Up to now, Bac Giang city has met many criteria for a second-tier urban area, which is the basis for it to become a first-tier one in the 2026-2030 period.

Bac Giang city's urban infrastructure is invested.

Bac Giang city is the political, administrative, economic and socio-cultural center of the province, with convenient geographical location and transportation, as it is located on the Hanoi - Lang Son - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh economic corridor and in the master plan of the Hanoi Capital Region.

The city covers an area of 66.55 square kilometers housing 16 administrative units (10 wards, 6 communes), with a population of about 194,000. After nearly 20 years, Bac Giang city has showed rapid socio-economic and urban space development.

However, with the rapid rate of urbanization and a lack of land fund for urban, commercial and service development, Bac Giang city does not meet all the criteria to become a first-tier urban area according to the national urban classification plan.

To raise the urban level, on August 10, 2021, the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 156-NQ/TU on Bac Giang city construction and building in the 2021-2030 period.

On July 25, 2022, the provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 233-NQ/TU on the policy of rearranging district-level administrative units and urban development in Bac Giang province in 2022-2025. Accordingly, Yen Dung district and Bac Giang city will be merged.

The provincial People's Committee has focused on directing Bac Giang city and Yen Dung district to spend resources for building urban infrastructure and completing urban criteria; prioritized investment in infrastructure development in areas set to become wards.

Now, the entire administrative boundaries of existing Bac Giang city (10 wards, 6 communes) and the administrative boundaries of Yen Dung district (2 towns and 16 communes) basically meet the criteria of a second-tier urban area.

Surveying the actual situation in Bac Giang recently, the Ministry of Construction appreciated the localities’ drastic engagement in urban development, especially in fulfilling criteria for infrastructure development in areas expected to become wards.

The ministry requested Bac Giang to soon complete the review, assessment and appraisal of the Bac Giang urban classification project dossier to submit to competent authorities to recognise Bac Giang city as meeting the criteria for a second-tier urban area.

Recognising Bac Giang city as a second-tier urban area will help raise the city's position, worthy of the province's nucleus, the gateway to the Hanoi Capital Region, creating motivation and conditions for future stronger development.

Therefore, it is necessary to expand urban space. The merger of Yen Dung district and Bac Giang city has great significance. The province always urges relevant departments, agencies and localities to speed up implementation progress.

Le Duc Trung road’s section passing through Nham Bien town, Yen Dung district is being upgraded.

Determining transport development as a top priority, from integrating capital sources, Bac Giang has invested in many key projects, creating a highlight and new shape for the urban area.

Thanks to proactive and methodical implementation, Bac Giang has achieved positive results in urban development. On April 21, the province collected voters' opinions on the merger of Yen Dung district and Bac Giang city, the rearrangement of commune-level administrative units, and the establishment of wards in Bac Giang city.

Thus, the criteria for a second-tier urban area have been basically met and the merger of Yen Dung district and Bac Giang city has followed the roadmap. If the draft adjusted provincial master plan is approved, Bac Giang city will be recognized as a second-tier urban area this year. This is an important basis for the locality to become a first-tier one in the 2026-2030 period.

Trinh Lan