Bac Ninh Province Advances Toward Central‑Government City Status

The People's Committee of Bac Ninh province held a specialist session on July 13 to discuss the proposal to elevate Bac Ninh to a city directly under the central government. The plan retains the province’s current boundaries—over 4,700 km² and a population of more than 3.9 million—and aims to meet the criteria for an I‑class urban area.

A province‑wide public consultation conducted on July 11 recorded a 99 % approval rate from households, indicating strong local support. The proposal has been forwarded to the Party Committee and the Government for review. Relevant documentation, including the urban‑type I criteria, has been submitted to the Ministry of Construction, and the National Appraisal Council will soon undertake a field survey in Bac Ninh.

Officials highlighted Bac Ninh’s role as a growth pole in the Red River Delta, emphasizing its industrial, logistics, and high‑technology sectors, as well as the future development of the Gia Binh airport hub. The province expects the city status to boost economic development, raise the urbanisation rate from 61.6 % to 63.5 % and eventually reach the national target of 65 % by 2030, positioning Bac Ninh as a model for sustainable urban governance.