Danang, the major city in Central Vietnam, aims to become a leading powerhouse in Southeast Asia by 2030.

Following its merger with Quang Nam province last July, Danang has made significant strides by approving a comprehensive revision of its 2021-2030 master plan, with a long-term vision extending to 2050. The city aims to assert itself as one of the leading socio-economic powerhouses in Vietnam and Southeast Asia by the end of this decade.

With a burgeoning population exceeding 3 million and an enormous area of nearly 12,000 square kilometers—more than ten times its previous size—Danang is positioning itself as Vietnam’s largest centrally governed city. By 2050, the city aspires to be recognized as one of the most livable cities in Asia.

Currently, Vietnam is home to six centrally governed cities: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Danang, Hue, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City. Each of these urban centers plays a crucial role in the nation’s socio-economic dynamics, but Danang is set to take a unique position in this hierarchy under its revised master plan.

The newly updated plan outlines an ambitious pathway for Danang to emerge as a core hub for various sectors by 2030, including science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, tourism, trade, finance, and logistics. The city will also be characterized by advancements in high-tech industrial production, quality education, and healthcare, aligned closely with principles of green growth and climate adaptability.

Looking further into the future, by 2050, Danang aims to achieve a sustainable balance between economic development and ecological preservation while enhancing the overall quality of life for its residents.

A major highlight of the revised plan is the strategic restructuring of socio-economic zones into three primary functional areas, designed to be interconnected through economic corridors and growth-driving clusters. These zones include:

• The **eastern coastal urban-industrial-service zone**, which will act as the primary growth engine with a focus on finance, trade, tourism, and high-quality services.
• The **western midland and mountainous zone**, emphasizing agriculture, forestry, eco-economy development, resource conservation, and water security.
• The **marine and island zone**, aiming to promote the marine economy, logistics, and renewable energy initiatives.

In redesigning its growth strategy, Danang has identified three key growth-driving clusters. The first is the **northern urban-commercial-financial-tourism-heritage-cultural cluster**, strategically located in the Danang-Hoi An-Dien Ban area. The second is the **North-South industrial-commercial-service-tourism-new urban cluster** in the Nam Hoi An area, covering Duy Xuyen, Thang Binh, and Que Son. Lastly, the **southern industrial-service-logistics-science-technology cluster** is placed in the Chu Lai-Tam Ky-Nui Thanh area.

The city has also set a goal to establish 30 urban areas by 2030. This plan includes 20 existing urban areas, which comprise seven expansions and 13 upgrades, with an additional ten new urban areas designed to meet the standards of a centrally governed city’s administrative units.

Moreover, Danang will invest in enhancing urban standards, ensuring at least 15 wards achieve Tier-2 urban area status. This initiative reflects the broader aspirations to improve urban quality and living conditions.

Reshaping Development Horizons

Nguyen Duc Dung, Chairman of the Danang People’s Council, emphasized during a recent meeting that the administrative reorganization last July necessitated a significant revision of the master plan. The previous plans for both Danang and Quang Nam had already laid the groundwork for urban and rural planning, socio-economic programs, infrastructure improvements, and enhancements to quality of life.

The merger has created an entirely new scale for Danang, prompting a requirement for an updated master plan that aligns with its new administrative boundaries and governance model. Dung described this task as “an extremely heavy and challenging political endeavor,” one that transcends technical revisions to offer a comprehensive blueprint for the city’s future development.

This new vision espouses sustainable development principles, regional harmony, social equity, and enhanced living conditions, focusing on leveraging the unique potentials and synergies of the former Danang and Quang Nam.

The newly expanded Danang, with nearly 12,000 square kilometers and a population that surpasses 3 million, encompasses 94 administrative units, including 23 wards and 70 communes. It has now become the largest city by natural area among Vietnam’s centrally governed cities, thus affirming its critical role in the nation’s future urban landscape.