Bien Hoa city will be a service and industrial city

​The goal in the overall adjustment of the general planning of Bien Hoa City to 2045 is to gradually transform from the structural model of "industrial city" to the structural model of "service and industrial city", towards smart and sustainable city development.

Bien Hoa City will transform its structural model into a service and industrial city

Transforming the city structure model

On March 17, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed the Decision No. 252/QD-TTg approving the task of adjusting the overall master plan of Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province to 2045.  The scope of overall adjustment of the general planning of Bien Hoa city includes the entire administrative boundary of the city with 30 administrative units, including 29 wards and 1 commune.

Accordingly, the goal of the overall adjustment of the master plan is to gradually transform from the "industrial city" structural model to the "service and industrial city" structural model; towards smart and sustainable city development.

In the overall adjustment of the master plan, the goal is also set to develop Bien Hoa city into one of the key growth poles of the Southeast region and the Southern key economic region; plays an important role in the urban area of HCMC; promote the strength of regional and international connection in trade services, logistics, high-tech industry and innovation. Create an urban space with green, smart urban technical infrastructure and adapt to climate change; modern and comfortable social infrastructure to meet the needs of city people. Towards urban development with good quality of life and attractive working environment; preserve and protect the ecological environment and characteristic cultural and historical identity; ensure the national and regional defense and security requirements.

In terms of nature, Bien Hoa city is a grade I city, the administrative, political, economic, cultural, service, scientific and technical center of Dong Nai province; plays the role of a middle city in the central urban area of the province; is one of the centers of industry, service, culture, tourism, science - technology, vocational education and innovation; important logistics hub of the Southern Key Economic Zone and the Southeast region.

At the same time, Bien Hoa City is an important traffic and exchange hub in the Southeast region associated with Bien Hoa - Vung Tau highway, ring road 3 of HCMC and Dong Nai port area; is a strategic key area for national defense and security of the region as well as of the whole country.

According to Dr. Architect Phan Dang Son, President of the Vietnam Architects Association, the orientation of Bien Hoa city development from an industrial city to a service and industry, smart development city is very right. The question is what will the specific implementation look like in the near future with such orientation?

Aiming to serve better the people

There are currently six industrial parks in operation in Bien Hoa city. Among these, Bien Hoa 1 Industrial Park has now been removed from the planning of Vietnam's industrial zones. In fact, the development of industrial zones has brought great strides to Bien Hoa city area in terms of economic development.

However, the process of industrial development also brings consequences, in which the rapid mechanical population growth has put great pressure on the technical infrastructure system as well as the social infrastructure of Bien Hoa city area. This leads to many limitations in the quality of livies of the people in Bien Hoa city area.

President of the Provincial Association of Architects Ly Thanh Phuong said that industrial development was not possible in every locality that wants to do. Bien Hoa had many advantages and the industrial sector had experienced rapid development. However, the process of urban development in Bien Hoa, the investment for housing needs as well as welfare works were not commensurate. Therefore, the orientation of transforming the urban structure model was appropriate. "The development of the service sectors need to take the service for the local community as the main focus," said Mr. Ly Thanh Phuong.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Phan Dang Son, to be able to transform the urban structure model, it is necessary to calculate for Bien Hoa city area about the inter-regional transport connection system to attract investors. Dong Nai's strength is that it has all 5 types of traffic. Therefore, the current problem is to review and connect with each other, in which special attention should be paid to road and waterway traffic. Along with that, when Long Thanh International Airport completed and put into operation, it will also create valuable opportunities for the locality to implement traffic linkages because Bien Hoa is located very close to Long Thanh Airport.

Emphasizing the important role of industrial zones in economic development, Mr. Phan Dang Son said that the transformation of Bien Hoa city structure model needs to be done right in the industrial zones. “Trade in services also needs to be understood from a new perspective. Trade in services is not simply understood as residential areas, commercial centers, shopping and services... but even the industrial zones themselves need to be taken into account commercial and service factors "- Mr. Phan Dang Son said.

From that point of view, Mr. Phan Dang Son emphasized that it was necessary to review and re-plan so that Bien Hoa city can both maintain industrial development and develop trade and services.​