The revised master plan for Ho Chi Minh City up to 2040, with a vision toward 2060, has been approved.

Accordingly, with a vision toward 2060, the approved plan envisions Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – a global, civilized, modern, and compassionate city – achieving a level of development comparable to major cities worldwide; serving as an economic, financial, and service hub of Asia, acting as a growth pole and driving force for the development of the southern region and the entire country; providing a high standard of living and quality of life; and fostering distinctive economic and cultural development that attracts international financial institutions and global corporations.

The goal for developing Ho Chi Minh City’s urban space is to promote creativity and high interaction, linked with the development of a knowledge-based economy and high technology, while enhancing the efficiency of socio-economic development. The plan aims to establish key growth areas to strengthen the city’s role as a regional center and a national growth pole.

Organize a regional infrastructure system connecting Ho Chi Minh City with neighboring localities, the rest of the country, and internationally according to strategic priorities; strengthen connections between areas within the city to ensure efficient urban operations; and develop the city with a focus on public transportation-oriented growth.

Focus on redeveloping existing urban areas and expanding urban development space while improving land-use efficiency and optimizing the organization of technical infrastructure systems. Create diverse urban spaces, maximize employment opportunities, and aim for the development of urban services meeting international standards.

Preserve and promote the distinctive values of the city’s architectural, landscape, and ecological diversity, especially the characteristic features of riverine and coastal urban areas, while adapting to climate change.

Develop a multi-centered urban model, establishing six subregions.

Regarding urban characteristics, the Decision specifies that Ho Chi Minh City is a special-class city under the central government; a key national center for economy, culture, education and training, science, technology, and innovation, playing a pioneering role in driving innovation and creativity; holding an important position in the national urban development strategy; serving as one of the tourism, financial–commercial, and logistics service hubs of Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region; and functioning as a regional healthcare center for ASEAN.

Ho Chi Minh City serves as a key transportation and digital infrastructure hub in the Southeast region, nationally and internationally; acts as a regional connectivity center, linking various modes of transport in the Southern Key Economic Region; and is one of the areas with a strategically important position for national defense and security in the Southeast region and the country as a whole.

According to forecasts, the population is expected to reach approximately 11.0–13.7 million by 2030 and around 14.0–16.5 million by 2040.

By 2030, the total construction land in the city is projected to be around 100,000–105,000 hectares (an average of approximately 73–95 m² / person), of which residential land accounts for about 65,000–68,000 hectares (an average of 47–62 m²/ person). By 2040, total construction land is expected to reach 125,000–130,000 hectares (an average of 75–93 m²/ person), with residential land covering 85,000–88,000 hectares (an average of 52–63 m² / person).

Regarding spatial development orientation, Ho Chi Minh City will develop following a multi-centered urban model, forming multi-functional urban subregions with cores in key areas such as finance, commerce, tourism, culture, sports, research, education, and high-tech production… aimed at promoting interaction in socio-economic activities and facilitating integrated development.

Urban space development will be linked with the organization of the public transportation system; ensuring convenient connections to national and international transport networks to establish circulation corridors and support urban economic development.

The city’s spatial structure will develop across six subregions: the Central Subregion and the Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, and Southeastern Subregions. Each subregion will be structured with a multi-functional orientation, linked to key development areas that serve as regional, national, and international centers, aiming to create employment opportunities and high-quality living environments. The spatial organization of the subregions will be coordinated with the public transportation system. Specifically, the six subregions are:

1- Central Urban Subregion( the area located within Ring Road 2 and north of the Doi and Te canals);

2- Eastern Subregion( currently Thu Duc City, planned to develop into the Thu Duc Urban Subregion);

3- Western Subregion (includes the northern area of the Central Urban Subregion and part of the southern area—specifically, the area west of the Can Giuoc River in Binh Chanh District and the area west of National Highway 1 in the current Binh Tan District—planned to develop into the Binh Chanh Urban Subregion);

4- Northern Subregion( includes Cu Chi District, Hoc Mon District, and the northern part of National Highway 1 in the current District 12, planned to develop into the Cu Chi–Hoc Mon Urban Subregion);

5- Southern Subregion(includes the area south of the Doi Canal in District 8, the area east of the Can Giuoc River in Binh Chanh District, District 7, and Nha Be District, planned to develop into the District 7–Nha Be Urban Subregion);

6- Southeastern Subregion (includes the entire current Can Gio District, planned to develop into the Can Gio Urban Subregion).

Development Corridor along the Saigon River

Orientation of Spatial Axes and Development Corridors, The plan inherits the content of the adjustment to the General Urban Planning of Ho Chi Minh City until 2025 and continues to develop the City in four directions: East, South toward the sea, Northwest, and West–Southwest.

