Ho Chi Minh City, Oct. 6 -- The merger of Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong province and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has created a much larger development space, opening up opportunities to restructure the economy, strengthen regional connectivity and generate new growth drivers.

Beyond expanding markets, resources and production space, the integration of the three areas allows the city to leverage their complementary strengths in industry, services, logistics, energy and seaports.

MA Nguyen Thi Van from the Southern Institute of Social Sciences (SISS) said Ho Chi Minh City should be viewed not simply as an expanded urban area but as a multi-polar economic structure, with centres performing different functions within an interconnected productio...