2024-09-09-世界银行-越南-每两年一次的贫困与公平更新_迈向更具包容性的城市（英）_92页_7mb

Despite achieving significant poverty reduction in the past decade, Vietnam's progress stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused substantial economic disruptions, particularly in urban areas, leading to declines in household consumption and labor incomes. Poverty rates increased in 2022, with urban households experiencing more severe impacts than rural ones. High living costs and limited access to services in cities further exacerbated these challenges, while vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities and recent migrants, faced additional difficulties due to precarious employment and restricted access to social services.

Urbanization is critical for economic development, but Viet Nam's urban population share remains relatively low compared to regional benchmarks, despite high density in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Hanoi. Within cities, there is a gradient of poverty, with lower rates in urban cores and higher rates in suburbs and towns, highlighting varied living conditions. Access to amenities, housing quality, and exposure to climate risks, such as flooding, compound vulnerabilities, particularly in peripheral and low-income areas.

COVID-19 highlighted the need to enhance social protection systems. Viet Nam's support for households was among the lowest regional averages, limiting the effectiveness of pandemic responses. Policies must focus on boosting cash transfers, expanding social insurance coverage, and improving coordination between fiscal and social policies to address immediate needs and mitigate future risks.

For more inclusive urban development, strategies such as targeted infrastructure investments, climate-resilient planning, and equitable service access are essential for improving living standards and reducing spatial inequalities in cities. Enhancing granular data collection is vital for monitoring trends and tailoring interventions. Strengthening urban resilience against climate change through green infrastructure, flood management, and disaster-resistant housing can protect vulnerable populations. Better data and continuous migration monitoring would provide insights to refine targeted social programs.

Urgent attention and coordinated actions through tailored national and local policies are necessary to support the urban poor effectively.