According to its latest adjusted master plan through 2040 with a vision towards 2060, which was announced on June 25, Ho Chi Minh City shall have six development zones, according to a report from the Government News.

These zones are the Central Urban Zone, the Eastern Zone (Thu Duc City), the Western Zone (Binh Chanh Urban Area), the Northern Zone (Cu Chi – Hoc Mon Urban Area), the Southern Zone (District 7 – Nha Be Urban Area), the Southeastern Zone (Can Gio Urban Area).

Each zone is designed to fulfill multiple functions associated with key development areas that play a central role in the region, country, and the world, to create job opportunities and a high-quality living environment. The spatial organization of each zone will be closely integrated with the public transport system.

The Central Urban Zone will serve as the administrative and foreign affairs hub, as well as the center for commerce, services, the knowledge-based economy, and creative industries. At its core lies the area encompassing downtown Saigon, Cho Lon, and surrounding neighborhoods—forming the primary nucleus of the entire city.

The Eastern Zone (Thu Duc City) is envisioned as an innovation and knowledge hub, with key focuses on education and training, high-tech industries, financial services, healthcare, and eco-tourism. The International Financial Center is planned for the Thu Thiem area, anchoring the zone’s economic and strategic importance.

The Western Zone (Binh Chanh Urban Area) will be developed into an industrial city with a strong emphasis on commercial services, advanced technology, and healthcare. It will also host biomedical centers and become a key area for education and training.

The Northern Zone (Cu Chi – Hoc Mon Urban Area) is planned as a multifunctional zone that blends services, entertainment, culture, and wellness with agricultural landscapes. This area will feature industrial parks, education and technology hubs, support zones for agricultural production, and eco-cultural-historical tourism destinations.

The Southern Zone (District 7 – Nha Be Urban Area) is set to become a high-tech, water-based ecological city. It will focus on the knowledge economy, arts and culture, exhibitions and trade fairs, entertainment, eco-tourism, industry, logistics, and the marine economy.

The Southeastern Zone (Can Gio Urban Area) will serve as Ho Chi Minh City’s ecological and marine gateway. It is planned as a center for innovation and the marine economy, offering a variety of tourism services such as ecotourism, leisure, and commerce. The area will also feature port and logistics facilities and will be home to a fisheries logistics center and institutions dedicated to aquaculture research, farming, and processing.