V I E T N A M N A T I O N A L UN IVE R SI T Y, HANOI
INSTITUTE O F V I E T N A M E S E ST U D IE S & D E V E L O P M E N T S C I E N C E S

N G U Y E N NHI! Q UYEN

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGES DURING
URBANIZATION PROCESS IN YEN s o WARD,
HOANG MAI DISTRICT, HA NOI

M a s t e r t h e si s on the specia lit y o f V i e t n a m e s e studies
Code: 603160

S c i e n c e Instructor: Prof. Dr. T r u o n g Ọ u a n g Hai

L U C •) I c L i t. J if

Hanoi - 2011


G u a ra n tee

I certify that the master dissertation on " I HI SOCIOHCONOMIC (HANCihS
1)1 RING URBANIZATION PROC'l'SS IN YEN s o WARD. HOANG MAI DISTRICT.
HA NOI" is really my personal study and is carried out on the basis o f theoretical
research, survey research and the practical sciences under the guidance o f Prof'. Dr.
Truong Qua ng Hai. The data and research results in the thesis are true.
Hanoi, N ove m be r 11, 2011
Student

Nguyen Nhu Quyen

A cknoH'ledge m en ts

I o complete the master graduate program and this thesis. I have received the
valuable guidance, support and enthusiastic comments o f teachers working and
teaching in Institute o f Vietnamese studies & Development sciences.
First o f all. I would like to thank the leaders o f Institute o f Vietnamese

studies & Development sciences, the teachers involved in teaching the master
programs on Vietnamese studies and all the staff working for training department,
sciences department and administrative departments for their dedicated guidance,
support and for me favorable conditions to complete mv graduate program.
My sincere thanks also goes to all o f my friends and colleagues who have
enthusiastically encouraged and assisted me in the learning process and especially
in my survey process to complete this thesis.
It is my pleasure to thank the leadership o f Yen So Ward and the local for
their support during my survey, investigation and collection o f documents in the
ward.
{•’specially 1 owe my deepest gratitude to Prof. Dr. Truong Quang Mai, who
has spent much o f his precious time to dedicatedlv guide and offer me with
profound and original ideas and suggestions during the implementation o f this
thesis. His dedication, enthusiasm and spirit on the scientific passion and serious
working have deeply impressed and those impressions certainly will not he faded on
the education and research way that I am determined to pursue.
Last bit least. I wish to express my gratitude and deepest respect to my
beloved family for their encourages and the great support during the period o f my
master program.
Thanks all o f you!
Hanoi, November 11, 2011
Student


Nguyen Nhu Quyen


INDEX
INI K O D l ( I I O N .......................................................................................................................................................................

.. 1

1. Scientific grounds, practical meanings and urgency o f the t o p i c .......................

.. 1

2. Study purposes and functions o f the t o p i c .................................................................

1

2.1. Purposes o f the th e s i s ....................................................................................................

2

2.2. Study functions o f the t h e s i s ......................................................................................

1

3. Study subjects, objects and scope o f the t o p i c ..........................................................

1

3.1. Study subjects and o b j e c t s ..........................................................................................


~)

3.2. Scope o f the s t u d y ..........................................................................................................

.. 3

4. Theoretic arounds. materials and studv m e t h o d .......................................................

.. 3

4.1. Theoretic groun ds ...........................................................................................................

.. 3

4.2. Sources o f m a te ri a ls ......................................................................................................

.. 3

4.3. Study m e t h o d ..................................................................................................................

.4

5. Scientific h y p o th e s i s .........................................................................................................

.5

6. Contributions o f the t h e s i s ..............................................................................................

.. 5


7. Structure o f the the si s.......................................................................................................

.. 5

( H A P 11 R I: T H E O R E T I C A L G R O U N D S f O R T H E S T U D Y O N S O C I O - E C O N O M I C C H A N G E S
DURING THE URBANIZATION PROCESS AND GENERAL INTRODUCTION
O N Y Ê N S Ớ W A R D .....................................................................................................................................

.. 7

1.1. Theoretical grounds for the study on socio-economic changes during
the urbanization pro c e ss.............................................................................................

.. 7

1.1.1. U r b a n ..............................................................................................................................

.. 7

1.1.2. Urban iz atio n.................................................................................................................

.. 9

1.1.3. Kfleets o f socio-economic developments on ur b a n iz at i o n .............................

10

1.1.4. Hfleets o f urbanization process on the socio-economic
and environmental d e v e l o p m e n t ............................................................................


13

1.1.5. Urbanization tendency in Vietnam and the criteria system to evaluate
the urbanization level applied to V i e t n a m ...........................................................

20

1.1.6. Urbanization in Hanoi since 1954..........................................................................
1.1.7. Summary history o f studies on the to p i c ..............................................................

