On December 8, during the 10th sitting of the National Assembly (NA), lawmakers continued discussions on a draft resolution amending and supplementing several provisions of Resolution 98/2023/QH15 on piloting special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City.
A "bigger legal framework"
Speaking at the plenary session, National Assembly deputy Trinh Xuan An (Dong Nai delegation) proposed drafting a separate law for Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Mr. An, Hanoi already has its own Capital Law. For a mega-city like Ho Chi Minh City, especially after its merger with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces - the development of a dedicated law is essential.
Deputy Trinh Xuan An said such a law would consolidate all special mechanisms and policies for Ho Chi Minh City, giving the city a "bigger legal framework" to support its development in the new period.
Deputy Hoang Van Cuong (Hanoi delegation) noted that Ho Chi Minh City is the country's largest economic hub, a dynamic and innovative region, and a vanguard in piloting new governance models later scaled up nationwide.
He stressed that after incorporating Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City's position and potential would become unmatched domestically and increasingly significant internationally.
NA Deputy Trinh Xuan An speaks during the session. Photo: Pham Thang
Overarching principles and criteria
"With such a vast integrated urban entity, Ho Chi Minh City cannot be governed under the same institutional 'coat' as other localities. It needs a more open and differentiated legal framework that provides it with its own space to innovate freely while maintaining oversight. That is precisely the objective this resolution must achieve," deputy Hoang Van Cuong emphasized.
Therefore, he expressed general support for all proposed mechanisms and policies, including the development of the transit-oriented development (TOD) model, urban planning and management reforms, incentives to attract strategic investors, and the establishment of a free trade zone.
However, he argued that these proposals remain modest and not strong enough to create a truly powerful mechanism that would enable Ho Chi Minh City to innovate freely and unlock its full potential.
He recommended reviewing and removing all provisions that could impede the implementation of special mechanisms. He also cautioned against the current approach of listing specific tasks requiring special policies and detailing categories of projects eligible for strategic investor status.
"If this resolution is passed with these lists and specifications, and new tasks or strategic investment requirements arise later, we would again have to amend the resolution," he said.
Deputy Hoang Van Cuong proposed that instead of listing items, the resolution should provide overarching principles and criteria, empowering the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council to make specific decisions.
Deputy Trinh Thi Tu Anh (Lam Dong delegation) supported the proposal to establish a Free Trade Zone in Ho Chi Minh City, as stipulated in Article 7a of the draft resolution.
According to her, a free trade zone represents a critical test of Vietnam's institutional mindset at a time when the country is searching for new growth drivers built on innovation, modern services, and global competitiveness.
She stressed that the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee must be granted genuine autonomy in determining and organizing the zone's model, ensuring the speed and flexibility required in modern commerce.
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