Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is set to draft a special urban law, a move supported by the Politburo to provide the city with a robust and long-term legal framework for its development. This initiative, which parallels Hanoi's Capital Law, was announced by Ho Chi Minh City Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc during a workshop on solutions to achieve two-digit growth on 13/3.

According to Duoc, Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang recently proposed a stronger special mechanism for the city, including the development of a special urban law, during a Politburo meeting. This proposal received the Politburo's endorsement.

Ho Chi Minh City Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc and Standing Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha presided over the workshop on 13/3. Photo: An Phuong

The city plans to complete the law's outline by March 2026 and finalize the draft by April 2026. Public consultations and workshops will follow from May to June 2026 to refine the draft. The special urban law is then expected to be submitted to the 16th National Assembly for consideration and approval during its second session in late 2026.

The idea of a special urban law for HCMC has been advocated by experts and city authorities for years. While the National Assembly previously allowed the city to pilot several special mechanisms, their effectiveness did not fully meet expectations. Experts argue that a dedicated law will establish a stable, long-term legal corridor, replacing the need for temporary pilot resolutions that typically have a duration of only a few years.

Beyond institutional improvements, Duoc emphasized that to sustain growth, HCMC must continue to transition its development model, focusing on knowledge, science and technology, and innovation. New growth drivers include establishing an international financial center, enhancing its seaport system, fostering the semiconductor chip industry, advancing artificial intelligence (AI), and developing data centers.

To achieve its two-digit growth target, Duoc stated that the city must fully leverage mechanisms approved by the Central Government, such as Resolutions 260, 188, and 98, along with the upcoming special urban law. Ho Chi Minh City is also prepared to propose new pilot mechanisms (sandbox) to the Central Government during implementation.

Real estate in Ho Chi Minh City's central area, July 2025. Photo: Quynh Tran

At the workshop, Associate Professor Doctor Tran Hoang Ngan, Chairman of the Breakthrough Development Advisory Council at Saigon University, noted that the current environment presents both challenges and opportunities for HCMC to drive green transition, digital transformation, and economic restructuring.

Ngan suggested that in the short term, the city needs to stabilize fuel prices, intensify efforts against smuggling, enhance social welfare support, subsidize public transportation, and stabilize food prices. For the long term, HCMC should promote green infrastructure development and transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to clean energy.

Ngan also proposed establishing an energy crisis response team, to be led by a Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, with participation from leaders of various departments and sectors. This team would proactively address potential future energy shocks.

Meanwhile, Doctor Tran Du Lich, Chairman of the Advisory Council for Resolution 98, recommended that for HCMC to achieve two-digit growth, it must shift from a capital-based growth model to one driven by productivity. He also advised implementing a two-speed growth model for various economic sectors.

Under this model, traditional sectors such as industry and services could maintain stable growth rates. Conversely, the city should focus on accelerating new and high-tech fields like finance, technology, and high-quality services to achieve superior growth rates, thereby providing momentum for the entire economy to reach two-digit growth.

Lich explained that this classification helps HCMC forecast specific growth rates for each sector, enabling the development of appropriate strategies. The two-speed growth model should also be integrated into the city's master plan, linking it with urban development space allocation and the orientation of key economic sectors.

To implement these strategies, Lich emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City needs to continue improving its institutions, expanding policy experimentation mechanisms (sandbox), and investing heavily in strategic infrastructure, including transport connectivity, seaports, digital infrastructure, and the innovation ecosystem.

Le Tuyet