The plans, which provide a legal and strategic framework for spatial management and investment orientation, are targeted for approval before October 30, 2025, under Plan No. 30/KH-UBND and Official Dispatch No. 4619/UBND-XDCT issued by the provincial People’s Committee.
According to the Department of Construction, 135 commune and ward master plans are currently underway. Of these, 24 plans in major urban areas such as Quy Nhơn, Hoài Nhơn, An Nhơn, Pleiku, and An Khê are awaiting specific guidance from the Ministry of Construction.
Seven border communes have partially adjusted their plans, while 104 commune-level plans are progressing as scheduled. About 97% have submitted tasks for appraisal, with 37 communes approved and 39 pending review.
Despite determined efforts, the province faces challenges in legal frameworks, staffing, and funding. Only 45% of communes and wards have personnel with prior experience in district-level construction, and the Department of Construction’s 11-member planning team is managing a heavy workload.
Many localities lack sufficient funding and have requested deadline extensions due to difficulties in community consultation and data collection.
Deputy Director Lê Đăng Tuấn said the Department has completed 21 out of 28 cluster-based appraisal meetings, covering 98 communes and wards, and aims to finalize all appraisals by October 20, 2025. Coordination with the Department of Finance is underway to ensure adequate budget allocation and improve document quality.
To ensure alignment, commune-level master plans are being developed in line with the provincial plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, promoting inter-regional connectivity and preventing fragmented development.
On October 14, the master planning task for Tuy Phước Bắc commune, formed from the merger of Phước Hiệp, Phước Hưng, and Phước Quang, was approved. Chairman Nguyễn Hùng Tân said the 37 km² commune is envisioned as a “civilized urban area” with modern agriculture and eco-tourism based on cultural assets like Bánh Ít Tower and Bà Nước Mặn Pagoda. The plan aims for ward-level standards during 2026–2030 by upgrading infrastructure and developing high-tech agriculture.
In Tuy Phước commune (a merger of Tuy Phước town, Diêu Trì town, Phước Lộc, Phước Thuận, and Phước Nghĩa), the plan outlines a strategic transport hub in the southeast region, integrating urban economy, commercial services, and eco-tourism at Thị Nại Lagoon.
Similarly, An Lương commune, formed from Mỹ Chánh, Mỹ Thành, and Mỹ Cát, targets becoming a coastal economic zone focused on marine tourism, seaports, superyacht services, and low-emission agriculture. Defined development zones include Đề Gi tourism area, central urban area, eco-agriculture zone, and residential upgrade areas, ensuring economic and environmental balance.
Provincial Chairman Phạm Anh Tuấn has directed the Department of Construction to coordinate with relevant agencies to complete appraisals and guide regional and sectoral implementation. Communes are required to organize community consultations, finalize documentation, and adhere to five planning principles: Compliance, Inheritance, Elimination, Supplementation, and Connectivity, to ensure consistency and transparency.
All commune-level master plans must be approved by October 30, 2025, with total costs estimated in the tens of billions of Vietnamese đồng (approximately USD 400,000–800,000). The planning process, officials say, will act as a compass for long-term, sustainable development across the province.