24

1.2. General introduction on Yên Sơ w a r d ......................................................................

26


1.2.1. Yên Sơ - people and h i s t o r y ..............................................................................................26
1.2.2. Yen Sir duririii the period o f 1976-1985 ....................................................................... 30
1.2.3. Yên Sơ during the period o f 1986-2000 ....................................................................... 34
( HAI M I R 2: K 'ONOMIC' C H A N G ES IN YẺN s o W ARD DURING III! U R B A N IZA I ION
P R O C H S S ( R O M 2 0 0 0 - 2 0 1 0 ...................................................................................................................................3 9

2.1. Transference o f the economic s tr u c tu r e ............................................................................39
2.2. Change in land use p u r p o s e s ................................................................................................ 43
2.3. Transference in the internal structure o f agriculture in Yên Sơ W a r d .................... 50
2.4. Transference in labor & occupational structure and imbalance
in economic activities o f the farmers due to urbanization's i m p a c t s ...................... 58
2.4. ]. Transference in labor & occupational structure in Yên Sở W a r d ......................... 58

2.4.2. Imbalance in the farmers' econo mic activities due to urbanization's effects.... 61
2.5. Improved and developed in fr a s tr u c tu re ............................................................................70
2.6. Living standa rd......................................................................................................................... 72
C H A P T E R 3: E N V I R O N M E N T . C U L T U R A L - S O C I A L C H A N G E S IN Y Ê N S Ở W A R D D U R I N G
T H E U R B A N I Z A T I O N P R O C E S S F R O M 2 0 0 0 T O 2 0 1 0 .......................................................................... 7 6

3.1. Landscape and environmental changes during the urbanization p r o c e s s ................ 76
3.1.1. Landscape c hanges during the urbanization p r o c e s s ................................................ 76
3.1.2. Polluted living e n v i r o n m e n t ..............................................................................................78
3.1.3. Worries o f the local people during the urb a niz atio n................................................. 80
3.2. Rich and poor diffirentiation...............................................................................................82
3.2.1. The farmers w h o have a dvantages in land t r a n s f e r e n c e ........................................ 83
3.2.2. The farmers w h o no advantages in land tra n s fe re n c e ............................................. 84
3.2.3. The farmers w h o have no land t r a n s f r e n c e ................................................................ 84
3.3. Changes in the neighborhood re la ti o n s h ip s ...................................................................85
3.4. Life o f faith.................................................................................................................................88
3.5. Changes in how to use the free t i m e ..................................................................................91
C O N C L U S I O N A N D R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S ......................................................................................................................... 9 5

Reference
Appendix


List of* tables

I able 1.1: Criteria svstem to evaluate the urbanization level applied to Vietnam....................... 20
I able 2.1: I ransference in the economic structure from 2000 to 2 0 1 0 .......................................... 39
i able 2.2: Number of enterprises located within the ward a r e a .......................................................42
Table 2.3: Projects within Yên Sơ Ward................................................................................................43
I able 2.4: The status quo of land use in Yên Sơ Ward in 200. 20050 and 2 0 1 0 ......................... 46

Table 2.5: Area o f agricultural land in Yên Sở Ward over the p e r i o d ........................................... 47
Table 2.6: Area o f water surface growing aquatic products in Yên Sơ Ward over the period.48
Table 2.7: Changes in agricultural land use in Yên Sở Ward during the period 2000 - 2010 51
Table 2.8: Value structure of agriculture in Yên Sở Ward over the period....................................52
Table 2.9: Area o f rice-growing area over the period in Yên Sở Ward.......................................... 53
Table 2.10: The area o f some major crops in Yen So Ward over the y ear s...................................54
'Table 2.11: Situation o f cattle-breeding in Yên Sờ Ward during the period 2000 - 2010.......56
Table 2.12: Productivity offish in Yên Sở Ward over the period.................................................... 57
Table 2.13: Sectoral labor structure in Yên SỞ Ward from 2000 to 2 0 1 0 ......................................59
Table 2.14: Level-based labor structure in Yên Sở Ward from 2004 to 2 0 1 0 ..............................60
Table 2.15: Agricultural population in Yen SỞ Ward over the period............................................ 62
Table 2.16: Occupations o f members o f farmer households in Yên Sở Ward
from 2000 to 2010................................................................................................................ 64
t able 2.17: Occupational structure of the members of farmer families following their age
in Yên SỞ Ward in 2 0 1 0 ...................................................................................................... 65
Table 2.18: Hvaluations of Yên Sờ residents on current agriculture compared to the past.... 68
Table 2.19: Agricultural labor on basis of age in families................................................................. 69
Table 2.20: Average income o f households in Yên Sờ Ward in 2 0 1 0 ........................................... 69
Table 2.21: Projects invested for construction and upgrading by Yên Sờ Ward........................... 71
Table 2.22: Main transportation route in Yên Sở W a r d ..................................................................... 72
Table 3.1: The situation of construction order in Yên Sư Ward year by year............................... 77


