Some challenges for the youth in suburban areas of Ho Chi Minh City - Case study in Binh Tan district

Abstract

Urbanization is an inevitable trend of developing countries. Urbanization process is going on in Vietnam, especially in Ha Noicapital and Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City attracted the majority of the youth from provinces to come and work in industrial zones, export processing zones located in suburban areas (of the City). The population growth along with the increased demand for services did promote the expansion of urban land. Fast urban space expansion has posed a lot of challenges for young people especially in terms of lifestyle. Will these youth be susceptible to the bad side of society in the transition from rural to urban areas? The author has chosen to study the area of Binh Tan District in Ho Chi Minh City where high spontaneous urbanization takes place. Through field observations, the author observed life in the studied area which was Binh Tri Dong B Ward, Binh Tan District with the implementation of in-depth interviews for 45 subjects in three population groups under study such as: local people, new residents and immigrants. By method of interdisciplinary research in terms of sociology and geography, the author found out some challenges that the youth face in the process of suburban urbanization