Ho Chi Minh City has just approved a 100‑year master plan that will guide its growth until 2050. The plan matters to anyone who lives, works or travels in the city because it promises major changes to daily life.

According to the master plan, the city’s population is expected to reach 18 million by 2030, 25 million by 2045 and more than 27 million by 2050. These targets will push the authorities to expand housing, transport and public services for both permanent and temporary residents.

The plan calls for five satellite urban centres built on the 15‑minute city model, meaning jobs, schools, health care and shops should be reachable within a short walk from home. Residents will be able to live, work and shop locally, cutting long trips to the historic centre.

It also promotes transit‑oriented development, underground passages, sky‑bridges and other multi‑level spaces so that people can move more by walking or public transport instead of motorbikes. New metro stations and bus lines will link the satellite zones, while underground walkways will let commuters travel safely away from traffic.

Climate‑change adaptation, flood prevention and expanding green space – currently only 0.5 m² per person – are central priorities of the plan. Experts warn that effective implementation and management are essential; the contrasting experience of Phu My Hung, which stays dry thanks to good drainage, and nearby districts that still flood, shows that a good design alone is not enough.

If the city follows the master plan, everyday life could become shorter, greener and less dependent on motorbikes, with schools, jobs and parks close to home and safer, multi‑level routes for pedestrians. The real test will be turning these ideas into practice.