HO CHI MINH CITY PROPOSES NEW PLANNING MECHANISM, POTENTIALLY BENEFITING MULTIPLE PROJECTS

Shifting from Planning Management to Urban Development Governance

Ho Chi Minh City is finalizing a draft resolution covering different types of planning, urban and rural planning activities, and architecture management within the city.

According to the proposal, the new framework is being developed in response to the city’s unique characteristics, including its large urban scale, rapid urbanization and growing demand for infrastructure and housing development.

In practice, the preparation and adjustment of planning documents can still be time-consuming. Coordination between different levels of planning has not always been fully synchronized, while some existing regulations may not adequately reflect the requirements of managing a major metropolitan area.

Against this backdrop, Ho Chi Minh City is looking to change its approach. Under the proposed framework, planning would serve not only as a tool for controlling land use and urban space, but also as a mechanism for coordinating infrastructure, transport, land, investment and economic development.

Streamlined Procedures Could Shorten Project Preparation Times

One of the most notable aspects of the draft is the review of planning procedures with a focus on eliminating unnecessary steps.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the proposed mechanism would not introduce additional administrative procedures, but instead seek to simplify or remove certain existing processes.

Key proposed changes include:

• Eliminating the procedures for preparing, appraising and approving planning tasks for zoning plans and detailed plans.
• Reducing planning-related requirements when considering certain investment projects.
• Allowing certain planning procedures to be carried out concurrently instead of sequentially.

The approach is expected to create a more flexible planning process, helping businesses and other stakeholders reduce waiting times during project preparation.

For real estate developers, a key potential benefit would be shorter timelines for completing planning documentation and resolving planning-related issues before projects move to subsequent stages.

Project Categories That Could Benefit from Greater Flexibility

The draft resolution also proposes more flexible mechanisms for certain projects considered important to the city’s urban development.

In specific cases, Ho Chi Minh City could consider approving or adjusting detailed plans that differ from the relevant zoning or general planning framework without immediately requiring an adjustment to the higher-level plan.

The proposed categories include:

• Large-scale and strategically important investment projects.
• Social housing and rental housing projects.
• Resettlement housing developments.
• Educational, healthcare and public administrative facilities.
• Urban renovation, upgrading and redevelopment projects.

These projects are closely linked to the city’s needs for infrastructure, housing and improvements to urban living conditions.

If implemented, the mechanism could provide additional solutions for projects facing difficulties arising from inconsistencies between different levels of planning, rather than requiring them to wait for the entire higher-level planning adjustment process to be completed.

TOD and Transit-Linked Development Areas in Focus

Beyond procedural reforms, the draft also emphasizes new approaches to urban spatial development.

The proposed direction reflects global urban development trends toward polycentric cities, transit-oriented development, the use of underground and elevated spaces, and the redevelopment of existing urban areas.

Among these approaches, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is receiving particular attention in Ho Chi Minh City.

Areas surrounding metro lines, major transport hubs and locations designated as future urban centers could be considered for localized planning adjustments where appropriate.

When implemented alongside transport infrastructure investment, this approach could support more efficient use of land and urban space around public transit corridors and facilitate the development of new urban growth areas.

Moving Toward Data-Driven Planning Management

Another important element is greater decentralization and delegation of authority, combined with stronger accountability and closer coordination among planning, land, investment, construction and architectural management.

To support this approach, Ho Chi Minh City is developing a digital GIS-based planning information system. The platform is expected to help authorities access, compare and review planning data, reducing inconsistencies among different sources of information.

Alongside digital transformation, the city is also moving toward more sustainable architectural development by encouraging green buildings, improving climate resilience and protecting the landscape of rivers, canals and other water bodies.

New Planning Mechanism Could Create More Room for Real Estate Development

If approved and effectively implemented, the proposed planning framework could bring significant changes to the way projects are prepared and developed in Ho Chi Minh City.

The focus is not simply on reducing the number of procedures, but also on creating greater flexibility in handling cases that require localized planning adjustments while maintaining requirements for planning quality, architecture and infrastructure development.

For the real estate market, reducing planning-related bottlenecks could affect the timeline for bringing land into development, developers’ investment plans and the potential delivery of new housing and commercial projects.

In the longer term, greater integration of planning, transport infrastructure, land and investment management through a unified digital framework could provide Ho Chi Minh City with a stronger foundation for reorganizing urban space and supporting the emergence of new growth centers.