They will be built using advanced architectural techniques but retain their original features to be appropriate for the local people and economy.

The plan projects future urban growth and spells out a number of criteria for the overall development of local infrastructures and environmental protection while outlining plans and solutions for urban development until 2050.

Major cities like HCM City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Quy Nhon and Can Tho will become urban clusters or satellite areas to prevent overpopulation and economic and ecological imbalances.

Until 2015, economic hubs and major cities that play a key role in the country’s development will be priorisied for urbanisation.

From 2016-2025, other substansial urban areas will be developed to play a central role in their respective regions.

It is estimated that by 2025, there will be 1,000 major urban areas, 17 of them first grade, 20second grade, 81 third grade and 122 fourth grade. The remaining 760 will be classified as fifth grade.

Along with urban growth, the plan deals with preserving the architectural features of urban areas like Hanoi and HCM City, and the cultural and architectural heritage of places like Hue, Hoi An, Da Lat and Sapa.

At the 12th International Forum “UNESCO-University and Heritage”, held in Hanoi from April 5-10, specialists on urban planning, architecture and archaeology and heritage preservation examined a number of creative solutions for preserving historic and cultural sites in modern urban areas.

Architect, Nguyen Dinh Toan, from the Ministry of Construction’s Architecture, Urban and Rural planning Institute, said that the substance of an urban area was defined by the value of its non-material cultural objects, like Hanoi’s architectural uniqueness.

“It will create an architectural combination that is in harmony with the old quarter to enhance the city’s image. Those structures emphasise connection, inheritance and making the most of what is available.” he said.

He said that to create a new role for the historical city of Hanoi as a modern urban centre depends on coherent planning and management, especially as Hanoi is being expanded and there are plans to expand the capital even further in the future.

He also urged the city’s leaders to come up with appropriate rules and regulations to manage the use of historic sites in urban areas, especially in future regional planning. This is also the need for a code to maintain traditional characters in new urban architecture and design.

Urban design is an interdisciplinary field that aims to improve the quality of the urban spaces, said Ta Quynh Hoa from the Hanoi-based University of Civil Engineering ‘s Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning.

“Local communities are an important factor as their lives are greatly affected by changes in urban design,” she said.

“A community’s contribution to urban design in local projects- especially those related to historical urban spaces-is very necessary and fundamental.”

Luong Tu Quyen of the Hanoi Architectural University, said an urban touch was needed in urban design to improve the identity of urban areas.

“After the national unification in 1975, the Vietnamese Government tried to fill the gap between urban and rural areas by introducing various different policies,” she said.

“The policies, on the one hand, had a positive influence in terms of improving rural living conditions. But, on the other hand, they also had the negative effect of erasing the identity of urban and rural spaces.”

“Furthermore, globalisation and economic development has made cities join efforts in upgrading infrastructures and protecting the environment.

As a result, urban boundaries have become more difficult to identify.

Many countries in the world have experienced the same problem as Viet Nam by losing the characteristics and individualities of urban and rural spaces,” she said.