VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) wants to demolish People Councils in 24 districts and wards in an effort to pursue a metropolitan government for the city.

Photo: Vinh Giang

HCMC is one of the four cities and six provinces to follow a government’s directive for direct voting of mayor as a pilot project to reform the red-tape procedure process in the country.

The government has approved the pilot project to directly vote for Chairman of Commune. It is expected that the project will be submitted to the National Assembly for discussion by the middle of this month.

In June 2008, the biggest city of the country also proposed the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam to form a metropolitan area. According to this master plan, this metropolitan area will include provinces around Ho Chi Minh City in the eastern south and two provinces in the western south of the city. This metropolitan area currently has an area of 30,404 square kilometers with a radius of 150 to 200 km. There is a population of 20 to 22 million inhabitants of which urban residents account for 16 to 17 million, an urbanized rate of 77 to 80%. Ho Chi Minh City will be the core urban center of the area while other surrounding cities and towns will have the role of satelite municipalities.

• Vinh Giang