Bac Ninh announces urban master plan and recognition as Grade-I urban area

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh presents the official decisions to the Party Organisation, government and people of Bac Ninh Province.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Tran Hong Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Construction; Mr. Nguyen Van Gau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Central Military Commission and Deputy Minister of National Defence; Mr. Le Duc Luan, Deputy Minister of Health; and representatives of departments and agencies under central ministries.

Representing Bac Ninh Province were Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies; Mr. Nguyen Viet Oanh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Pham Hoang Son, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Tran Huy Phuong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; former leaders of Ha Bac, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces; members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee; leaders of the People's Council, People's Committee, Fatherland Front Committee, Provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies, departments, agencies, communes and wards; representatives from provinces and cities, major corporations, investors and enterprises that have made significant contributions to the province's socio-economic development.

Delegates attend the conference.

At the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee Pham Van Thinh acting under the authorization of the Minister of Construction, announced the Prime Minister's Decision approving the Bac Ninh Urban Master Plan to 2050, with a vision to 2075, as well as the Ministry of Construction's Decision recognizing Bac Ninh Province as meeting the criteria for a Grade-I urban area.

Under the approved master plan, the Bac Ninh urban area encompasses the entire administrative boundary of the province, covering all 99 communes and wards with a total area of more than 4,700 sq.km. The plan sets out the province's development orientation through 2050, with a long-term vision to 2075. The plan aims to transform Bac Ninh into a Grade-I urban area and a centrally governed city before 2030, while positioning it as a major economic growth pole for northern Viet Nam and the country as a whole. The province is expected to become a leading hub for the electronics, semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industries, alongside the development of a green, smart and modern urban area that preserves the distinctive cultural identity of the Kinh Bac region. By 2050, Bac Ninh aspires to become one of Asia's most liveable cities, while by 2075 the city is expected to have the capacity to accommodate more than 10 million residents.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh and Deputy Minister of National Defence Nguyen Van Gau present flowers to congratulate the Party Committee, authorities, and people of Bac Ninh Province.

In terms of spatial development, Bac Ninh is planned as a multi-polar, multi-centre urban area, comprising three development zones, four strategic corridors connecting with the Hanoi Capital Region, and six key growth clusters. The province's five major rivers will serve as the backbone of its landscape, cultural and ecological development. By 2050, Bac Ninh is expected to have 12 urban areas meeting the criteria for Grade-II urban status.

The master plan also outlines investment in a range of strategic infrastructure projects, including Gia Binh International Airport built to ICAO 4F standards, the Bac Ninh Free Trade Zone, and the Northern Specialized Economic Zone in Kep–Lang Giang. These will be supported by an integrated transport network comprising expressways, Ring Roads No. 4 and No. 5, high-speed rail and urban railway systems, creating new growth drivers while strengthening connectivity with Hanoi and other key economic regions.

Authorized by the Minister of Construction, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Van Thinh announces the decisions.

Under Decision No. 1315/QD-BXD, dated July 28, 2026, Bac Ninh Province has officially been recognized as meeting the criteria for a Grade-I urban area across its entire administrative boundary, covering more than 4,700 sq.km with a population of over 3.98 million. Bac Ninh fulfilled 12 of the 15 criteria for Grade-I urban classification. The province's outstanding achievements include a high Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate, ranking second nationwide in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, fiscal self-sufficiency, an urbanization rate of 61.63%, and a well-developed transport infrastructure system featuring three regional and international transport hubs. The province is also home to numerous landmark projects and urban developments that have received both national and international awards.

Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh speaks at the conference.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh congratulated Bac Ninh on its remarkable development achievements, describing the announcement of the Urban Master Plan and the province's recognition as a Grade-I urban area as a significant milestone that opens up new opportunities and momentum for future development.

The Minister urged the province to promptly publicize and implement the master plan, while completing a synchronized planning system and accelerating the development of technical infrastructure, transport networks and transit-oriented development (TOD). He also called on Bac Ninh to promote high-tech industries and innovation in tandem with preserving the cultural heritage of the Kinh Bac region, and to prioritize the development of social housing, healthcare and education in order to further improve residents' quality of life.

The Ministry of Construction reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with and supporting Bac Ninh in achieving its goal of becoming a centrally governed city and developing into a green, smart and modern Grade-I urban area.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son speaks at the conference to acknowledge the directive opinions and outline the implementation of tasks.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son described the announcement of the Bac Ninh Urban Master Plan and the province's recognition as meeting the criteria for a Grade-I urban area as a historic milestone that will provide fresh momentum for Bac Ninh to accelerate its development towards becoming a centrally governed city.

The Chairman outlined three key priorities for the province's future development. First, Bac Ninh will remain committed to implementing the approved master plan while completing a comprehensive and synchronized planning system. Second, the province will mobilize investment resources more effectively to develop modern infrastructure and strengthen regional connectivity. Third, it will pursue people-centred urban development, placing residents' quality of life at the heart of policymaking while preserving and promoting the distinctive cultural identity of the Kinh Bac region.

He also reaffirmed the province's commitment to advancing administrative reform and digital transformation, building a transparent and business-friendly investment environment, and creating favourable conditions for investors to implement projects, thereby fostering Bac Ninh's rapid and sustainable development.

Secretary Nguyen Hong Thai presents Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to collectives.

Standing Deputy Secretary Nguyen Thi Huong and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Viet Oanh present Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to individuals.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son presents Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to individuals.

Deputy Secretary Tran Huy Phuong and Standing Vice Chairman Mai Son present Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to individuals.

Also at the conference, Bac Ninh province presented decisions approving investment policies and investors, as well as investment registration certificates, to representatives of investors and outstanding enterprises operating in the province.

Simultaneously, Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee were awarded to 47 collectives and individuals for their outstanding achievements in leading, directing, and organizing the implementation of tasks related to the General Urban Plan for Bac Ninh through 2050 with a vision to 2075, as well as the decision recognizing Bac Ninh province as meeting the criteria for a Class I urban area.