HO CHI MINH CITY PROACTIVELY PREPARES MECHANISMS AND POLICIES TO IMPLEMENT THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT LAW

Hundreds of Regulatory Items Being Prepared

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice, the city is expected to develop around 175 regulatory provisions under the authority of the People's Council, People's Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee to provide detailed regulations and guidance for implementing the Urban Development Law.

Of these, 126 provisions would fall under the authority of the People's Council, 47 under the People's Committee and two under the Chairman of the People's Committee. In addition, the city plans to prepare 73 specific provisions to support the implementation of the law immediately after its approval.

As of August 12, the Department of Justice had received 122 of the 175 draft legal documents prepared by relevant departments and agencies. These included 86 draft resolutions and 36 draft decisions.

According to city authorities, priority is being given to regulations that need to be issued promptly once the Urban Development Law takes effect, particularly those concerning decentralization, investment, planning and infrastructure development.

The objective is to minimize legal gaps during the implementation of new policies while creating favorable conditions for special mechanisms to be applied efficiently and in line with the specific circumstances of the metropolitan area.

Around 78 Resolutions to Receive Priority

The People's Council and People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City are coordinating the preparation of key documents that need to be issued at an early stage. Around 78 resolutions have been identified as priorities because of their direct impact on the implementation of mechanisms and policies under the new law.

The city expects the August 2026 People's Council session to focus on procedures and authority for issuing documents required to implement the Urban Development Law.

At the following session, tentatively scheduled for September 2026, the People's Council may consider and approve the priority group of resolutions.

Ho Chi Minh City has also asked departments and agencies to accelerate the drafting process and review overlapping or outdated regulations in order to establish a more comprehensive legal framework for urban management and development.

Under the city's proposal, if approved by the National Assembly, the Urban Development Law would take effect on October 1, 2026. Certain tax-related policies are expected to apply from the beginning of fiscal year 2027.

Centralized Approach to Legislative Development

One of the solutions being introduced by Ho Chi Minh City is a centralized approach to developing legal regulations. The model aims to improve consistency in drafting regulations related to new and complex policies or issues involving multiple sectors.

According to the Department of Justice, the approach will initially be applied to documents supporting the implementation of the Urban Development Law. The work will be divided into four major areas.

The first group covers planning, natural resources, integrated urban development, environmental protection and regional connectivity.

The second group focuses on economic development, finance, budget management, investment and science and technology.

The third group includes cultural and social development as well as social welfare policies.

The fourth group concerns organizational structure, public service, administrative procedures, human resource development and mechanisms for protecting public officials.

Under this model, the relevant authority will take the lead in developing policies and draft regulations in accordance with established procedures. The documents will then be submitted to a working group for review, comments and legislative drafting adjustments before being assessed by the Department of Justice.

During the drafting process, the city plans to seek input from experts, researchers, lawyers, university lecturers, professional associations and relevant organizations to improve the quality of the proposed policies.

Toward a Comprehensive Legal Framework for the Special Urban Area

The advance preparation of the regulatory framework is considered an important step in enabling Ho Chi Minh City to implement the Urban Development Law promptly once it comes into effect.

The city aims to complete the revision, supplementation and issuance of relevant legal documents by 2027, thereby establishing a more consistent legal framework aligned with the two-tier local government model and the development requirements of a special urban area.

During the initial phase from 2026 through the end of 2027, the centralized legislative development model will prioritize the preparation of documents under the authority of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, People's Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee for the implementation of the Urban Development Law.