Noi is now the home of more than 5,200 historic sites and nearly 1,400 craft villages. Many of them have been recognised by prestigious national and international organisations but others have yet to be recognised due to insufficient assessment. Preservation of the city's cultural inheritance and natural endowments is to maintain its strength.
Le Van Binh, Thanh Xuan District
I want to see the Ha Noi Master Plan because I want to know how much land will be for trees in the future. In my neighbourhood there were few high buildings a few decades ago but now high buildings have mushroomed. There will be more in the future but I wonder if people who need housing will benefit from such housing projects.
Nguyen Van Thang, Phu Xuyen District
Under the Master Plan my district will become one of five satellite cities of Ha Noi. The district is located in an area with favourable conditions for transport. The road linking National Highway No.1 to northern Hai Phong City will run through the district, facilitating industrial production. More industrial zones will be set up there and local residents will have more chances to get jobs.
Mai Van Toan, Ba Dinh District's Vinh Phuc Ward
It's three years since Ha Noi was expanded and now the Master Plan has been approved. This proves that the expansion has created a critical foundation for the development of Ha Noi. I hope with this plan the capital will solve the problems of population growth, traffic jams and environmental pollution.
Nguyen Thi Hong, Hoai Duc District's Duc Thuong Commune
Thanks to effective leadership, I believe that in the next 10 years our city will make big changes. However, I still have concerns about its architectural look, especially in suburban areas with the chaos of old- and new-style architecture. Vietnamese traditional villages featured old mossy village gates but now the gates lie modestly beside multi-storey houses with foreign styles. Planners need to take into account the issue of construction and architecture in rural areas.
Duong Duy Long, Thach That District's Tien Xuan Commune
After becoming part of Ha Noi, social infrastructure, including schools and healthcare centres in rural mountainous communes, has been greatly improved. We also have better roads linking hamlets and communes. However, many teachers and health officers there still face significant difficulties in their daily lives. So I hope that the city leaders and authorities will give more care and support to officers in remote mountainous areas.
Pham Thanh Hong, Ung Hoa District High School teacher
Almost all schools in former Ha Tay Province have had their facilities and the quality of their teaching improved since the province was absorbed into Ha Noi. However, the quality of education in suburban schools is not keeping pace with those in inner districts. For example, high schools in suburban districts accept students whose study performance is much lower than those who apply to schools in inner districts. So schools in remote areas need more investment to improve their education.
Vietnam News