Impressive works

On June 24, 2009, the prime Minister issued the Decision No. 889/QĐ-TTg recognized Can Tho as a first class city under the Central, one of the five largest cities in the whole country.  Can Tho has an area of nearly 1.4 million km² and the population of 1.2 million people. Although the city met the criteria of a first class one, the city was actually a center of the delta in geography, economy, culture and education - training. The important focal point of intra- regional and inter- regional transport has not really emerged.

Can Tho city has more and more developed during 10 years. The 5- star hotels, trade centers, supermarkets, universities, hospitals, international airport, port, and so on have created a new face for Tay Do. The traffic works are the remarkable points of the city. Besides the National Highway 1, the main road connecting to Can Tho Bridge, the National Highway 91 has been also improved from Binh Thuy Bridge to Thot Not district connecting with National Highway 80. The National Highway 91 reduced the traffic pressure for the city. The National Highway 61B connecting Vi Thanh and Can Tho helped to shorten the distance between the two localities. Vo Nguyen Giap road connecting with the South of Hau river is also in the stage of completion.

The writer talked a lot about the traffic of roadway because the traffic pressure is growing fast and the vehicle is very crowded, so it is not enough for socio-economic development of the city. Thus, Quang Trung bridge module 2 which is parallel to the existing one started the construction in the end of 2017. In addition, Tran Hoang Na Bridge will be deployed in the early of this year. Can Tho river will have three complete bridges as “arms of the lever”, creating a power for a new urban area in the South of Can Tho to develop more quickly and modernly, reducing the pressure for the city in many aspects.

 In the end of 2017, in the inspection tour of Bung Xang lake, financed by ODA capital - this was also the fund for upgrading Can Tho city from the date of splitting the province in 2004 to now, said Mr. Vo Thanh Thong, the Chairman of Can Tho city People’s Committee, the city has had a close cooperation with the World Bank and was funded 3 projects to develop the city with the total investment of more than USD 360 million. Viet Nam Urban Upgrading Project (Project 1) and Mekong Delta Urban Upgrading Project (Project 2)  have improved the environment and reduced the flooding in many low- income residential areas, upgraded the social infrastructure, improved the living conditions of people in 4 districts (Ninh Kieu, Binh Thuy, Cai Rang, O Mon). Also, civil works as Xang Thoi lake, Tham Tuong canal, Luu Huu Phuoc park, Hung Vuong park and other works in schools and clinics have changed the face of the city. 

Affirming the central position of the region

One afternoon in the end of the year, by accident I met “a friend”, Le Phuoc Hong, actually my uncle not my friend. He is nearly 70 years old; he said that he bought a house near Bun Xang lake 3 years ago. Last time, he sold his house in Ninh Kieu district to buy a new one in 586 residential area to enjoy the environment here. But the roads now are very crowded; it is difficult for him to move to Ninh Kieu. So, he decided to sell his house in 586 residential area and bought a house near Bun Xang lake.

Actually, the development of the city is beyond his imagination! He doesn’t expect that Vo Nguyen Giap Avenue, Cai Rang district to Quang Trung or Nguyen Van Linh is crowded as present and there are many supermarkets. These are the attraction of Tay Do. Not only students, intellectuals, domestic and foreign scientists come to Can Tho to study, but also many big investors as Vingroup, Muong Thanh, Novaland, Korean and Japanese investors are present in this city. In 2017, the real estate business had a big surprise when the land prices in Ninh Kieu and Cai Rang district increase 50 or 100 percent because of the attractiveness and advantages of a central city in the Mekong Delta!

In the first mission, being a Vice - President for Sustainable Development of the World Bank, said Ms. Laura Tuck, “Can Tho is the first place to visit when I came to Viet Nam. I have a great impression with the space, the peaceful nature and the gentle people in Can Tho city”. After visiting projects, Ms. Laura Tuck has affirmed that Can Tho can become a typical city and a model one of urban development adaptable to the climate change for localities in the region and in the whole country. The World Bank committed to continue to support ODA fund for new projects in Can Tho city in the coming time.

It can be said that besides the extremely civil works and projects on waterway, roadway, airway and port which have been finished and put into operation, the projects on trade-service and tourism have been also developed. In addition, the investment projects from ODA capital of the World Bank are “hot points” of the city, attracting the interest of the people. According to Mr. Huynh Thanh Su, Director of ODA Project Management Unit, the Project 2 with Bun Xang lake’s packages is coming to the final stage and the Project 3 started to implement as the construction of Quang Trung bridge module 2, Hoang Na Bridge and road. We are trying to complete the packages as schedule but many packages have not reached the progress, we always try all our best to finish as the schedule.

Investing, upgrading and creating a new appearance for Can Tho urban area are duties that the Party, government and people in Can Tho always have expectation and determination. These achievements are a process of nearly 10 years of striving of all classes of people in the city. I always believe that Can Tho city will be better and more magnificent in the new stage of development. We have got “fishing rods” and “levers” to make a difference and to shoulder with other first class cities under the central in the country.