Transforming Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh into creative nucleus of ‘Eastern City’
Friday, October 02, 2020, 16:45 GMT+7
The formation of an innovative urban area in eastern Ho Chi Minh City aims to leverage both academic and commercial institutions, as well as existing infrastructure in order to develop the eastern edge of the city into a creative technological hub.
About 120 of the 643.7 hectares of the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City zoned for the project lie in Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District, according to Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa, senior lecturer in urban studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and vice-president of the city’s Urban Planning and Development Association.
The Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City is currently under the direction of the prime minister, but after its incorporation into the new creative urban area it will fall under the administration of Thu Duc City, Hoa shared.
The current expansion plans also call on Ho Chi Minh City authorities to seek approval from the national government to claim part of the land in Di An City, Binh Duong Province in order for the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City to expand its territory and influence.
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| Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa, senior lecturer in urban studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and vice-president of the city’s Urban Planning and Development Association. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre |
Some say the university urban area should include not just the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City but also other universities in Thu Duc and nearby residential areas. What is your opinion?
The mission of a creative city is to research the application of new technologies to multiple sectors before manufacturing, testing, transferring, and commercializing any technology.
The Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City can only offer education and training at the moment. To turn this area into a nucleus of creativity, it is necessary to expand the university’s capabilities to research, manufacturing, technology transfer, and commercialization.
Therefore, it is even more important to connect the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh urban area with the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, which are currently separated by the Hanoi Highway.
In addition, dozens of universities and colleges in this area need to cooperate and coordinate to share their infrastructure, including digital libraries, international laboratories, and fitness and sports areas.
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| A bird’s-eye view of the National University-Ho Chi Minh City urban area. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
From an urban planning perspective, how will the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh urban area and Saigon Hi-Tech Park connect so that human resources can flow between the two zones?
A connection between the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh urban area and Saigon Hi-Tech Park will be made possible by the construction of an elevated road or a tunnel. This connection, in terms of planning, is extremely important as it will contribute to the soft link between research and manufacturing units.
However, after these two areas are connected, this ‘hub’ of the creative city may be at risk of becoming overcrowded during the day but extremely quiet at night.
The problem is how to ensure that the new city will be lively. Our plan is to bring in more services and turn it into a university residential area, with housing for professors, researchers, and teachers, as well as factories and modern laboratories.
Many innovative cities in the world have large populations of highly talented residents and their families, so there need to be many preschools, elementary, middle, and high schools inside urban areas.
Planning for the well-being of future residents will help our creative urban area become a vibrant and successful city.
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| A bird’s-eye view of the Saigon Hi-Tech Park. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre |
Currently the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh urban area has no land bank for building houses and residential areas. What is your plan to tackle that problem?
We need to expand the mandate of the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, as it is currently not allowed to lease land or do business. The school needs to be granted the ability to engage in economic, service, and financial functions.
There are still a lot of vacant plots in the area to build residential housing. The university just needs official permission to make it happen.
Developing an innovative urban area with innovative technology requires highly talented residents. How will you create a living environment to attract the necessary talent?
With the current Fourth Industrial Revolution, living standards are much more important than in the past. To create an attractive environment, we will need to develop an area with lots of trees, no smoke and dust, and a relaxing atmosphere. Most creative cities in the world are developed following this model.
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| An apartment complex in the eastern part of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hung Thinh Land |
In your opinion, how will the eastern city need to improve its urban infrastructure so that it can connect with and share modern infrastructure with the center of Ho Chi Minh City?
Authorities should focus on building infrastructure for the nucleus of this innovative city, namely the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh urban area and Saigon Hi-Tech Park. The development of this nucleus will grow and gradually spread to the surrounding areas. The surrounding areas just need simple renovations. Large-scale construction is unnecessary.
Nguyen Thanh Nhan, computer technology major at the University of Technology and Education, Ho Chi Minh City:
The eastern part of Ho Chi Minh City will offer a lot of job opportunities that suit my expertise, particularly the Saigon Hi-Tech Park and its many research institutes. If I have the option, I will choose to work in the east of the city and live in its new apartment buildings.
The only two problems that need to be solved are security and traffic congestion. It can be very difficult to travel to downtown areas during rush hours.
Nguyen Bich Nguyen, marketing major at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology in Ho Chi Minh City:
The eastern area of the city is quite crowded right now and lacking in large companies and administrative clusters. I hope that the area will become a place for many companies and businesses to establish branches. The area also needs to invest in more quality housing.
Phung Kim Yen, senior year at International University, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City:
I have stayed in the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City urban area for four years and believe that many improvements need to be made in the area. Facilities at the school are good, but the road system is not. Many sections of the road have no street lights, and the speed bumps are too high.
Public buses are the main means of transportation for students, but they can become extremely crowded during rush hours. Authorities should focus on reorganizing the bus routes.