Table 3.2: I-valuations of Yèn Sơ residents on changes in living space........................................... 78
I able 3.3: Waste dump locations in Yên Sớ W ard................................................................................ 78
Table 3.4: Liquid sewage dump locations in Yên Sư W a r d ................................................................78
Table 3.5: Results of the survey on local people's opinions about
the contributors of environmental pollution in Yèn SỜ War d....................................... 79
Table 3.6: Sources o f water for cooking, bathing and washing done by Yên Sờ residents......80
Table 3.7: Results o f survey on the local people's opinions about whether they will

continue with farming permanently in Yên Sơ W ard .................................................... 81
Table 3.8: Number of criminal cases in Yên Sờ Ward over the period............................................ 82
Table 3.9: Number o f poor households in Yên Sở Ward over the p e r io d ........................................83
Table 3.10: Locations of meetings among Yên Sở res ide nts ..............................................................88
I able 3.11: Results o f the survey on proportion of Yên Sở residents taking part
in worshipping activities at communal houses at the current time compared to
pre-urbanization period........................................................................................................ 89
Table 3.12: Results o f the survey on the percentages of Yên Sở residents taking part
in worshipping activities at pagodas at the current time
compared to pre-urbanization pe riod .................................................................................. 90
Table 3.13: Types o f entertainment of Yên Sở residents in their spare time................................... 92


List o f figures
I iuure 1.1:1 avout o f Yèn Sơ Area ............................................................................................... 27
I iuurc 2.1: I ransf'ercncc in the economic structure from 2000 to 2 0 1 0 ................................ 40
Figure 2.2: Map o f status quo o f land use

in Yên Sở Ward .........................................45

1 imire 2.3: I he status quo ot'land use in Yen So Ward in 200. 20050 and 2 0 1 0 ............... 46
Figure 2.4: Area o f agricultural land in Yên SỞ Ward over the period.................................. 47
Figure 2.5: Area o f water surface erowina aquatic products in Yên Sở Ward
over the p e r i o d .................................................................................................................. 48
Figure 2.6: Value structure o f agriculture in Yên Sở Ward over the p e r i o d ......................... 53
Figure 2.7: Area o f rice-growina area over the period in Yên s ở W ar d ................................ 54
liiiure 2.8: The area o f some major crops

in Yen So Ward over the y e ar s .................55


F ieure 2.9: Productivity o f fish in Yên SỞ

Ward over the p e r i o d .................................57

Figure 2.10: Population situation in Yên s ở Ward over the p e r i o d ........................................ 58
l i e u r e 2.11: Sectoral labor structure in Yên Sở Ward from 2000 to 20 10 .............................59
Figure 2.12: Level-based labor structure in Yên Sở Ward from 2004 to 2 0 1 0 ...................60
1 igure 2.13: Agricultural population in Yên s ở Ward over the p e r i o d ................................. 63
f igure 2.14: Occupations o f members o f farmer households in Yèn Sơ

Ward

from 2000 to 2010 ......................................................................................................... 64
l- igure 2.15: Occupational structure (%) o f the members o f farmer families
following their age in Yên Sở Ward in 2 0 1 0 ..........................................................66
Figure 2.16: Evaluations o f Yên SỜ residents on current agriculture
compared to the past ................................................................................................... 68
Figure 2.17: Agricultural labor on basis o f age in fam ili es ........................................................69
Figure 2.18: Average income o f households in Yên Sờ Ward in 2 0 1 0 ...................................70
Figure 2.19: Types o f dwelling in Yen SỜ over the pe ri o d ........................................................ 73
Figure 2.20: Types o f toilet rooms in Yên SỞ Ward over the period.......................................74
l igure 2.21: Use o f furnitures in the families o f Yên Sở Ward over the period..................74
Figure 3.1: Results o f the survey on local people's opinions about
the contributors o f environmental pollution in Yên SỞ W a r d .............................80
I- iuure 3.2: Locations o f meetings amo ne Yên Sở re si den ts ..................................................... 88
l i u u r c 3.3: Types o f entertainment o f Yên SỞ residents in their spare ti m e ......................... 92


IN T R O D U C T IO N


1. Scientific grounds, practical meanings and urgency o f the topic
Hanoi is one o f the big cities with the highest speed o f urbanization in the
whole country in which a great many o f new production enterprises and residential
areas have been established. Sine 1996. six new districts have been set up apart
from 4 existing interior ones and many new wards in the new districts have been
renewed from the communes o f old exterior districts. Not only is the renewal from a
commu ne to a w ard related to the administrative work also it raises a series o f issues
such as architectural planning, construction o f engineering and social infrastructure
and it requires a reasonable and simultaneous solution. Yên Sở Ward o f Hoàng Mai
urban District, as Yên SỞ C ommune o f Thanh Trì suburb District previously, is one
o f the new ly-established wards during the process o f extending the urban scale in
Hanoi. The urbanization process at a traditionally agricultural village has taken
place there where there has been a great investment in centralized industrial zones
and urban residential areas and changes in the mechanism o f farming, breeding and
processing o f agricultural products and goods based on the orientation o f gradual
establishment o f a truly urban area. This process changes not only the spacious and
physical structure but more importantly living conditions, earning one's living,
opportunities to get promotion and especially living style o f the local people there.
On the other hand, the urbanization has brought about serious social
problems during the process o f transforming the economic structure and living
style. The agricultural land has been continuously narrowed which has made a big
pressure on jobs, especially for the labors who have low educational background
and have not yet been ready for workmanship transformation. A new disordered and
confused living style is also unavoidable to the local people there.
However, there has not been a proper attention to the research and study on
the effects o f urbanization process as well as the socio-economic changes within the
suburbs o f Hanoi in General and Yên Sở ward in particular. Regardless o f existing

