Suburbanization in Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area in the Context of City’s Peripheral Industrialization: A Case Study of Thuan Dao Industrial Park

In response to their dynamic economic growth, countries in the Global South and developing economies have undergone a rapid process of peripheral industrialization that causes considerable changes in the suburban areas, especially those of the big cities. This so-called “suburbanization” process is characterized by a higher population mostly due to rural-to-urban migration, a transformation of land use to urban functions, changes in housing, increase and diversity of urban services and activities, etc. On one hand, this suburbanization motivates the speedy development of these areas and creates numerous economic opportunities. However, on the other hand, it causes numerous issues, especially under poor management in different aspects. Intending to reflect on these phenomena in the context of Vietnam’s industrialization, this paper selects the residential areas located along the edge of Thuan Dao Industrial Park in the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area for a case study. Through literature reviews, mapping, observation, and a quick interview, this paper takes advantage of primary and secondary data to reveal the diversity in urban structure, housing and architecture, socio-economic activities, infrastructure, and the inadequacy in living quality caused by several environmental issues. Even though this paper’s findings provide some perspectives into the suburbanization occurring around a single industrial park, they can generally contribute as an example of this phenomenon in developing countries. Moreover, it can also be a source of reference for the local authorities in perceiving the characteristics of suburbanization in the city.