Introduction
The UN-Habitat Vietnam office is engaged in several projects in collaboration with national and sub-national institutions to assist Vietnam in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the New Urban Agenda. One of these projects is the Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Sustainable Urban Development in Vietnam (ISCB), funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The project comprises four interconnected components, with the fourth component focusing on supporting three pilot projects in different cities, including Tam Ky. During the field visit, the provincial vision of promoting urban green growth and enhancing climate resilience was discussed. Both the province and city expressed their support for the ongoing process. The Tam Thanh community also actively contributed by sharing their insights, opportunities, and their vision for the ISCB pilot project. The next steps of this project involve refining the Terms of References for the pilot project and creating a detailed workplan that outlines the engagement of various stakeholders and communities. 
Context and background
Located in the Central South Coastal region as the administrative capital of Quang Nam Province, Tam Ky City was established in 2006, primarily serving administrative functions and making contributions to the provincial GDP through economic activities. Over the years, the city's economic structure has evolved, emphasizing commerce, services, and industry, which now account for 50% of the total labor force, while the share of agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture has diminished. Tam Ky's forward-looking master plan designates the city as the 'Green Capital City' with an expansion towards the sea by 2030-2050. This vision follows a successful partnership with UN-Habitat and aims to create a Strategic Economic Development Plan for an Eco-Tourism Art Community. The plan includes an implementation roadmap and at least three sub-projects by mid-2024. Local commitment to enhancing community resilience is strong.
Plan and process details
- Mission to the city
- City profile development
- Pilot Project TOR completion
- Validation workshop on CP and TOR
- Pilot project implementation
Aligned with the efforts of Component 1, which focuses on enhancing local capacity in urban development planning and the various themes of pilot projects such as urban regeneration, ICT in governance, community resilience, and creative public spaces, local leaders and officials actively participate in a range of project activities, including partnership engagement, study tours, training sessions, and collaborative workshops. This collaborative approach extends to the implementation of the pilot projects, fostering a comprehensive strategy for successful execution.
Use of Our City Plans
"Our City Plans" has played a pivotal role in enhancing the comprehension of urban planning procedures among diverse urban stakeholders. It assists them in determining when and how to actively engage to ensure that their perspectives are taken into account and their interests are fully integrated into the city's overarching vision, policies, strategies, programs, plans, and projects. The planning process was customised to the Vietnamese context by considering available resources and capacities, all achieved through a participatory and capacity-building approach. This includes conducting participatory mapping exercises, city reconnaissance, and consultative workshops, promoting a shared commitment through a jointly visioning to collaboratively identify the city's long-term goals for the next years. Importantly, based on the city profile, the ISCB Project will also implement a pilot project, promoting an innovative and inclusive urban development solution in Tam Ky. 
Results
The overall objective of the ISCB project is to strengthen capacities of national and local institutions to promote, plan and implement innovative and participatory solutions for sustainable urban development in Vietnamese cities. The pilot project plays a pivotal role in introducing innovative methodologies, encouraging cross-sectoral strategic planning, and fostering community engagement in urban development.
