Interview with PhD Nguyen Van Tan on Planning Work Since the Planning Law Came into Effect.

To provide two-way information regarding the discussion session on the implementation of policies and laws on planning work since the Planning Law came into effect, as well as to assess the moderation of the chairperson and the quality of delegates’ opinions, a reporter from the Vietnam News Agency recorded feedback from voters in Thai Nguyen and Dong Nai.

Many Dedicated and Responsible Opinions

Following the discussion session held on the morning of 30 May, voter Dang Van Huy, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Thai Nguyen Province, highly appreciated the discussion format at this session in terms of both method and quality. National Assembly deputies frankly presented many dedicated and responsible opinions to clarify the content and issues raised during the discussion.

Regarding the National Assembly’s selection of the Planning Law as a thematic supervision topic, voter Dang Van Huy expressed strong support, considering it a highly topical issue. The supervision aims to comprehensively and objectively evaluate the process of implementing the Planning Law by the Government, ministries, sectors, localities, and relevant agencies, thereby proposing solutions to address shortcomings and limitations and accelerating the completion of planning for the 2021–2030 period.

Voter Dang Van Huy stated that provincial planning plays a vital and significant role in the overall development of Thai Nguyen Province as well as other localities nationwide. Thai Nguyen aims by 2030 to maximize all potential, advantages, and resources for rapid, comprehensive, and sustainable development, building Thai Nguyen into one of the modern industrial economic centers of the Northern Midlands and Mountainous Region and the Hanoi Capital Region by 2030.

Up to this point, Thai Nguyen is one of the localities that has early completed the dossier for the Provincial Planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and has basically consolidated appraisal opinions from central ministries, sectors, and independent experts regarding the planning content. Accordingly, after submission to the National Planning Appraisal Council, the Provincial Planning dossier will be presented for approval at a session of the Provincial People’s Council and subsequently submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. Regarding the development of planning by localities nationwide in general, voter Dang Van Huy recommended that central ministries and sectors accelerate the preparation of the National Master Plan and regional plans to provide provinces with a basis for promptly formulating their own plans.

Voter Nguyen Van Trung, Tuc Duyen Ward, Thai Nguyen City, agreed with the opinion of National Assembly Deputy Le Van Dung (Quang Nam Province) that planning work still faces many difficulties in terms of human resources, funding, and consulting units, leading to low planning quality. The voter also agreed with the recommendation that the Government urgently promulgate the National Master Plan, as it will serve as the core foundation to ensure consistency, synchronization, and connectivity within the national planning system.

More Time and Effort Are Needed

Lac Hong University is honored that PhD Nguyen Van Tan, Head of the Faculty of Business Administration – International Economics, Lac Hong University (Dong Nai), delivered remarks at the meeting. According to him, the National Assembly has adopted an appropriate approach in the current national context, and the public is satisfied with the transparency of the National Assembly’s supervision of the Planning Law. In particular, the working agenda accurately addressed the current state of planning. Voters also highly appreciated the working methods and results of the National Assembly’s Supervisory Delegation as reflected in the report presented on the morning of 30 May, which clearly identified strengths, weaknesses, and causes in the implementation of planning laws.

Voter Nguyen Van Tan stated that the report clearly indicated that officials engaged in planning have not yet met requirements, partly due to a lack of specialized training, as Vietnam currently does not offer dedicated training in this field. Furthermore, the report pointed out that it is inappropriate for leadership to entirely delegate planning tasks to consulting firms, and that a single consultant advising on multiple plans presents inadequacies. Nguyen Van Tan assessed that the quality of supervision by the National Assembly’s Supervisory Delegation, as reflected in the report, is appropriate and closely aligned with the current realities of planning work in Vietnam at the central, regional, sectoral, and provincial/city levels.

Through the exchanges of National Assembly deputies from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Ha Giang, and other localities, strong concern for planning work across many provinces was clearly demonstrated. The deputies delved deeply into planning issues specific to their localities, supplementing practical insights and further clarifying the report of the Supervisory Delegation.

According to voter Nguyen Van Tan, integrated planning as required is a difficult and new issue in Vietnam. Therefore, this work requires additional time and effort to meet practical demands as well as public expectations.