1



researches on this issue, most o f them have just covered some limited areas and
separate

aspects

without

a systematic,

comprehensive

and

profound

study.

Accordingly, based on the Area studies and inter-sector approach method, the study
on socio-economic changes in Yên SỞ Ward during the urbanization process is a
topic with scientific and practical meaning and urgency, forming a scientific ground
for policv planning as well as steady development orientation o f the ward.
2. Study purposes and fuctions of the topic
2 .1. Purposes o f the thesis
To explore, survey, analysis and evaluate the actual situation o f both positive
and negative socio-economic changes during the urbanization process o f Yên Sở
Ward, Hoàng Mai District. Hanoi and accordingly to propose some justified
solutions with the aim to complete the management

process and a stable


development policy in the Ward.
2.2. Study functions o f the thesis
- To clarify the theoretic grounds and fundamental concepts related to the
topic.
- To explore, survey, analysis and evaluate the actual situation o f socio­
economic changes during the urbanization process o f Yên Sở Ward under the eye o f
Area studies and inter-disciplinary research methodology.
-

Based

on

the

research

results,

to

make

some

proposals

and


recommendations to finalize the management process and a stable development
policy o f Yên Sở Ward.
3. Study subjects, objects and scope of the topic
3.1. Study subjects and objects
The high-speed urbanization and industrialization process have contributed
to the socio-economic development o f Yên Sở Ward, changed the economy and
social structure as well as the local living style to an urban structure and directly
affected the local lives. Therefore, the study subject is socio-economic changes


during the urbanization process in Yên Sir Ward and the study object includes the
local people communitN in Yên Sơ Ward.

3.2. Scope o f the study
The study covers socio-economic changes in Yên Sở Ward. I loans’ Mai
District. Hanoi during the urbanization process from 2000 to 2010.
4.

Theoretic grounds, materials and study method

4 .1. Theoretic grounds
The thesis is based on the dialectical material methodology on the socio­
economic development o f Vietnam and industrialization and modernization process.
In addition, the thesis also applies some fundamental theories o f Sociology on social
structure, social changes and social movements. The analyses are made based on the
viewpoints o f urban sociology, urban theory and urbanization theories.

4.2. Sources o f materials
The thesis explores and uses the following material sources:
1- Letters, reports, papers, statistic tables and date from the Ward and

District.
2- Geological survey documents
Using the countryside method and sociology survey by a questionnaire (200
sheets), we concentrate on the survey o f some o f the most important issues to the
study topic:
- Labor and job situation o f all the members o f all farmer households.
- Changes in economic activities o f the farmers during the urbanization
process due to their land selling or withdrawal by the State and then transference
into another use or the termination o f use the land for agriculture by the farmers
themselves.
- Poorer environmental hygiene conditions and their effects on the life
activities and agriculture activities o f the local people.
- Changes in social environment, neighbor relationship o f the local people.

3


-

Chances in cultural life o f the local people due to the direct effects o f the

urbanization process on some typical faith activities such as worshipping the
temples and pagodas, etc and the use o f free time as well as entertainment activities
o f the local people.
3- Relevant studies and researches o f the preceding authours
A mo ng 3 aforesaid material sources, source 1 and 2 play an important role.

4.3. Study m ethod
Based on study object and topic, the thesis applies the viewpoints and
approach method o f inter-sectors and multi-sectors. The geographical, ecological

and geological knowledge are used to study and evaluate the natural conditions. The
scientific and social knowledge such as history, ethnology, culture, economy and
sociology help the study on inhabitant origin, structure o f economic sectors and so
on so forth. Besides, the thesis also applies the following methods:
Inheritance method: Based on the available studies and researches on
economic-cultural-social changes in the suburbs o f Hanoi during the urbanization
process, the study on Yên Sở Ward itself includes much information related to
theoretical grounds, economy, culture and society. Learning and inheritance from
the previous studies is the first method to be carried out.
Method o f data summary', statistics and analysis: After having collected the
available studies and researches related to the thesis and the data, papers, statistics
figures related to economy- society in Yên Sở Ward, we have summarized all the
material sources related to the thesis topic, analyzed and processed all the socio­
economic data.
Method o f sociology survey: In order to collect the geological data, we have
made a survey on the study area and prepared a questionnaire on e co no m\ -so ci et y
and a profound interview with the managers and local residents.
The historic and logic methods are also applied together during the study
process. Those methods support the acknowledgement, evaluation and explanation
o f objects and ph en om en a on a prof ound historic viewpoint.

