Proposals for an enhanced governance framework to accelerate Hanoi's development

The draft Capital City Law (amended) is being discussed by the National Assembly with the aim of granting Hanoi a special, enhanced governance regime, while ensuring power is checked and implementation feasibility.

At the morning session on April 12, delegates focused on the draft law, which comprises nine chapters and 35 articles. The text details the capital’s position, role, and the mechanisms, policies, and responsibilities in building and developing the capital.

Distinctive policies and governance checks

Many opinions agreed that the amended law should create policies that are truly distinctive to give Hanoi additional development momentum. However, delegates said the approach should not be about favoring the capital; it should reflect that Hanoi is entrusted with major and specialized tasks.

Representative Nguyen Thi Thuy (Thai Nguyen) said policies should aim to help Hanoi effectively fulfill the role of “the heart of the country,” rather than merely receive incentives.

Devolution and decentralization with power control

One topic repeatedly mentioned was devolution and decentralization. Delegates argued for stronger, more comprehensive authority for the capital’s government to promptly address emerging issues. At the same time, they emphasized the need for a mechanism to strictly control power.

Delegate Trang A Duong (Lao Cai) cautioned that not every sector can be strongly devolved. She noted that areas such as ethnic groups and religion require careful consideration before granting powers.

Sector-specific proposals

Beyond institutional matters, delegates discussed specific sectors and policy needs.

Healthcare

In healthcare, Delegate Tran Thi Nhi Ha proposed robust policies to develop regional medical centers and to attract high-quality talent to work in the capital.

Education

In education, Delegate Trinh Thi Tu Anh said current regulations lag behind urbanization. She highlighted that pressure on entrance to grade 10 remains high, calling for clearer mechanisms to develop the public school system and ensure access to education for students.

Urban planning, transport, environment, and innovation

Other views called for clearer policies on urban planning, transport infrastructure, and the environment, as well as on fields of science, technology, and innovation. Delegates said these policies should be advanced, practically implementable, and stable over the long term.

Financial, investment, and land management

Delegates also emphasized the need to design clear financial, investment, and land management mechanisms to promote transparency, avoid overlap, and reduce risk. They said responsibilities of each agency and feedback mechanisms after policy issuance should be clarified.

Overall direction

A recurrent point in the debate was that if Hanoi is to develop faster, it needs an open but well-controlled framework so that policies can be implemented effectively, avoiding dispersion or impracticality.

(Tử Kính - According to Government Portal)