HCMC – Business executives and experts have proposed a series of breakthrough mechanisms, including megacity governance reforms, a regulatory sandbox, expanded transit-oriented development (TOD), and stronger decentralization in infrastructure investment to help refine a draft Special Urban Law for HCMC.
The proposals were presented at a consultation workshop held by the HCMC People’s Committee on May 27 and chaired by Chairman Nguyen Van Duoc and Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Cuong.
Addressing infrastructure and logistics bottlenecks, representatives of Gemadept proposed that the draft law incorporate stronger incentives for inland waterway transport to reduce logistics costs and ease pressure on road networks. The company also recommended establishing a roadmap to relocate ports out of the urban core.
For projects involving overlapping marine space – such as undersea tunnels, sea bridges, and offshore wind farms – the drafting committee was urged to ensure compatibility with seaport planning while introducing dedicated mechanisms for security, safety, and search-and-rescue operations for a future port and logistics hub.
From the perspective of mobilizing strategic State-owned enterprises (SOEs), Nguyen The Duy, vice chairman and deputy general director of Becamex, proposed granting these firms greater operational autonomy paired with accountability and stronger post-audit oversight. He said SOEs could serve as lead investors in infrastructure, industrial parks, urban development, energy and innovation projects.
Becamex also proposed expanding the transit-oriented development model beyond metro stations to include national and international railway stations, seaports and logistics centers. The broader TOD approach, the company said, could support urban regeneration and create new revenue streams to reinvest in infrastructure.
Supporting this direction, Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the HCMC Real Estate Association, proposed developing multi-functional land reserves within TOD projects to increase budget revenue. He also suggested introducing a “space transfer” mechanism to adjust planning indicators across different areas and applying a land-use fee coefficient below one to help control housing prices.
To improve competitiveness in attracting large-scale investment, representatives of Sun Group proposed granting the city’s People’s Council authority to approve planning and architectural criteria that differ from national standards for strategic investment projects. The company also called for special mechanisms on compensation and site clearance, longer visa and temporary residence periods for foreign experts, and faster administrative responses when legal frameworks have yet to be updated.
On legal frameworks for emerging industries, Dinh Hong Ky, chairman of the HCMC Green Business Association, proposed creating a dedicated chapter in the law for a regulatory sandbox. The framework would include five policy groups, covering geographic sandbox zones, such as Thu Thiem, Can Gio, Cai Mep Ha or a model TOD station, as well as sector-based testing for fintech, digital assets, paperless logistics and autonomous vehicles.
He also proposed controlled legal exemptions and a principle allowing failed experiments without criminal liability, supported by governance tools based on real-time digital data and artificial intelligence.
Representing the local business community, Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, chairman of the HCMC Business Association (HUBA), proposed digitizing and integrating administrative data systems to shorten processing times. He also called for legal protections for public officials participating in pilot programs to reduce concerns over decision-making risks.
At the forum, Assoc.Prof. Nguyen Van Cuong described the current period as a “special opportunity” for HCMC to establish a dedicated legal framework suited to a megacity. He said the draft should further decentralize authority, introduce administrative reforms beyond national standards and shift governance from pre-approval controls to post-audit supervision to reduce compliance costs for investors.
Concluding the workshop, Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Cuong said the city would continue broad consultations with ministries, experts and neighboring provinces in southeastern and southwestern Vietnam to ensure regional connectivity before submitting the draft law to competent authoroties and the National Assembly for approval.
