Hanoi, July 1 -- Fifty years after being named in honour of President Ho Chi Minh (July 2, 1976-2026), the southern city has consolidated its position as Vietnam's largest economic hub, leading national growth through its pioneering spirit of innovation and reform, while pursuing its ambition of becoming a smart, globally competitive metropolis. Highlights in pioneering innovation Ho Chi Minh City's transformation has been shaped by its willingness to pioneer bold reforms and test new development models. One of the clearest examples was the development of the Phu My Hung urban area in the early 1990s. At the time, the city's southern part was largely undeveloped marshland with poor transport links. Through strategic vision, innovative min...