URBAN DYNAMICS IN A FORMER RURAL VILLAGE

Abstract

The purpose of this research has been to uncover the consequences and the extent of benefit to local household derived from changes regarding the rural-to-urban conversion process. In order to research these matters a peri-urban locality in the central region of Vietnam has been investigated. By using data from in-depth interviews with local stakeholders, data coming from semi-structured interviews with local households and by looking at prior research done in the area, a picture can be painted displaying in fact these consequences and benefits. The findings have resulted into the confirmation of theoretical outcomes from other researches, done in different parts of the worlds, as well as a bringing a further nuance, specific to the case of Xuan Hoa village, Vietnam. As in Xuan Hoa much urban development takes place, also a high level of in-migrating urban households is clearly noticeable. This changes the local economic, social and physical structure of the village. Examples are more grocery shops, a change in job opportunities and modernizations such as a sound electrical grid and an improved availability of internet access. Difference in terms of consequences and benefits is mostly seen between the more affluent and the less affluent households. Those households with more money to spend are able to make more use out of modernities such as internet access and the electrical grid. The less affluent households have more benefit out of the changes in local job opportunities. Also the increased value of land and the greater ease of selling land are thought of to be advantageous. Caution should however be noted, as the level of resilience of these less affluent households might be affected by changes on the local land market.