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Monday, December 27, 2010

Master Planning Challenges for Ho Chi Minh City

Alan Fujimori

Abstract:
The potential for tourism should provide major socio-economic opportunities in the master planning of Ho Chi Minh City. Rapid urbanization requires that infrastructure especially transit keep ahead of development to focus private investment. Convenient access between home, work and supporting services will help the development of a strong and productive work force. The built environment and open space system must make the city livable by preserving its history, culture, and natural features that reveal the image and identity of Ho Chi Minh City.
Socio-Economic:
Tourism is the largest industry in the world and clearly of significance to developing countries. Substantial investments are required to capitalize major destination resorts, but the industry is now diversified enough to include wider participation by small and medium businesses. Tourism generates 11 percent of global GDP, employs 200 million people, transports 700 million international travelers per year, and is expected to double by 2020. However, developing countries have only 30 percent market share, a minority position.
The challenge for Ho Chi Minh City will be how to integrate appropriate types of tourism into master planning for the city to become a world-class destination that reflects its people, history, culture, and landscapes while protecting and conserving these resources.
Tourism is highly dependent on the natural and cultural assets of a place. In Hawaii, visitors are attracted by natural features such as our climate and pristine waters, as well as by our multicultural history. Vietnam has it own set of resources that can provide significant tourism opportunities. Today, authenticity has become an increasingly important attribute sought by the visitor in the international market.


Ho Chi Minh City, image by Espen Faugstad
more posts on urban planning of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

The Contemporary Urban Problems in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Skyline photos of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 1

TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF HO CHI MINH CITY UNDER THE DOI-MOI POLICY AND THE ACCOMPANYING GLOBALIZATION PROCESS

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