METROPOLIS AND MEGAURBAN REGION IN PACIFIC ASIA

Urbanisation in late 20th Century Pacific Asia is producing diverse ki nds of urban development. Representations of the process of metropolit an growth have taken four important forms: the extended metropolitan r egion; regional economic zones; world cities; and the idea of the mega urban corridor. These representations reflect postcolonial concerns wi th non-Eurocentric interpretations of indigenous forms of urban develo pment, though they are limited by a dependence on Western concepts of globalisation and restricted recognition of indigenous portrayals of u rban life. A case study of Ho Chi Minh City explores constructions of the city contained in planning and scholarly interpretations, juxtapos ed with a cinematic representation.