Informal economy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Urban livelihoods and policy issues
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12714407 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Huỳnh Ngọc Thu (0000-0001-5369-4112, Huynh Ngoc Thu is a Lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, 10–12 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ho Chi Minh City 7000, Vietnam, corresponding author), Lê Thị Mỹ Hà (0000-0001-6313-3159, Le Thi My Ha is a Lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, 10–12 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, Ho Chi Minh City 7000, Vietnam) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 1-18 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-15 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Development Planning Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1474-6743 • E-ISSN: 1478-3401 |
| Publisher | Liverpool University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.3828/idpr.2025.26 |
| OpenAlex | W7115177336 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 13 |
This paper investigates the informal economy in urban Ho Chi Minh City through field research conducted since 2022, focusing on three representative groups of workers: street vendors, motorbike taxi drivers (both traditional and app-based) and small-scale sidewalk businesses. Drawing on 32 semi-structured interviews and participant observation, the study reconstructs the adaptive yet precarious urban livelihood strategies of informal workers. Findings reveal that this sector not only provides essential income for a significant portion of the urban population, particularly migrant and low-skilled labourers, but also plays a vital role in sustaining everyday urban life and local social relations. Nevertheless, informal workers face increasing pressure from rigid urban redevelopment policies and misaligned administrative regulations. The paper argues for a re-conceptualisation of the informal economy as an integral component of the urban socio-economic structure, deserving of recognition and support through flexible, context-sensitive and human-centred approaches to policy issues, thereby fostering sustainable and inclusive urban development
Field research · Ho chi minh · Informal sector · Livelihood · Participant observation · Redevelopment · Urban economics · Urban policy · Urbanization · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Taxation and Compliance Studies
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| Highly cited | No |
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