The urbanization process in Vietnam has yielded many significant achievements. The urbanization rate has now reached approximately 40%, with 870 urban areas distributed relatively evenly across the country. This has contributed to the promotion of GDP growth and the long-term transformation of growth models. Moreover, it has fostered advancements in science, technology, innovation, culture, the arts, education, training, and healthcare. Urbanization has also played a key role in creating balanced regional development and addressing issues in agriculture and rural areas.

However, urban development in Vietnam faces several challenges. The quality of urban areas has been neglected, and both technical and social infrastructures are not synchronized leading to overcrowding. Environmental pollution, inefficient resource use, and energy consumption are also pressing issues. Furthermore, the urban system in Vietnam is confronting new obstacles, such as the impacts of climate change and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. These factors are generating fresh problems for urban planning, construction, and development.

The Vietnamese government has given great importance to urban planning and development. Many projects and programs for the 2021–2030 period have been approved, including the Sustainable Smart City Development Plan, the Project for Developing Cities to Respond to Climate Change, and the National Urban Upgrading Plan. In the near future, the Politburo will issue a Resolution on “Urbanization, Urban Development, and Urban Economic Development in Vietnam until 2030, with a Vision to 2045.” This Resolution will serve as a foundation for the Government to concretize policies on urban development and urban reconstruction, ensuring that appropriate resources are allocated for these goals.

If these measures are implemented effectively, urban development in Vietnam will be better coordinated, sustainable, and resilient to future challenges.