Last Friday, Da Nang hosted a workshop on difficulties and challenges to the city for its sustainable urban development.

The workshop in progress

Architect Ngo Trung Hai, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Urban Planning and Development Association (VUPDA), remarked that Da Nang now has a population of over one million people and the local urban land area is 98,043ha.  By 2030, the city’s population is expected to reach 2.5 million, and as a result, the local demand for urban land use is likely to increase by 37,500ha. 

Mr Hai, therefore, suggested that the municipal authorities should accelerate the construction of high-rise buildings combined with the development of public transport services in the future.  This will help to establish satellite urban centres in the city, and make Da Nang an environmentally-friendly city.

A corner of the city

Engineer Nguyen Van Chung, former Deputy Head of the city’s Institute for Planning and Construction, pointed out several shortcomings in the development of landscape architectural space and technical infrastructure in the city.  He highlighted the importance of ensuring the efficiency of the urban development planning work, as well as of reconstructing some of the city’s urban areas.

Architect Truong Van Quang from VUPDA stressed the need for the city to create its urban development strategies.  The focus should be on preserving natural landscape and resources, earmarking land fund for developing special areas and technical infrastructure, as well as fully tapping local land fund potential.

Also at the event, some solutions to further the development of the city’s sustainable urban were represented.  Included were the relocation of the Da Nang International Airport, the building of central urban areas at the Nuoc Man Airport in Ngu Hanh Son District, and the effective exploitation of the city’s urban underground space.