Khánh Hòa accelerates progress to meet urban-type I criteria, aiming to become a centrally administered city with Vietnam's longest coastline

Khánh Hòa is accelerating implementation of urban development plans to meet urban type I criteria, aiming to be recognized as a centrally administered city with the longest coastline in Vietnam.

Plan to meet urban type I standards

According to the Khánh Hòa Provincial Portal, the province is mobilizing resources to develop urban areas and satisfy urban type I requirements through a plan to ensure that 50% of wards (out of the total number of wards) reach level II urbanization development.

Under the plan, Khánh Hòa will speed up the implementation of urban type I criteria and standards to serve as the basis for a proposal to recognize the province as meeting the urban type I standard under current regulations.

The plan is designed to ensure synchronized and effective deployment of tasks, programs, and projects, while assigning responsibilities to departments, agencies, and ward-level People’s Committees. It also focuses on mobilizing investment resources for essential projects to meet urban classification requirements and align with local conditions.

Targets by 2027 and responsibilities

Khánh Hòa targets that by 2027, more than 50% of wards will meet level II urban development standards and be recognized by the provincial People’s Committee as meeting the requirements.

Specific tasks include:

• Department of Home Affairs: Lead coordination with relevant units to propose wards eligible to become wards and ensure the ward share meets the standard (the proportion of wards relative to total administrative units at the commune level reaching at least 30%). The department will also advise the competent authority to approve the establishment of wards in 2027.
• Wards responsible for comprehensive assessment: Nha Trang, Bac Nha Trang, Tay Nha Trang, Nam Nha Trang, Bac Cam Ranh, Cam Linh, Cam Ranh, Ba Ngoi, Phan Rang, Dong Hai, Ninh Chu, Bao An, Do Vinh, and Ninh Hoa.

Assessment and gap-filling measures

The wards listed above are tasked with conducting comprehensive assessments of current standards and proposing solutions to address unmet or low standards. The focus includes economic-social development, urbanization levels, and essential infrastructure such as transport, drainage, lighting, green spaces, healthcare, and education.

They will prepare evaluation reports on the degree of urban development for submission to the provincial People’s Committee for recognition in 2027.

Policy review and current gaps

On the afternoon of March 25, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Ha chaired a meeting to review standards for Khánh Hòa to become a centrally administered city and criteria to upgrade administrative units to wards. The review is based on central and provincial policies and resolutions, including Politburo Resolution No. 09-NQ/TW, which targets that by 2030 Khánh Hòa becomes a centrally administered city as an international service and coastal tourism hub, a growth pole for the South Central Coast, the Central Highlands, and the country.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, Khánh Hòa is currently not meeting three standards, including:

• Ward proportion on total administrative units: achieved 16/65.
• Urban type I standard components: achieved 8/15.
• Economy-social development structure and development: achieved 2/5.

In addition, 4/7 standards are met for becoming a centrally administered city.

Implementation guidance

To address missing items, Mr. Ha asked agencies to thoroughly review and propose options to develop the province into a centrally administered city. The Department of Construction was assigned to directly inspect and evaluate units planned for upgrading to wards to ensure level II urban development standards, and to guide localities on urban population ratios while reporting to the Department of Home Affairs and related agencies.

Economic indicators and growth outlook

In economic performance, Khánh Hòa’s GRDP (at 2010 prices) for 2025 is estimated at over 100,017 billion VND, up 7.11% year-on-year, ranking 29th out of 34 provinces and cities. GRDP per capita in 2025 is estimated at 110.26 million VND, up 9.02% year-on-year.

For Q1 2026, total GRDP (at 2020 prices) is estimated at over 39,884 billion VND, up 8.37% year-on-year, ranking 18th nationwide. In the first half of this year, Khánh Hòa aims for GRDP growth above 10%, as a basis to meet the full-year growth target of 11% in 2026.