Ha Giang, located in Viet Nam’s northernmost province along the border with China, participated in the GEF-6 Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) to strengthen green, inclusive, and resilient urban development. Surrounded by mountains and rich forest ecosystems, the city faces high vulnerability to flash floods and landslides, compounded by economic isolation and limited infrastructure. As the administrative and socio-economic center of a predominantly ethnic minority province, Ha Giang is striving to balance its expanding urban footprint with the conservation of its cultural and natural heritage. Through the GPSC-supported project, the city received technical assistance to implement and update its Green City Action Plan (GCAP), integrating resilience and green design principles into spatial and socio-economic planning. The initiative also enhanced local capacity and informed national policy reforms to mainstream sustainable urban planning approaches across Viet Nam’s secondary cities. Ha Giang’s experience demonstrates how smaller, ecologically sensitive cities can align growth with environmental stewardship and community resilience.