Why do many experts propose that Da Nang not encroach on the sea

From the proposal to encroach on the sea...

From the beginning of 2026, the Ministry of Finance has coordinated with the People's Committee of Da Nang City to develop a draft Decree of the Government stipulating specific mechanisms and policies for the project of building an urban area encroaching on the sea in Da Nang.

This draft Decree clearly states that land reclamation to build urban areas on artificial islands associated with specific mechanisms and policies is expected to create a strategic shift for Da Nang to design a new institutional space with the convergence of intelligence, capital, technology and creativity - the foundation for forming a new driving force for the growth of the knowledge economy.

Da Nang's argument when proposing sea filling before 2025, is that Da Nang must innovate its growth model. The city's land space, although not exhausted, has reached the limit of capacity to create new growth momentum. Existing urban areas and industrial parks are no longer qualified to test financial, commercial, international investment mechanisms or form high-class service centers.

Da Nang needs an independent development space, international in nature, capable of safe control and global connectivity, compatible with the digital economy model, marine economy and global value chain. Therefore, building a coastal urban area with artificial islands associated with specific mechanisms and policies on planning, investment, finance, tax, land, resources, environment, exports, imports, and administrative procedures is not only an infrastructure solution, but also a strategic shift from coastal land reclamation to designing a new institutional space.

This coastal urban area has natural boundaries, is easy to control, safe and is qualified to pilot free trade mechanisms, international finance, open visas, electronic customs, and flexible taxes.

To request no more sea encroachment

Architect Vu Quang Hung - Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Head of the Management Board of Da Nang High-Tech Park and Industrial Parks - one of the members who had the idea and once participated in proposing sea encroachment and building artificial islands in Da Nang, now when contributing opinions to the General Plan of Da Nang city to 2050, vision to 2075, has opposed it.

Mr. Hung stated his point of view that previously, when it was not merged with Quang Nam, Da Nang's land fund was indeed no longer available. On the other hand, the previous proposal to encroach on the sea was only aimed at creating more land fund and space to be associated with specific mechanisms and policies and logistics supply chains of seaports, airports, bonded warehouses, free trade zones... to easily control exports, imports, and administrative procedures, not for the purpose of building ordinary urban areas with thousands of hectares.

Sea reclamation according to the previous idea is that for a coastal city with specific functions associated with water surface, seaports, logistics, energy, public works or symbolic spaces, it may be necessary to study sea reclamation options.

However, in the context that new Da Nang (after merging with Quang Nam) already has a very large territorial space, it is necessary to re-raise the issue: is it really necessary to encroach on the sea to develop a normal urban area? Especially when the city already has an area of nearly 12,000 km2, a land fund favorable for construction of about 13.52% of the natural area, and existing construction land of about 91,273.86 ha, equivalent to about 7.69%, and at the same time has many new development poles such as Chu Lai, Tam Ky, Nui Thanh, Duy Xuyen, Thang Binh, Nam Hoi An... then sea encroachment must be the final choice, and should not become the first reflex of growth.

For a coastal city, the sea surface, shorelines, marine landscape, coastal flows, marine ecosystems and marine cultural memories are long-term assets, and cannot just be seen as reserve land funds. Therefore, the project needs to establish a clear principle: only encroachment on the sea for truly irreplaceable functions in the mainland, with close economic - technical - environmental arguments, with hydrodynamic, erosion, accretion, biodiversity, marine landscape and climate change adaptation assessments. As for ordinary urban functions, the city should prioritize land restructuring in the mainland, effectively exploit the North - Central - South connecting spaces and improve land use efficiency.

Sharing this view, Dr. Dang Viet Dung - Chairman of the Vietnam Construction Association also suggested considering land reclamation as an urban area when included in the plan. According to Dr. Dang Viet Dung: "This is an issue that affects the environment, affects local economic development. Only when there is a truly complete assessment can it be included in the plan explanation".

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