Vietnam has no specific definition of green cities and most focus on green growth for sustainable economic development. Meanwhile, urban green is the key link factors to create sustainable development.

Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh affirmed that when cities implement the national strategy for green growth, they will also ensure social balance, economic growth, nature conservation, while improving the quality of life as well as maintaining sustainability.

Therefore, the current trend is to encourage Vietnam's key cities to grow green and develop into a leading model. Green cities in Vietnam is a tool for green growth, a pioneering model for the region and the country.

Over the past seven years, Vietnam has made the long-term plans for the implementation of its green growth strategy (2014-2020). The goal is to develop infrastructure, reduce greenhouse gas emission and respond to climate change, develop sustainable economy. 

Accordingly, the planning of works to serve green growth and reduce greenhouse gas emission are paid attention, especially encouraging the use of recycled energy, greening of production and lifestyles, sustainable consumption.

However, the problem of managing urban transition is a difficult task. In Vietnam, the urbanization process of many big cities is facing with difficulties and challenges such as the rapid pace of urban development that has surpassed the management capacity of local government.

At the same time, there is an uneven development between technical infrastructure and social infrastructure; uncontrolled migration, the rich-poor gap, urban-rural linkages, and the saving of natural resources. Emerging global issues such as integration, urban competitiveness, climate change, sea level rise.

Experts also point out that the urban classification system does not consider important indicators such as population density and links to promote growth. The lack of coordination and coherence in infrastructure development, with insufficient attention to linking the rural-urban economy or the "residency" policy, etc. has created discrimination for immigrants in accessing employment opportunities and social services.

Therefore, in order to achieve the goal, green growth is not only a handle of negative environmental impacts but also a renewal of systematic thinking in development and growth. Thus, green growth must balance both economic and environmental factors.