Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City are among the five biggest improvers of the quality of life over the past five years, according to the Global Liveability Index 2018 of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) – a research and analysis division of the UK-based Economist Group.
A corner of Hanoi
(Photo: VNA)
This year, Hanoi was ranked 107th out of the 140 surveyed
countries with 59.7 points, up 5.5 percentage points, while Ho Chi Minh City
came in 116th with 57.1 points, up 4.4 percentage points.
The rapid economic development,
alongside the higher scores in the fields of recreational and art activities,
private education, and road infrastructure, were the main factors that helped
the Vietnamese cities increase their places in the ranking.
The ten most liveable cities are Vienna
(Austria), Melbourne (Australia), Osaka (Japan), Calgary (Canada), Sydney
(Australia), Vancouver (Canada), Toronto (Canada), Tokyo (Japan), Copenhagen
(Denmark) and Adelaide (Australia).
Those that score the best tend to be
mid-sized cities in wealthier countries, according to the survey.
Several cities in the top ten also have
relatively low population density. This can foster a range of recreational
activities without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure.
The ten least liveable cities are Dakar
(Senegal), Algiers (Algeria), Douala (Cameroon), Tripoli (Libya), Harare
(Zimbabwe), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Karachi (Pakistan), Lagos
(Nigeria), Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Damascus (Syria).
The survey of liveable cities is conducted
annually based on various criteria such as stability, health care, culture, the
environment, education, and infrastructure.
Source: NDO
In late March, 29 labourers from Da Bac district were sent to work as seasonal farm workers in Buyeo county, Chungcheongnam province, the Republic of Korea (RoK). Upon arrival, they quickly settled into their jobs, enjoying good working conditions and benefits, with wages aligned with the terms of their signed contracts. The programme is now being expanded, with relevant departments and sectors actively seeking additional seasonal employment opportunities in various localities across the RoK.
Luong Son Industrial Park has invested in standardised wastewater and emissions treatment systems, enforced tight emission controls, reduced noise, dust, and solid waste, and expanded green spaces, contributing to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.
Hoa Binh police are collecting public feedback on amendments to the 2013 Constitution via the national identification app VNeID. This innovative approach marks a giant leap towards modernising grassroots democracy and enhancing transparency in public consultation.
A total public investment capital of 113 billion VND (over 4.3 million USD) was disbursed for a project to upgrade infrastructure and stabilise residents in the vicinity of the Da River reservoir between 2021 and the first quarter of 2025, giving a facelift to local rural areas and improving the quality of people's life.
Since the end of 2023-2024 academic year, Cu Yen Primary and Secondary School in Luong Son district has deployed e-study records for all of its 500 primary students, said the school principal Nguyen Thi Tuyen.
The Labour Federation of Hoa Binh city has actively worked to protect the rights and welfare of nearly 8,000 local workers and union members at 152 grassroots unions. Through regular dialogues, education campaigns, and welfare programmes, the federation has helped foster stable, progressive labour relations.
