A corner of Ho Chi Minh City today. Photo: Hoang Minh/VOV

At a conference to collect opinions from experts on the draft documents of the 1st Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term held on Wednesday, Chairman Duoc said Ho Chi Minh City now has an area three times larger than before the merger and will be developed into a model of three regions and one special zone.

The core urban area of Ho Chi Minh City (old) will be a financial and high-tech center. The Ba Ria-Vung Tau area (old) will become the capital of the marine economy including entertainment services, clean energy, seaports, oil and gas. The Binh Duong area (old) will be the capital of high-tech industry. And the Con Dao Special Zone will develop into a paradise for resort and spiritual tourism.

To achieve these goals, Mr. Duoc called for experts’ contribution of opinions on seven key and breakthrough programs and 10 key tasks and solutions proposed in the draft. They include policy, institutions, infrastructure, science and technology, human resources, private economy, green and sustainable urban areas, and cultural industry, among others.