Transformative adaptation and social justice in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

This case study is part of the UNRISD project “Transformative Adaptation to Climate Change in Coastal Cities” which explores adaptation decision-making processes and barriers to transformative solutions in order to inform more progressive policy making in the context of Southeast Asian coastal cities.

This paper introduces governance and decision-making processes for urban development in Ho Chi Minh City and gives an overview of adaptation planning and strategies to deal with increasing levels of urban flooding. It provides a comparative case study of two urban upgrading projects that affected low-income dwellers in informal settlements. Through this analysis, the authors illustrate the complex socio-economic situation of project beneficiaries and impacted residents, as well as the social justice implications of adaptation policies, and hope to identify how Ho Chi Minh City can move toward more transformative adaptation.