The Vietnamese town of Tay Ninh lies close to the border of Cambodia. Hansen Partnership, in association with the Southern Architecture Centre (VIAP), were engaged to prepare a master plan to the year 2050.

Following extensive research, stakeholder consultations and field work, the consultant team prepared a research report outlining current and future growth and development trends, a comprehensive SWOT analysis of the town and its rural hinterland as well as identification of key issues influencing future investment opportunities, protection of the environment and enhanced community well-being.

The master plan was underpinned by the following principles:

• effective and efficient management of the urban environment with adequate social and physical infrastructure
• focus on regional and local tourism and education and training facilities
• economic development in line with traditional local enterprises
• medical and health facilities
• spatial planning in an orderly and staged manner.

Options or scenarios for future growth were then identified based on the Eco²City approach being promoted by the World Bank and other international aid agencies. From these options, a preferred option which included a major urban growth corridor was identified by the consultant team and further refined in consultation with the client to ensure that Tay Ninh town developed as a clean green urban oasis. The preferred option adopts a compact, contained approach to future urban development within well defined township boundaries.