Nghe An strives to have 3 cities directly under the province by 2030.

At the regular meeting in October 2024, the People's Committee of Nghe An province approved the draft Urban Development Program of Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

According to the program, Nghe An strives to have about 40-45 urban areas by 2030, including: 1 type I urban area (Vinh city expansion), 2 type III urban areas (Hoang Mai city and Thai Hoa city), 2 type IV/III urban areas (Dien Chau town and Do Luong town), 15 district towns and 20-25 sub-regional towns in the district.

Nghe An province also strives to have the urbanization rate of the whole province reach 34-36% by 2025; by 2030, the urbanization rate of the whole province reach 40-45%.

By 2050, the province's urbanization rate will be among the high average of the country; at least two leading urban areas in the country will be built, playing the role of a hub connecting and developing with the urban network of the province, region and country.

The perspective of developing the urban system of Nghe An province is sustainable according to the network, reasonably distributed among 7 development zones according to the planning orientation of Nghe An province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister.

Ensure synchronization, unity, connection, and balance between the intra-regional and extra-regional areas, closely linking Nghe An province with the North Central provinces, especially the central urban areas of the region with urban areas in the region.

In addition, gradually expand the development space of key urban areas and regional urban areas, connect the urban network of the whole province with a synchronous, complete, closed and interconnected infrastructure system.

In particular, the expanded Vinh urban area will be taken as the central core urban area, an important growth pole of the province, closely linked with the core urban areas of the region and sub-region (Hoang Mai, Thai Hoa, Dien Chau, Do Luong, Quy Hop, Con Cuong) to form a "backbone" to spread, lead, and support the development of the urban system of the whole province closely, sustainably, and multi-dimensionally.

Developing urban areas with comprehensive functions and reasonable scale (area, population) in a modern, unique direction, rich in Nghe An identity, promoting typical cultural elements, pioneering spirit, leading innovation activities, becoming a driving force for development and suitable for the green, smart urban model, adapting to climate change, preventing and combating natural disasters and epidemics.

According to the Provincial People's Committee, the construction of the provincial urban development program to concretize the goal of building and developing Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2045, has been issued by the Politburo in Resolution No. 39; the plan to develop the entire urban system of the province is consistent with the Nghe An Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister and related plans, programs and projects.

To gradually implement sustainable urban development, Nghe An province will build key programs, projects, and research topics; including piloting the construction and implementation of the Vinh City Light City Project for the 2024-2025 period, with a vision to 2030.

The program also identifies a list of priority investment projects; estimated investment capital needs; implementation resources; a list of project groups and capital use solutions in order of priority for program implementation and urban development investment projects. The total estimated capital need for urban development in Nghe An province from now until 2030 is 97,187 billion VND.

The draft Urban Development Program of Nghe An province to 2030, with a vision to 2050, will be reported by the Provincial People's Committee to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee for consideration and comments before being submitted to the Provincial People's Council for approval.