Since the beginning of the Doi Moi reforms Vietnam's economy and society have been profoundly
transformed. While in 1986 less than 13 million of Vietnam's inhabitants lived in areas
classified as urban (20%) the number has risen to more than 30 million inhabitants today (35%
of the total population). This massive urbanisation was made possible by the rapid
transformation of the former agricultural state into an industrial and service state and
extensive migration processes from rural areas to the fast growing cities and megacities.
Fifteen articles analyse the current situation.Frauke Kraas is Professor (Chair) of Urban and
Social Geography Institute of Geography University of Cologne GermanyMatthias Garschagen is
Professor (Chair) of Human Environment Relations Department of Geography Ludwig Maximilians
University Munich GermanyLe Thu Hoa is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Environmental
Climate Change and Urban Studies National Economics University Hanoi VietnamJavier Revilla
Diez is Professor (Chair) of Economic Geography Institute of Geography University of Cologne
Germany
