The bill also does not set out the procedures for making urban planning plans or explain how the proposed law will fit with other laws, such as the Construction Law, the Housing Law and the Land Law, according to Tran Du Lich, deputy head of the National Assembly representative group from HCMC.

National Assembly representatives from Hanoi also protested the lack of detail in the bill. The representatives said urban planning often depended on the heads of cities’ planning departments.

Another controversial topic at the fourth National Assembly session was the creation of the role of chief architects for major cities.

The government proposed appointing a chief architect for large cities and centers with historical and cultural significance.

The National Assembly Economic Committee agreed with the proposal, saying the chief architect’s responsibilities would include consulting and directing urban planning. This will help limit the dependence of urban planning on the heads of planning departments, committee members said.

However, National Assembly representatives from Hanoi did not agree, saying it will make planning procedures more complicated.

The Economic Committee proposed supplementing regulations governing the participation of foreigners and foreign organizations in making urban zoning plans.

At present, nearly 30 percent of Vietnam’s 86-million population live and work in 734 urban areas.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff