In its journey to becoming a national growth pole, Hai Phong has been prioritized by the Party and the National Assembly with specific "mechanism suits". Comparing Resolution No. 35/2021/QH15 (issued in 2021) and Resolution No. 226/2025/QH15 (issued in 2025) reveals not only inheritance but also a leap in strategic thinking: from removing basic financial barriers to creating a modern economic ecosystem integrated with high technology and deep international integration.
Expanding the Scope and Depth of Adjustment
Resolution 35/2021 is considered the "first brick," focusing on four main pillars: finance-budget management, land management, planning management, and income for officials and civil servants. At this stage, policies mainly aimed at creating resource autonomy for the city.
However, by Resolution 226/2025, the scope has expanded significantly into contemporary fields. In addition to perfecting old areas, the new Resolution adds distinct chapters on investment management, science, technology, and innovation management, and notably the emergence of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) model. This indicates that Hai Phong is moving beyond budget autonomy toward becoming a regional-scale technology and trade center.
Breakthroughs in Financial Resources and the Green Economy
A clear point of comparison lies in capital mobilization.
- Regarding outstanding debt: While Resolution 35/2021 limited the city's total outstanding debt to no more than 60% of decentralized budget revenue, Resolution 226/2025 has doubled this figure to a maximum of 120%. This provides Hai Phong with massive financial room to invest in key infrastructure.
- Green financial mechanism: Resolution 226/2025 introduces a carbon credit exchange and offset mechanism for city projects for the first time. Revenue from these transactions is 100% allocated to the city budget to serve climate change response and circular economy development goals—a completely new content compared to Resolution 35, reflecting policy agility regarding international emission reduction commitments.
Stronger and More Resolute Investment and Resource Management Authority
Regarding land management, both resolutions grant the City People's Council the power to decide on changing the use of paddy land under 500 acres. However, Resolution 226/2025 adds authority over production forest land under 1,000 ha.
A major difference is the authority to approve investment policies. Resolution 226/2025 allows the City People's Committee to approve investment policies for seaport and wharf projects within the Hai Phong seaport area with a capital scale of 2,300 billion VND or more. This strong decentralization helps the city proactively develop its seaport strengths without waiting for central procedures for each project. Additionally, land recovery authority is expanded for industrial zones, high-tech zones, and logistics centers with a scale of over 50 ha or 100 ha depending on the type.
Science, Technology, and Innovation: The "Soul" of the New Mechanism
While Resolution 35 hardly mentioned science and technology, Resolution 226/2025 dedicates significant space to this field. Hai Phong is permitted to:
- Provide income tax exemptions for businesses and individuals for five years for activities related to creative startups, semiconductor circuits, and artificial intelligence (AI).
- Implement a controlled testing (Sandbox) mechanism for new technologies and products not yet regulated by law for up to three years.
- Establish a Venture Capital Fund from budget and socialized capital to invest in high-tech projects, with fund managers enjoying civil liability immunity if they follow full procedures but encounter objective risks.
Free Trade Zone: A Historical Point of Difference
The emergence of the Hai Phong Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is the "ace card" of Resolution 226/2025, which is entirely absent from Resolution 35. This is a geographically defined area applying superior preferential policies to attract high-quality FDI.
Policies in the FTZ include:
- Special administrative procedures: Maximizing simplification and applying prioritized processes for projects in high-tech, semiconductors, and R&D.
- Tax rate incentives: A corporate income tax rate of only 10% for 30 years, with a 4-year exemption and a 50% reduction for the following 9 years for prioritized industries.
- Personnel policies: Visa exemptions and temporary residence cards for up to 10 years for foreign experts, scientists, and their relatives working in the FTZ.
Income Policies and Talent Attraction
Both documents maintain a mechanism for additional income for officials and civil servants not exceeding 0.8 times the salary grade and position. However, Resolution 226/2025 specifies the payment of income for experts, scientists, and individuals with special talents, with levels decided by the City People's Council, rather than just providing general regulations as before.
Conclusion: From Pilot to Acceleration
If Resolution 35/2021 was the "warm-up" phase focused on budget and land issues, Resolution 226/2025 is the "acceleration" phase. It shifts the focus toward the knowledge economy, high technology, and international integration through the Free Trade Zone model.
Resolution 226/2025 takes effect on July 1, 2025, and will completely replace Resolution 35. The implementation period for general policies is 5 years, while policies for the FTZ and S&T are prioritized for 10 years. With this new legal framework, Hai Phong gains not only more resources but also creative space and strong self-determination to truly become a modern international gateway city.