Planning the Can Gio Reclaimed Coastal Urban Area: Strategic Development Direction for Ho Chi Minh City

The Can Gio reclaimed coastal tourism urban area is currently the focus of significant attention, with a development strategy encompassing four main functional zones and an expectation to attract approximately nine million tourists annually. This project not only contributes to the tourism industry but also plays a crucial role in reshaping the appearance of Can Gio District, transforming it into a vibrant and prosperous urban center, driving economic and social development throughout the entire region. This clearly demonstrates the government's commitment to sustainable development and strategic utilization of the potential of Ho Chi Minh City's only coastal district.

Can Gio District is located about 50 km southeast of downtown Ho Chi Minh City, and it is the city's only coastal area. With this unique geographical feature, Can Gio has great potential to become a leading destination for ecological and marine tourism—a potential that the Ho Chi Minh City government is systematically investing in by developing an international-standard coastal urban area. The development of this urban area is not merely about expanding the urban spatial scale; it also emphasizes establishing a sustainable economic foundation for local residents by creating job opportunities and improving the quality of life. The city government has been working hard to accelerate investment and construction of essential infrastructure to ensure that this project becomes a powerful driver for the prosperity of the entire region.

On June 12, 2020, the Can Gio reclaimed coastal urban area project was approved for an adjustment in its scale, expanding from 600 hectares to 2,870 hectares, with a total investment exceeding 9 billion USD (as per Decision No. 826 by the Prime Minister). This adjustment marks an important milestone in the region's development strategy, with the project expanding nearly fivefold compared to the initial plan. This expansion not only optimizes land use but also creates conditions for developing modern and synchronized urban infrastructure, including hotels, resorts, entertainment areas, and diverse public facilities, forming a comprehensive space that meets the needs of both residents and tourists. Furthermore, the expansion has opened up numerous opportunities to upgrade technical infrastructure, contributing to enhancing service quality and thereby solidifying Can Gio's position on the international tourism map.

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee approved a detailed planning task at a scale of 1/500 for the Can Gio coastal urban area, covering Long Hoa Commune and Can Thanh Town in Can Gio District. This is a strategic step in the urban development process, helping to clarify the goals, requirements, and implementation methods for each urban zone. The 1/500 detailed plan plays an important role in shaping overall spatial development, determining the exact locations of buildings, internal transportation systems, drainage networks, and other public facilities, ensuring the feasibility, sustainability, and scientific rigor of the entire project. By applying detailed planning, Ho Chi Minh City can build a solid foundation for development, thus realizing the long-term economic, social, and environmental goals of this area.

The Can Gio urban area is focused not only on developing modern infrastructure but also on preserving the natural environment, especially the mangrove ecosystem. With a large-scale area, the project includes ecological conservation areas to maintain a balance between development and nature conservation. This is particularly significant as the Can Gio mangrove ecosystem has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. Coordinated planning that combines development with natural environment conservation is a key factor in ensuring sustainable growth, attracting tourists interested in ecological tourism and scientific research. Moreover, preserving this ecosystem also means protecting valuable resources, maintaining Can Gio's role as the "green lung" of Ho Chi Minh City, while raising community awareness about environmental protection.

Ho Chi Minh City's goal is to complete the construction permit procedures for the project by April 30, 2025, thus creating the conditions to start construction in accordance with regulations. Ensuring the timely completion of these procedures is essential to avoid delays in construction, thereby quickly bringing the project into operation to serve the region's socio-economic development goals. Ensuring legal progress is not only significant at an administrative level but also builds investor confidence, thereby fostering the attraction of capital, resources, and strategic partners for the project. Detailed planning and the progress of the project's legal procedures are positive signals, affirming the importance of this reclaimed urban area in Ho Chi Minh City's sustainable development strategy. The Can Gio urban area is expected not only to bring a completely new appearance to the region but also to become a top tourism destination for both Ho Chi Minh City residents and international visitors, thereby creating undeniable economic, cultural, and social value. The combination of tourism and high-quality living environments will make Can Gio a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City's comprehensive development.

With the development direction focusing on diverse amenities and synchronized infrastructure, the Can Gio urban area is not only a high-end resort but also a modern, sustainable community. The residential areas are designed as green spaces, in harmony with nature, creating an ideal living environment, beneficial for health while ensuring the quality of life. Notably, the development of this urban area is expected to create thousands of new job opportunities in construction, tourism, and service sectors, directly contributing to improving the economic life of local residents. The development of a living environment with high quality, safety, and natural friendliness also plays an important role in retaining residents, especially young people and young families, creating an ideal environment for living and working.

The large-scale investment and systematic development plans are turning Can Gio into a new symbol of the harmony between human development and nature, creating an important highlight in Ho Chi Minh City's long-term development strategy, affirming the role of this area as an indispensable part of the modern urban ecosystem of the city. With these efforts, Can Gio is expected to become not only a destination for investment and economic development but also an exemplary case of sustainable development, where nature, people, and the economy thrive in unison. The successful implementation of this project will be clear evidence of Ho Chi Minh City's commitment to building cities that are both modernly developed and protective of the area's natural, historical, and cultural values.

Moreover, the completion of the Can Gio reclaimed coastal urban area also opens up opportunities to connect with other parts of Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring regions. Important transportation connections, including bridges and waterway systems, will help improve accessibility, facilitate the circulation of goods and passengers, and reduce travel time between regions. This not only helps expand the tourism market but also supports trade and investment development, creating a strong regional connection, promoting balanced development, and reducing disparities between urban and suburban areas.

Overall, the Can Gio reclaimed coastal urban tourism project is a strategic step in promoting the comprehensive development of Ho Chi Minh City. With a far-reaching vision and strong policy support from the government, Can Gio is on its way to becoming a modern marine tourism and ecological center, not only contributing to economic growth but also enhancing the quality of life of the community. This also strengthens Ho Chi Minh City's position as one of the most modern, developed, and sustainable urban centers in Southeast Asia.