4


5. Scientific hypothesis
At Yên Sơ Ward, during the high-speed urbanization process the system of
old relations has been ch anced along with the formation of new social ones.
1- There has been a rapid change in economic structure. The chanue in
purposes o f land use has created conditions and opportunities for the local people to
become the urban hut raised the challenges on new jobs. A considerable majority of

local labor with low educational and professional background mainly works in
informal industrial sectors and small commercial and service sectors.
2- The liv ing style o f the local residents here is now changing to urban stvle
w hich is possibly seen through the rapid transformation o f social space, hi eh
flexibility o f occupation; increasing development o f personal and private living
space parallel with continued narrowing o f community and collective social
relations; development o f infrastructure in general along with the overloading o f
infrastructure at some areas with suddenly increasing population; wider and richer
opportunities to select different wa ys o f working and entertainment.
6. Contributions o f the thesis
6.1. Based on the abundant material sources, the thesis has drawn a
systematic and complete economic- social picture o f Yên Sở Ward and also
analyzed and pointed out main economic- social changes in the Ward during the
urbanization process from 2000 to 2010.
6.2. Applying the inter-sector approach method and from the profound study
o f socio-economic changes o f a particular ward, the thesis has made some
comments on the features and experiences and proposed the economic- social
development orientation o f Yên Sờ Ward. The thesis may be come an useful
reference to the ma nag em en t and organization leaders o f Yên Sờ Ward to revise and
orient the urbanization process and resolve the social issues which are and will be
about to take place. Also, the thesis can be used as a reference for the people who
are interested in the studying and teaching on this issue.
7.

Structure o f the thesis

5


Introduction

C hapter Ỉ: Theoretical grounds for the stu d y on socio-econom ic changes
during the urbanization process and general introduction o f Yên S ơ W ard
C hapter 2: The econom ic changes in Yen S ơ W ard during the urbanization
process from 2000 to 2010
C hapter 3:

The cultural-social changes

urbanization process from 2000 to 2010
c 'one Ius ion and recom m endations

6

in

Yên S ơ

W ard d u rin g the


CHAPTER 1
T H E O R E T I C A L G R O U N D S FOR T H E ST U D Y ON S O C I O -E C O N O M I C
C H A N G E S DUR ING THE U R B A N I Z AT I O N P R O C E S S A N D G E N E R A L
IN T R O D U C T IO N ON YEN s o W A R D

1.1. Theoretical grounds for the study on socio-economic changes during the
urbanization process
/././.

Urban

All the urban concepts are relative and origin from the differences in the

economic- social development level, cultural features and population system, Each
country in the world has it own regulations based on its requirements and capacity
o f management. On the consideration within the most general aspect, urban is a
habitation space o f a people community living together and performing within nonacricultural sectors.
Vietnamese language has many words demonstrating an urban such as: city,
town, small town, urban... and the concepts and criteria to determine an urban are
different at different times.
Sociology considers an urban as an existence form o f the society within a
particular space area and a habitation form o f humankind. The existence o f urban
itself is totally different from a construction o f many separate buildings together; in
other words, the composite here is not simply

a combination o f different

components. Instead, an urban is a separate living body with its own style.
From the viewpoint o f socio-economic management, an urban is a highdensity population area, mostly non-agricultural labor, with proper infrastructure, is
a collective or specialized center playing the role to promo te the socio-economy o f
the whole country, a territorial region, a province, a rural district or a part o f
province and rural district.
From the viewpoints above and in the current conditions, the common
concept o f urban is understood as follows: An urban is the habitation space o f

7

I

Ì



humankind in which the inhabitants Gather with hieh-densitv and the labor mainly
works in non-agricultural sectors, the infrastructure, eeonomv and society develop
and play the role o f enhancing the socio-economic development o f a particular
territory.
This concept aims at emphasizing 2 sides including social and economic
development o f an urban: Socially, an urban is a habitation form in which there is a
hiah-density o f population, high living standard, more convenient facilities and
progressive legal institution and the urban space includes space o f architecture,
technical infrastructure and environment... Economically, the production activates
mainly cover industrial and service ones. In order to achieve the socio-economic
development, an urban needs to have an advanced technical infrastructure system.
Thanks to the socio-economic development, an urban contributes to accelerate the
economy and society o f a region or the whole country. Thus,
urban, it
density,

once mentioning an

is necessary to refer to its main components such as scale, population
socio-economic

development,

labor

type

and


modernity

of

the

infrastructure and role o f an urban in the region or the whole country [ 14. p. 13]

In

conclusion,

an

urban ,

regardless

of

big

or

sm all

scale,

is


sim ultan eo usly:
- An object space containing construction works technical infrastructure
s y s t e m . ..
- A strong economic space
- A cultural-social space with dominance in material, mental and spiritual
life o f the community combined with each other a c o m m o n living style