Supplementary Development of Spatial Axes Includes:

+Four North–South axes: Saigon River – Huynh Tan Phat Axis; National Highway 22 – Truong Chinh – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Nguyen Huu Tho Axis; Provincial Road 743 – Ring Road 2 – Nguyen Luong Bang Axis – the new development driving axis in the western Can Gio area; Provincial Road 10 – Ring Road 2 – National Highway 50 Axis.

+Five East–West axes: (i) National Highway 1A Axis; (ii) Airport Axis (Pham Van Dong – Nguyen Thi Tu, extended to Long An); (iii) Vo Nguyen Giap – Mai Chi Tho – Vo Van Kiet – extended Vo Van Kiet Axis; (iv) Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, Nguyen Van Linh, Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong Expressway; (v) Long Thanh International Airport – Hoang Quoc Viet – Trinh Quang Nghi – Ring Road 2 – Tran Dai Nghia Axis.

Formation of new development corridors includes:

Development corridor along Saigon River: Utilizing the riverside space of the Saigon River as the urban frontage, starting from the traditional central area along the river, developing urban strips on both sides of the river into a central urban corridor – a distinctive destination associated with the river’s landscape and the city’s historical development. Organize a riverside road along the Saigon River to connect ecological urban spaces; develop high-capacity public transport lines. Develop areas linked to major transport hubs; organize a continuous public park strip along the river, provide an uninterrupted bicycle and pedestrian path connecting urban spaces; ensure accessibility to and use of riverside utilities and services.

Coastal economic corridor: Organize an interregional transportation system connecting the southern coastal areas of the City with neighboring provinces, while simultaneously linking maritime economic centers such as the international transshipment port, coastal urban areas for tourism, technology, and ecology, land reclamation areas, and the Can Gio mangrove biosphere reserve.

Organization of industrial and high-tech production spaces

Ho Chi Minh City continues to upgrade, develop, and establish new high-tech zones with a total area of approximately 2,200–2,600 ha, including: Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park, the Science and Technology Park in the Thu Duc urban sub-region; and Phu My Hung High-Tech Zone in the current Cu Chi District. Other high-tech zones will be developed in the central urban area and in the current Cu Chi, Binh Chanh, and Nha Be districts.

In the existing zones, space will be transformed to enhance the connectivity of production activities, focus on research and development, and complete the innovation ecosystem to lead the technological level of the region and the nation; establishing research spaces combined with high-tech applications, human resource training, and the production and business of high-tech products. An innovation ecosystem will be created to connect production, service activities, and accommodation facilities in accordance with the new production model.

Focus on developing industrial functions, including 33 industrial parks, 3 export processing zones, and 7 industrial clusters, with a total area of approximately 9,200–10,200 ha in areas along Ring Road 3, the bypass of National Highway 22, Hiep Phuoc Port, and other locations with favorable transport connections and potential for functional transformation in Binh Chanh, Cu Chi, and northern Can Gio. New development and spatial transformation within industrial zones are encouraged in line with production models applying high technology and advanced technology, while minimizing negative impacts on the urban environment.

Prioritize the development of low-cost housing and rental housing.

Regarding the orientation of housing development, it is projected that by 2030, the average floor area per person across the entire City will reach approximately 27–30 m²/person, and by 2040, approximately 30–32 m²/person. Housing development will be associated with the process of urban expansion; the renovation, upgrading, and redevelopment of areas within the City will aim to improve living conditions and the quality of life for urban and rural residents.

For existing residential areas, according to the specific conditions of each area, it is encouraged to consolidate plots and readjust land use to enhance land use efficiency, increase building heights, and raise the proportion of open space in areas with high construction density; additionally, technical infrastructure and social infrastructure should be supplemented to improve the quality of the living environment.

In the coming period, Ho Chi Minh City will develop high-rise apartment housing to account for a large proportion of new residential construction, ensuring adequate technical and social infrastructure. Development according to a compact urban model is encouraged, with synchronized social and technical infrastructure; this should be associated with the establishment and expansion of areas with high labor demand, such as industrial zones, service centers, and universities, to provide on-site accommodation for workers and optimize commuting distances.

Develop concentrated social housing areas, worker housing, and student dormitories in a coordinated manner with the development of training centers, industrial zones, and export processing zones within the City’s development subregions. Priority is given to developing low-cost and rental housing, constructing housing for students, and establishing a policy housing fund (for policy beneficiary families and individuals with meritorious services to the Revolution).