Amid growing pressures from rapid urbanization, high population density, environmental pollution, and increasing demand for clean food, urban agriculture is emerging as an integrated solution to several of Ho Chi Minh City’s challenges.
Utilizing rooftops, vertical walls, and terraces for cultivation not only creates cooler spaces and improves air quality but also reduces noise and enhances the city’s aesthetic appeal.

A Dual Solution: Food Self-Sufficiency and Expanding Green Spaces

According to assessments from various experts and regulatory agencies, urban agriculture is an inevitable development path for Ho Chi Minh City — simultaneously “greening” the city and unlocking new economic value through technology and carbon credits.

Mr. Lai Thanh Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Green Technology and Science Union, noted that Vietnam’s urbanization rate is rising quickly, with the urban population expected to exceed 50% by 2030. This drives an urgent need for clean, safe, and traceable food sources. Suburban areas, terraces, balconies, and vacant lots can therefore be transformed into vegetable gardens, flower gardens, or small-scale farms.

Figure 1. Green urban agriculture from recycled by-product models in Ho Chi Minh City.

Current popular models include rooftop vegetable growing, balcony gardens, green walls, hydroponics, and aquaponics — all maximizing urban space while reducing dependence on supplies from outlying districts.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phuc (Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies) emphasized that rooftop and vertical greenery help reduce heat, improve air quality, mitigate noise pollution, and enhance urban comfort. Some projects are even integrating carbon credit mechanisms, where absorbed CO₂ is quantified and commercialized.

Urban agriculture also helps shorten supply chains, reduce transportation costs, and minimize emissions. Many businesses have developed community-based vegetable gardens, enabling residents to experience farming and better understand agriculture and the environment.

Rooftop gardens, green walls, and hydroponic systems not only bring economic benefits but also improve microclimates, promote green living, and raise community awareness.

Technology – Human Resources – Policy: The Three Pillars of Success

Despite its potential, urban agriculture faces several challenges, particularly high initial investment costs for advanced systems like hydroponics, aeroponics, or vertical gardens. Operation also requires personnel knowledgeable in both agriculture and technology.

Dr. Tran Dinh Ly, Vice President of Nong Lam University Ho Chi Minh City, stated that specialized human resources are crucial for efficient operation, risk reduction, and stable productivity.

Along with human resources, technological applications — such as smart monitoring systems, automated irrigation, nutrient and light control — help optimize yields, reduce costs, control pests, and adapt to the dense urban environment.

Figure 2. Hydroponic vegetable cultivation model at Tuan Ngoc Agricultural Cooperative (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City).

Experts also emphasize the importance of supportive policies: capital incentives, tax reductions, and credit programs for urban agriculture projects; coupled with formalizing carbon credits so businesses can monetize the environmental value of planting. Zoning roof spaces, walls, terraces, and vacant land as green spaces should also be integrated into urban development strategies.

Collaboration between businesses, government, and communities is fundamental: when all three work together, urban agriculture can become a sustainable ecosystem that provides clean food, expands green spaces, and paves the way for a green economy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Towards a Complete Urban Agriculture Ecosystem

According to Dr. Vu Thi Quyen (Van Lang University), green space development is not only an environmental solution but also a national strategy for climate adaptation and promoting green growth. Ho Chi Minh City is particularly well-suited for green spaces along the Saigon River and natural landscape corridors.

Dr. Tran Dinh Ly shares the same view: when government, businesses, and residents all participate, urban agriculture becomes a pillar of the city’s sustainable development strategy.

If implemented comprehensively, urban agriculture will not only supply clean vegetables and cool individual homes and neighborhoods but also help shape a new lifestyle — reconnecting with nature, improving quality of life, and moving toward a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Ho Chi Minh City in the future.