New urban areas in Vietnam has been established under 3 main form s
1) New urban areas from the areas not vet urban:
2)

New urban areas closely connected with the existing ones;

3) Urbans developing traditionally which are based on the socio-economic
development o f the population areas [50. p.29],

Features o f urban living style:

8


- Connected

with

industrial

manufacturing:

easily


changeable

accommodation and working place; exact working time.
- Dependent and connected with service activities, high living standard and
associated with the market.
- Abundant, diversified and complicated communication o f the urban people
with many cultural and artistic activities meeting the demand o f the urban:
accordingl) bringing about the conditions for them to bring their imaginative
capacity into play.
- Use o f spare time in cultural, sports activities and other varied ones freely
and effectively [54. p.57],

1.1.2. I Urbanization
The urbanization process is a complicated, multi-dimensional phe nom en on
and therefore it is very difficult to generalize it in a few sentences. We do not have
any ambition to generally cover all aspects o f the urbanization phenomenon with
our definition as stated below but only raise the co m m on tendency instead, from the
causes, developments and multi-face results o f the urbanization process:
Urbanization is a social phenomenon related to the deep economic-socialcultural-spacious

movements

associated

with

scientific-

technological


advancements and it makes an momentum to enhance the labor distribution,
occupational transference and establishment o f new jobs and simultaneously creates
the demand for moving to the urban center, promote the economic development,
supporting the changes in social and cultural life, increasing living standards,
changing living style and social communication forms..., making a ground for a
reasonable population distribution to meet the increasingly plentiful and diversified
social requirements with the aim to set up a dynam ic balance am ong the
construction environment, social environment and natural one.
The aforesaid definition has tried to point out the urbanization process as an
economic-social-cultural-spacious (environmental) p he nom en on covering 2 points:
causes and results o f the phenomenon. As far as the first point is concerned, we can

9


SCO 2 outstanding factors: the development o f science and engineering and
manufacturing technology and the development o f manufacturing itself, i.e. the
economy. As far as the second one is concerned, it can be divided into 3 main
categories: The first category is socio-economic results including the important
events in the social-occupational structure and social movements as well as the
changes in family structure. The second one belongs to cultural-social results
including the increase in living standard, the changes in living style and the demand
tor social communication. The last one is spacious- environmental results consisting
o f the changes in the factors that form an urban and that form the space in the
structure o f each group o f population as well as the whole system o f groups [50.
p.40].
/. 1.3. Effects o f socio-econom ic developments on urbanization
/. 1.3.1. Level o f econom ic developm ent is a condition o f urbanization
Economic


development,

including the

development

o f industries

and

services, is a determinant o f the urbanization process. The level o f economic
development o f a country is shown in many aspects: scale and speed o f GDP
increase, div isional structure o f the economy, the development o f economic sectors,
level o f completion o f infrastructure,

cultural and educational

level o f the

inhabitants, living standard... At some degrees, the level o f economic development
demonstrates the advantages o f position, natural conditions and social issues o f a
country or a region.
However, when the economic development as a necessary condition for the
urban development is achieved, the remaining problem o f the policy or mechanism
o f urban development is considered to be sufficient condition. No proper urban
development policy will bring about a deadlock in the future.
/. 1.3.2. Social production pattern has an im portant effect on urbanization
The social production pattern and the politic situation o f the country directly
affect the urbanization process. Each production pattern has a relevant urban style

and the urbanization process consequently has its own characteristics. In Vietnam.

10


alter 1954 the country was divided into 2 parts with 2 different politic regimes in
which the North uoes with socialist production pattern and the urbanization model
has the main following characteristics:
- The cities were established systematically and hierarchically, coverine the
whole territory in order to remove the regional differences
- The cities were developed on the centralization basis and heavy industries
and national cultural color maintenance were taken priority.
Also, in the period 1954- 1975 in the South, the main characteristics o f
Ame rican-aeed

urbanization

include

administrative

and

service

urbans.

undeveloped production and dependence o f the local economy on the foreign
countries.
After the libration o f the South (Mav. 1975) and the unification o f 2 parts,

the whole country went with a co m m o n politic policy amid the tremendous
consequences o f the war. difficulties o f a independent and self-control economy and
slow progress o f urbanization. After 1986. the DOl M Ớ I movement with the
socialist-oriented market mech an is m and multi-sector ec o no m y opened the strong
development o f production force. Especially, the policy o f open market, attraction
o f foreign investment and develo pm ent o f multi-sector created a ju m p in economic
development and strong urbanization process.
I.Ỉ.3 .3 . M anagem ent guideline,

p o lic y a n d ca p a city has a strong effect on

urbanization
Guidelines and policies issued by the Go ve rnm en t have a strong effect on the
economic de velopment as well as urbanization process. Guidelines and policies on
urbanization, housing policies. Land Law, Foreign Investment Law are the major
policies o f the State which has a direct and powerful effect on the urbanization
process in the country. After the National Party Congress No.VII. apart from the
major policies such as multi-sector econo my development and open policies, the
State paid much attention to the urban development ma nag e m e nt and planning.
Accordingly, the national urban has been increased both in quantity and quality.


