A draft master plan for the resort city of Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong until 2030 with a vision towards 2050 was discussed at a seminar in Paris on September 26.

The draft was jointly carried out by the France ’s Interscène urban planning and landscaping company and the Southern Sub-Institute of Urban and Rural Planning.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh said apart from being a favourite tourist destination blessed with mild climate and a unique ecological system for more than a century, Da Lat has also emerged as a political, economic and cultural centre of Lam Dong province.

It is also slated to become a hi-tech research and training centre for the country’s agricultural sector. Therefore, the Vietnamese Government wants a plan that balances development and the preservation of Da Lat’s own characteristics.

Thierry Huau, Director of Interscène said the French experts have paid special attention to the “poetic” feature of the Central Highland city. He stressed Da Lat’s advantages in having fertile soil which is favourable for agricultural and tourism development. However, it still lacks a linked-up infrastructure and public transport system, Huau said.

Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee said the plan will be submitted to the Government for approval.

A ceremony to announce the master plan is slated for later this year to mark the 120 th year of the city’s establishment and development. It is also part of activities to mark the 40 th anniversary of the Vietnam – France diplomatic ties in 2013, Tien said.