The Role of Urban Districts in Generating New Growth Drivers: International Experience and Implications for Vietnam

Urban districts can contribute to new growth drivers by concentrating economic activity, connecting labor markets, fostering innovation, and improving resource efficiency. However, expanding the built-up area does not necessarily generate corresponding development capabilities. This article examines international cases using secondary sources, drawing on research on agglomeration economies, innovation spaces, transport and land use, housing, urban governance, and the green transition. The analytical framework links spatial conditions, interaction mechanisms, and development outcomes. Five cases—one-north, 22@Barcelona, HafenCity, Hammarby Sjöstad, and Kashiwa-no-ha—are examined to clarify these mechanisms and their operating conditions. The article argues that the economic contribution of urban districts depends on their employment base, accessibility, coordination quality, and management capacity throughout the development life cycle. It therefore proposes aligning spatial development with economic capabilities, affordability, resource efficiency, and regional integration. The proposed relationships require further testing using empirical data from Vietnam.