makinii big achievements, meeting the socio-economic development o f the whole
country

and simultaneously

becoming a positive

factor and determinant


of

urbanization process.
Level and capacity o f the urban ma nagement staff or State management
system on urban are crucial to the implementation o f urban policies. All the proper
guidelines and policies require the staff who have good implementation and
organization capacity to realize the new policies.
ỉ. 1.3.4. N ational culture has an im portant effect on urbanization
The tradition o f national culture has an important effect on the urbanization
process, firstly the management o f urban land, social and population management,
i'ach nation has its own culture and it affects all the economic, politic, social issues
in general and urban style in particular. Socially. Vietnamese urban still have rural
colors. Not a long time ago. the current urban people were still farmers. Going to
the urban for studying, working, they have learned and integrated with the urban
living style hut maintained the old customs and habits.

With reference to

construction viewpoint, Vietnamese urbans are still affected by many different
cultures which are shown through forms o f dwelling construction o f historic stages.
In 3 parts o f the country, each city has it own typical features. Hanoi. Huê and [Jo
Chi Minh City have separate symbols which show its own color and the common
feature o f Vietnam.
I. Ì .3.5. International integration is a boost o f the urbanization p rocess
The full integration is a boost o f higher-speed urbanization process. The
import o f architectural forms, commercialization o f relations, modern management
method, and joint venture in the construction o f urbans or urban areas is a fact
happening lively in the developed countries like France and Canada. Vietnam is not
out o f this fact. Since the French-occupied period, there have been such areas in

Hanoi. Recently, Japanese villages. Korean and Russian building areas have
appeared and those truly are positive foreign effects during the urban development
process

in Vietnam.

Economically,

the

economic

integration

results

in the


development o f markets. cspccialK financial markets. Currently, we arc not afraid
o f insufficient capital but management incapacity.
Globalization process through international transaction (in terms o f goods,
capital and labor) has made an integrated global economy. The competition among
the

local

and

foreign


urban

centers

has

been

increasingly

powerful.

The

interdependency is being established over the national borders, forming the closer
and stricter connections o f economic co-operation. Commercial liberalization and
integration is creating new opportunities and changes within the urbans.
1 .1.3.6. Scientific-technological revolution is a condition o f urbanization
The development o f science and technology has a powerful effect on the
growth o f the economy in general and each urban in particular at different degrees
and subject to the regional advantages, leading and management capacity and the
adaptation that each urban can perceive. The exterior science and technology affect
cities in terms o f 2 tendencies. Firstly, cities compete with each other when multi­
national companies compare input factors and evaluate the advantages o f legal,
policies, activeness o f the labor force and stable politics. The cities which can meet
these requirements will further grow and vice versa. Secondly, electron service
sectors including financial and commercial services, information and postage
services emerge. M ode m communicative means also bring about great benefits to
big cities because those cities have created conditions to meet the modern

communicative means effectively.
Nevertheless, a question is whether developing countries like Vietnam can
grasp the modem technology achievements, learn from experience in economic
development and urban management from other nations in the world and in the
area, well deal with the issues o f environment, population, transportation, housing,
employment and so on in urban? Those are truly big challenges to developing
countries in general and Vietnam in particular [ 14, p.26].

1.1.4. Effects o f urbanization process on the socio-econom ic and environm ental
developm ent

13


l . Ị . 4 .1. U rbanization creates a prem ise to the transference of urban econom ic
structure
Economic structure is understood as a collection o f fundamental and
considerablv stable relations among the interior components o f an economy. The
most fundamental relations formed during the social re-production in the economy
in general and urbans in particular are those among different economic sectors,
areas and sectors.
Sectoral structure is shown by the proportion o f each sector in the urban
economy, indicating roles and relations among the collections o f organizations and
enterprises who play the same functions within the labor distribution system in
urban societies. Sectoral structure reflects the level o f labor distribution and
development level o f labor forces. Sectoral structure in an urban always changes
due to the rapid growth o f industrial and service sectors.
Sectoral structure is made subject to Gross Production Value and Gross
Domestic Product with the aim to demonstrated roles o f each sector in the
production o f social products in urbans. At some degrees, sectoral structure shows

the production effectiveness in urbans. During the urbanization process, the
production values o f industry, construction and service sectors will rapidly increase
because industrialization is a premise o f urbanization and it is closely connected
with the modernization o f infrastructure.
Urban economic structure is divided into 3 sectors: The whole urban
economic

activities

are

arranged

into

3 sectors.

