Transforming the Edge: Sustainable Urban Futures in the Peri-Urban Districts of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
LE, Thi Ngoc Diep and VO, Thi Xuan Le
35 Views | 20 Downloads
Abstract:
Peri-urban districts are central to Ho Chi Minh City’s sustainable transformation but face uneven access to health, education, and welfare. This study introduces the Public Service Adequacy Index (PSAI) and Service Visibility Gap (SVG) to assess both provision and citizen-perceived accessibility. A household survey of 2,000 respondents1 across five districts (conducted between March and June 2024) evaluated adequacy ratings and “no opinion” responses. Results show health services are broadly adequate but constrained by visibility gaps, especially among migrants; education remains strong at entry levels yet weak in vocational and special streams; welfare is the weakest pillar, marked by limited visibility of labor support and social insurance. The findings highlight that infrastructure alone cannot capture social sustainability; visibility is equally vital. The study advances theory by operationalizing adequacy and visibility, offers replicable indices, and provides policy insights on combining investment with communication and multi-level governance.
Keywords:
peri-urbanization; social sustainability; public services; service adequacy; service visibility; urban governance; Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam.
Citation: LE, Thi Ngoc Diep and VO, Thi Xuan Le (2026). Transforming the Edge: Sustainable Urban Futures in the Peri-Urban Districts of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Horizon J. Hum. Soc. Sci. Res. 8 (1), 105–118. https://doi.org/10.37534/bp.jhssr.2026.v8.n1.id1328.p105
Download Full PDF
