Ho Chi Minh City's Development Success Tied to Citizen Happiness: Professor

To truly fulfill its role as a special urban area, Ho Chi Minh City should be guided by a clear development philosophy that places people at the centre, recognizes culture as the foundation of sustainable growth, and measures success by the quality of life and happiness of its residents, experts have suggested. This suggestion comes amidst various development plans and social policies currently underway in the city. These include plans to complete the recruitment of top science and technology experts by the third quarter of 2023, and initiatives aiming to implement universal health check-ups for all residents by December 15. Furthermore, a free textbook loan program is slated for introduction from the 2026-2027 academic year, all intended to improve residents' quality of life and ensure equal educational opportunities. While economic growth is often prioritized under Vietnam's one-party system, for a major international city like Ho Chi Minh City, it is increasingly important to evaluate development not just by economic prosperity but by more comprehensive indicators such as the quality of life and happiness of individual residents. This perspective is crucial for addressing social challenges arising from rapid urbanization and economic development, as well as for enhancing the city's competitiveness on the global stage. Especially for Vietnam, which continues to grow economically amidst complex relations with China, domestic social stability and resident satisfaction are vital factors influencing the nation's overall sustainability. The "people-centric" development philosophy that Ho Chi Minh City aims to uphold is therefore expected to be realized from such a macro perspective.