The

first

sector

includes

agricultural-forestry and marine activities while the second consists o f industrial
and construction activities and the last one comprises scientific and service
activities. At the beginning o f urbanization process, the second sector has grown
fast and played the main role in the urban economy before gradually becoming
weak due to the replacement o f industrial labor with automatic technology. The

third sector has gradually increased and eventually accounted for the highest
proportion within the post-industry period while the first one has decreased both

14


absolutely and relatively during the whole urbanization process.

I hose chanties

have been shown through the structure o f labor, occupation and production results.
Hconomic structure based on economic sectors: liconomic sectors reflect the
growth level o f the production relationship and at first ownership relationship in the
economy. The study on the urban economic structure is made on the basis o f actual
existing economic
component

and

components and it indicates the quantity,

consequently

the

dominance

level

o f the


roles o f each

main

production

relationship is clearly stated. The urbanization process in the market economy has
been rapidly changed the proportion o f the economic components. The non-state
economic component (private one) has been increasingly grown, especially foreignfunded economic sectors, which has contributed to a compensation o f l a c k o f public
economic component in the areas requiring big investment such as new urbans,
modernization o f existing urban infrastructure and resolution o f environmental
issues.
1.1.4.2. U rbanization increases the effectiveness o f use o f natural resources
The urbanization process rapidiv increases the demand for use o f natural
resources, particularly land.

Urban land is divided into the follow ings:
Industrial land: land for the construction o f regionally centralized industrial
enterprises.
C om m ercial a n d service land: land for commercial transaction centers,
banks, financial and insurance centers which are normally located at the urban
center.
Transportation land: including land for transportation system o f railway,
waterway, airports, ports and so on so forth.
Urban civil land: land for the construction o f dwelling and public utilities
serv ing the demand for liv ing, rest and entertainment o f the people.
Treasure land: land for the construction o f city or state treasures

15



S pecial land: land for the military, cemeteries, national and international
administrative agencies and so on 154. p.l 13].
Rapidly increasing population, increasing income and increasing demand for
hieh dwelling quality has made an increase in the demand tor building land. The
urowth o f production, land and plan is completely crucial: therefore, urban land has
continuously been in shortage, especially at the center o f big cities like Hanoi. Ho
C hi Minh City. In this case, it is compulsory' for the more economical and effective
use o f land. The price o f land is dependent on many factors but fundamentally its
profit-making capacity. The people w ho have the capacity o f making profit most
will offer the highest price in the competitive market mechanism. Accordingly,
people

always

try

their

best

efforts

to

make

continuously


high

economic

effectiveness o f land. Other natural resources such as \vate...also has been in
shortage day by day. An allowance o f solutions to enhance the effectiveness o f use
o f natural resources should be done in all the urban activities.
1.1.4.3. U rbanization im proves the m arket extension
The first feature o f an urban: an urban is a place which can supply the labor
market with a high-qualitv and large-scale labor source. Due to the high income o f
the urban residents, the de ma nd for co ns um e r goods drives the development o f
production. The second feature o f an urban: an urban is a high-density population
area which creates a wide co n su m in g market with many advantages o f product
supply and distribution [14. p.29],
1. 1.4.4. U rbanization a n d so cia l labor structure
I Irbanization is a continuous transference process o f social labor structure
and nature from agriculture to industry, from industry to services and scienceteehnologv. from simplicity to complexion, from small intelligence content to big
one. from manual labor to intellectual work based on the increasing and widespread
technology transformation.
1.1.4.5. U rbanization an d socia l m ovem ent

16


The changes in labor structure and nature are related to a social phenomenon
closely associated with the urbanization

process, which

is social movement


phenomenon. The essence o f social movement consists o f 2 sides, i.e. occupational
replacements

called

occupational

movements

(vertical

movements)

and

accommodation changes called geographic movements (horizontal movements).
I he 2 most outstanding forms o f movement during the urbanization process include
rural-urban movements (sharing the features o f both geoeraphic movements and
occupational ones) and urban-urban movements (normally only sharing features o f
nongraphic movements.
Urbanization is an endless movement process comprising occupational and
geographic

movements

with

their


fundamental

forms,

at

first

rural-urban

movements and then urban-urban movements, drawing a lively picture o f social
movements.
1.1.4.6.

U rbanization and w ay o f living

There are 3 components o f a wav o f liv ing or more exactly, a way o f living is
dependent on 3 main factors below:
- A way o f living is a demonstration o f the economic life o f a social
community. In other words, a man can only live by all that the community has
produced.
- A way o f living is a demonstration o f the social life o f a community. A
person lives within a combination o f particular social relationships and each one can
not go beyond the shape o f institutions that a particular society has established.
- A way o f living is a demonstration o f the cultural life o f a social
community; i.e. the cultural values o f a co mmunity including spiritual ones during
the existence process o f the community.
Urbanization has created economic, social and cultural premises to change
the living standard and way o f living. Therefore:
Urbanization is an increasing transference process o f material and mental life

based on the improvement o f consuming the material and cultural values made by

17

O c l u l).'-iuL ( C ' i H