Assessing the Livelihood Capacity of Workers and Planning Orientation for Residential Areas Toward Sustainable Livelihood of Workers in Industrial Zones Around Hanoi, Vietnam

The massive development of industrial zones in Vietnam in recent years has resulted in a significant wave of migrant workers from rural areas. Apart from facing a lack of adequate housing, these workers have to face social problems such as low income, precarious work, and difficulty in social integration. The number of workers over 30 years old being laid off after a period of working in industrial zones has increased dramatically in recent years, becoming an alarming phenomenon. The assessment of the livelihood capacity of workers and the corresponding orientations for the planning of residential areas aimed at sustainable livelihood is a crucial study. The study objectives are indicators that can be used to evaluate the capacity of employees to sustain a livelihood. The research methodology includes spatial research and quantitative sociological methods based on DFID’s sustainable livelihood framework. The authors surveyed five industrial zones around Hanoi with 300 questionnaire forms and assessed workers’ housing conditions as well as their livelihoods. The results show that the livelihood capital of workers is rather low. The authors point out that while natural capital is unlikely to be improved, human capital, social capital, and physical capital can improve significantly if there are reasonable housing policies and planning solutions for the workers. This study provides a new perspective on the development of social housing for low-income workers in Vietnam: housing development not only increases the number of housing units available, but also helps fulfill the purpose of developing resources that support human livelihood.