Vietnamese cities move to develop more urban green spaces
Many provinces and cities across the country plan to expand green urban areas in their localities, aiming to create green spaces thus improving the environment and enhancing the quality of life for locals.
HCM City (VNA) - Many provinces and cities across the country plan to expand green urban areas in their localities, aiming to create green spaces thus improving the environment and enhancing the quality of life for locals.
According to the Technical Infrastructure Agency of the Ministry of Construction, the ratio of trees in urban areas of Vietnam is only about 2-3sq.m per person, while the targeted rate in modern cities in the world is 20-25sq.m per person.
According to the National Standard TCVN 9257:2012(Greenery planning for public utilities in urban areas. - Design standards), the density of public trees for special urban areas such Ho Chi Minh City is 15 sq.m per person. However, the per capita density of public trees in the southern hub is much lower, less than 1sq.m.
Dr. Dinh Quang Diep, former Head of the Department of Landscape and Garden Technology of HCM City University of Agriculture and Forestry, said that the city needs to build plans and invest in building green belts around the city in the context that the land fund for green area development in central urban areas is no longer available.
HCM City has a 10-year plan (2021-2030) for increasing public parks and the green coverage, under which it will add at least 150ha of public parks and 10ha of public green spaces by 2025.
By 2030 there will be one square metre of park per capita and 3-4 sq.m of overall green space per capita.
HCM City city targets turning 10,300ha of land into green spaces. (Photo: VNA)
A recent report by the General Department of Environment said the city targets turning 10,300ha of land into green spaces.
In Bien Hoa city of Dong Nai province, the land fund for public works is becoming increasingly limited, including land for planting trees.
According to the People's Committee of Bien Hoa city, the concentrated green area per capita in the city is only about 1 sq.m/person.
The municipal authority is focusing on completing the adjustment of the master plan of the city to 2030, with a vision to 2050.
According to insiders, to manage and develop green areas in urban areas, HCM City needs to tighten management of park areas that are being misused in order to return public space in parks.
Investors of residential and urban area projects must comply with commitments to build green parks in accordance with regulations.
To achieve the target of per capita green tree area of 3 - 4sq.m by 2030, HCM City has launched a movement to encourage people to plant trees, as well as mobilise organisations and households to plant and protect trees. The municipal authorities have been building mechanisms and policies to attract investors in developing green parks in the local𝓡ity./.
Rapid urbanisation is eating away at Ho Chi Minh City's green space, with parks coming under increasing threat from shops, cafes, office blocks and parking lots.
The Mekong Delta has been known far and wide for long as a magnet to tourists thanks to its green space and orchards, crisscrossed by canals. Advantageous in geographic location and resources, yet local tourism sectors still fail to create a breakthrough growth matching the potential of the region.
Hanoi is researching a project on zoning public space and trialling eco-oriented management of green space in Hoan Kiem district, in cooperation with Ile-de-France province of France and consultancy firm DE-SO.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
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According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
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The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
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Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.