Foreword and acknowledgements

Viet Nam has experienced rapid urbanisation. This urbanisation has contributed to the process of the Doi Moi reform since 1986 and the subsequent economic and social transformation of the country with a high economic growth of 7% on average in recent decades. However, Viet Nam is also faced with acute urban challenges including an unskilled labour force, an unstable job market in cities, a lack of urban infrastructure, serious flood risks, and weak institutional capacity. These challenges require that policies across a range of sectors be aligned. While many national policies affect urban development, they are rarely looked at through an “urban lens”.