Proposed Plan Would Completely Reorganize Saigon’s Districts

A new urban administration plan proposed by the HCMC People’s Committee would completely reshape the city’s urban structure. Say goodbye to Districts 2 and 7!

According to city authorities, Saigon has outgrown its current administration model and needs to be re-organized to better serve its residents. Under the new plan, the city would contain 13 central districts, surrounded by 4 satellite cities.

The re-organization plan began in 2007 when the city received permission from the Politburo to address weaknesses in the city’s current administration model. The plan, which is seeking approval from the National Assembly this year, would go into effect in 2016.

If approved, the administration apparatus would function as follows: each district would be overseen by an Administrative Committee, headed by a District Administrative Committee Chairman or Chief District. Each satellite city would be governed by a City People’s Committee headed by a Chairman or Major.

The 13 central districts would include Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Go Vap, Tan Binh and Tan Phu.

Here’s a breakdown of the proposed new cities:

The East City – Comprises current Districts 2, 9 and Thu Duc, with a total area of 211 square kilometers. Adjacent to the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway, its central quarter will be Thu Thiem new urban area.

Economic Focus: High-class services (including finance and credit), high tech industries, ecological tourism and others.

The West City – Comprises an area of 109 square kilometers and a population of 810,000 in current Binh Tan District, parts of Wards 7 and 16 of District 8, and four communes of Binh Chanh District, including An Phu Tay, Tan Kien, Vinh Loc A, Vinh Loc B. The city center will be the Tan Kien urban area that is contiguous to National Highway 1.

Economic Focus: Service industries, industrial parks, and new residential areas.

The South City – Comprised of 169 square kilometers and 470,000 residents, the city will include District 7, Nha Be District, a part of Ward 7 of District 8, and two communes – Binh Hung and Phong Phu – of Binh Chanh District. The city includes the South Saigon urban area, centered around Phu My Hung.

Economic Focus: industries and port services.

The North City – Comprises a total area of 162 square kilometers and a population of 860,000 with Tan Thoi Nhi commune area as the city center.

Economic Focus: Service-based economy, ecological tourism, high-tech agriculture, and new residential areas.

Yeah, take a minute to let all that set in.

[Tuoi Tre // Photo via Galen Stolee]