Urban housing reform and state capacity in Vietnam

Vietnam has emerged recently as one of the fastest growing economies widely be perceived as the next transition tiger. State capacity, which is believed to pivotal to the success of the NIC, is under scrutiny inVietnam. This paper attempts examine state capacity ofVietnam in the institutional, political, administrative and aspects employing examples in urban and housing development. This paper that despite the permeation of state machinery into every levels of society creates an outlook of a strong socialist party state, state capacity in Vietnam is fact rather weak. Although the country is striving hard in strengthen its capacity various areas, such reforms are either yet to take root or being dragged by legacy the old regime. The unique state-society relationship in Vietnam also shapes the of adaptation of state capacity in the course of rapidly changing economic social environment.