After graduating from university, he left for Europe to study and work. Every time the 48-year-old returns, he is surprised by the dramatic changes in the city, along with the “wounds” of a rapidly developing city that need to be “healed”.

“In all future plans, the environment must come first. Sustainable development must be the optimal goal for HCMC,” he said.

“If this can be done, HCMC will not only be the nation’s economic heart but also a vibrant green living space, where people come for connection, peace, and pride, beyond just economic needs.”

Three strategic pillars

As a senior advisor at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and Director of the Energy and Maritime Network at AVSE Global, Khoa and experts have proposed a strategy for HCM City development with three pillars: digital economy, sustainable development, and high-quality human resources.

To achieve the ambitious goal of a digital economy contributing 45 percent of HCM City’s GDP by 2030, Khoa said that first of all, information technology infrastructure must be prioritized for investment to support the activities of the 4.0 industrial revolution.

HCM City should also promote innovation hubs, a model proven effective in Singapore and Taiwan. “These are key to attracting startups, nurturing tech ideas, and developing advanced industries like semiconductors,” Khoa said.

A typical example is the $2 billion Thu Thiem Eco Smart City project developed by a Korean conglomerate that aims to build a smart city with modern IT infrastructure, integrating financial, commercial, and entertainment services.

Digital technology will also enhance HCM City’s urban management, from smart traffic to administrative reforms, improving residents’ quality of life.

Khoa said that sustainable development is vital for any city’s planning. With its unique geographical location, HCM City is vulnerable to climate change, flooding and rising sea levels.

The city needs to urgently apply adaptive solutions, prioritizing renewable energy, especially solar power. Also, urban planning should integrate green spaces, corridors, and open parks. 

Modern public transport, like metro systems and electric buses, is crucial for emission reductions and living condition enhancement, he said

Khoa highlighted the “old but persistent” issue of HCM City’s drainage system.

“Built during French colonial times and designed for 500,000 people, it has become inadequate as the city’s population has surged to 10 million. Upgrading the drainage system is essential to combat flooding and adapt to climate change,” he said.

He went on to stress that major infrastructure works like highways, seaports, and inter-provincial railways must be designed with climate-adaptive standards, using clean materials and eco-friendly technology.

The third pillar is human resources, which Khoa sees as critical. HCMC must invest heavily to produce high-quality workforce, both short- and long-term, especially in high-tech fields.

He proposed deeper ties with international educational institutions, universities, and research institutes, the model successful in many European countries. Interdisciplinary and cross-border training will create globally competitive talent.

Apparatus streamlining, digitization, shared common database

Dinh Thanh Huong from AVSE Global said that since 2023, AVSE has advised HCM City’s authorities on an administrative reform program focusing on streamlining, efficiency improvement, and comprehensive digitization.

“HCM City has a dynamic private economic sector, but its administration apparatus lags behind. Streamlining is a prerequisite for efficient operations and rapid response to development needs,” Huong noted.

AVSE’s key recommendation is simplifying administrative structures and procedures.

HCM City should build a unified, interconnected database across state agencies, ensuring transparency and seamless decision-making. This database will enable the city to apply technologies like AI and big data for smart urban management.

Alongside reforms, AVSE views provincial mergers and administrative restructuring as urgent and transformative.

Huong cited Quang Tri province as example. The population of the province is just 600,000, which is even smaller than the population of one district in HCM City. This creates inefficiencies in resources and personnel allocation.

Mergers will not only help reduce administrative units, but also ease budget burdens. Instead of maintaining three provincial People’s Committees with separate operations, a single committee and corresponding departments will save significant funds. Fewer units also streamline policy implementation, enhancing coherence and efficiency.

“Instead of 63 Science and Technology Departments, after the mergers, there will be 34 only. Policies on innovation and digital transformation will be easier to execute and monitor,” Huong said.

She added that rather than stable but uninspired roles, capable individuals could use support funds to start businesses, invest in local products, or help their children launch ventures.

“This will create new public-private synergy, sparking innovation and local economies,” she said.

Nguyen Thao