Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a $302 million project on developing urban areas in the country’s northern region. The project with 83% from the World Bank (WB) will focus on upgrading infrastructure in seven northern provinces namely Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai. It is part of the government’s efforts to improve hygiene and living standards in urban areas in the above localities. Vietnam ranked ninth among 10 countries in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in terms of high urbanization rate, recording a rate of 35% in 2011. However, the rate fails to meet the world’s average speed, Standard Chartered reported. According to statistics from the WB, the country is now home to 755 urban areas with 37 million living in urban areas from 19% in 1986, and its urbanization rate varies within 3.4% per year. However, rapid urbanization in Vietnam has caused numerous problems including overloaded infrastructure and substandard living conditions in urban areas. The situation remains worrying due to weak governance and prolonged unscientific urban planning by local authorities, local experts said. (Dau Tu – Investment Feb 10 p2, Chinhphu.vn Jan 26)
