Should Da Lat be upgraded to a centrally-run city?
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A proposal to separate Da Lat tourism hot spot from Lam Dong province on the central highlands and develop it into a centrally-run city on the same par with Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang cities has stirred up conflicting opinions.
The plan was put forward by the Lam Dong provincial government and has been backed by the Ministry of Construction.
According to the ministry, Da Lat is not only a well-known tourist hot spot but also an ideal place to grow various vegetables for domestic use and export.
It is also a major training and research center and plays an important role in national defense, the ministry added.
The separation would help promote these strong points, the ministry explained.
Meanwhile, many readers objected.
Waste, unnecessary
Tran Van Hoc, one of the readers, is afraid that once Da Lat becomes a centrally-run city, it will be more urbanized and will further lose its inherent poetic and elegant natural beauty.
In recent years, rapid urbanization has deformed Da Lat, with many pine hills being flattened to make way for high rises, he said.
The plan was put forward by the Lam Dong provincial government and has been backed by the Ministry of Construction.
According to the ministry, Da Lat is not only a well-known tourist hot spot but also an ideal place to grow various vegetables for domestic use and export.
It is also a major training and research center and plays an important role in national defense, the ministry added.
The separation would help promote these strong points, the ministry explained.
Meanwhile, many readers objected.
Waste, unnecessary
Tran Van Hoc, one of the readers, is afraid that once Da Lat becomes a centrally-run city, it will be more urbanized and will further lose its inherent poetic and elegant natural beauty.
In recent years, rapid urbanization has deformed Da Lat, with many pine hills being flattened to make way for high rises, he said.
Pongour Waterfall, one of the most charming landscapes in Da Lat (photo: DALATHOTEL)
Meanwhile, Vinh Hien, another reader, said, “We always burden ourselves with the trouble of separation and merger of cities. This has caused an unnecessary waste both in money and resources. Da Lat within Lam Dong has long been well known, so is it reasonable to say that such a separation will earn more fame?”
“Competent agencies would rather seek ways to develop Da Lat’s tourism potential than waste a money and effort on separating it from Lam Dong,” Xuan Huy, another reader commented.
“Competent agencies would rather seek ways to develop Da Lat’s tourism potential than waste a money and effort on separating it from Lam Dong,” Xuan Huy, another reader commented.
N.T. Don made some comparisons.
“China, which is the most populous country in the world and ranks fourth in terms of land area, has 22 provinces, 5 autonomous areas and 4 centrally-run cities. But many other cities within provinces have been well developed, like Guangzhou, Chengdu and Xian.
“China, which is the most populous country in the world and ranks fourth in terms of land area, has 22 provinces, 5 autonomous areas and 4 centrally-run cities. But many other cities within provinces have been well developed, like Guangzhou, Chengdu and Xian.
A construction site in Da Lat City, which was said has lost part of its natural beauty due to recent rapid urbanization (Photo: Tuoi Tre)
“Canada, the second biggest country, has no concept about “centrally-run cities”, and its provincial-run cities are strongly developed, like Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal.
“Similarly, Japan has no centrally-run cities. South Korea, with a population of about 50 million, has 16 administrative units of provincial level. Meanwhile, Vietnam, with an 86-million population, has 63 provinces and cities”.
“Is it really necessary to make such a separation, which seems to go against the State’s policy to simplify administrative apparatus?” Don wrote to Tuoi Tre.
If the proposal is ratified, Nha Trang could likely claim separation from Khanh Hoa province, Vinh may claim independence from Nghe An province, and Vung Tau from Ba Ria-Vung Tau and so on, Don warned.
“Similarly, Japan has no centrally-run cities. South Korea, with a population of about 50 million, has 16 administrative units of provincial level. Meanwhile, Vietnam, with an 86-million population, has 63 provinces and cities”.
“Is it really necessary to make such a separation, which seems to go against the State’s policy to simplify administrative apparatus?” Don wrote to Tuoi Tre.
If the proposal is ratified, Nha Trang could likely claim separation from Khanh Hoa province, Vinh may claim independence from Nghe An province, and Vung Tau from Ba Ria-Vung Tau and so on, Don warned.
Xuan Huong Lake, a poetic and lovely site in Da Lat City (Photo: Tuoi Tre)
Good direction
But there are also many supports.
Do Tan Phap wrote that a centrally-run city will find it easier to obtain funds from the State.
“Such a separation should have been made long before. Da Lat has its own advantages to develop a tourist economy, so it should have its own way to go…,” said My Tam.
Reader Thien wrote that this would help Da Lat make the same development breakthroughs as centrally-run Da Nang City did after it was set apart from Quang Nam-Da Nang province.
But there are also many supports.
Do Tan Phap wrote that a centrally-run city will find it easier to obtain funds from the State.
“Such a separation should have been made long before. Da Lat has its own advantages to develop a tourist economy, so it should have its own way to go…,” said My Tam.
Reader Thien wrote that this would help Da Lat make the same development breakthroughs as centrally-run Da Nang City did after it was set apart from Quang Nam-Da Nang province.
