THE URBAN NETWORK AND ECONOMIC-REFORM IN VIETNAM

Since the mid-1970s, Vietnam experienced a period of transition to soc ialism, before bringing in economic reforms which led to the gradual d ismantling of the subsidised system of planning and the opening up of the country to the global capitalist economy. Economic reform and reno vation has important implications for the urban areas of Vietnam. The emergence of markets and the abandonment of many restrictions on trave l resulted in a freeing up of the urbanisation process during the 1980 s and early 1990s. These processes are considered, and the implication s for Vietnam's largest urban area, Ho Chi Minh City, are examined. Th e likely impact of Vietnam's long-term socioeconomic strategy on the u rban network in the remainder of the decade is considered.