Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.
The urbanization process in Vietnam has yielded many significant achievements. The urbanization rate has now reached approximately 40%, with around 870 urban areas distributed relatively evenly across the country. This has contributed to promoting GDP growth and driving the long-term transformation of growth models. Moreover, it has fostered advancements in science, technology, innovation, culture, the arts, education, training, and healthcare. Urbanization has also played a key role in creating more balanced regional development and addressing issues in agriculture and rural areas.
However, urban development in Vietnam still faces several challenges. The quality of many urban areas has been neglected, and technical as well as social infrastructures are not synchronized, leading to overcrowding. Environmental pollution, inefficient resource use, and high energy consumption are also pressing issues. Furthermore, Vietnam’s urban system is confronting new obstacles, such as the impacts of climate change and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These factors are creating additional difficulties for urban planning, construction, and development.
The Vietnamese government has placed great importance on urban planning and development. Many projects and programs for the 2021–2030 period have been approved, including the Sustainable Smart City Development Plan, the Project for Developing Cities to Respond to Climate Change, and the National Urban Upgrading Plan. In the near future, the Politburo will issue a Resolution on “Urbanization, Urban Development, and Urban Economic Development in Vietnam until 2030, with a Vision to 2045.” This Resolution will serve as a foundation for the Government to concretize policies on urban development and urban reconstruction, ensuring that appropriate resources are allocated to achieve these goals.
If these measures are implemented effectively, urban development in Vietnam will become better coordinated, more sustainable, and more resilient to future challenges.
(Adapted from the Ministry of Construction of Vietnam)