Urban centers of Vietnam
Vietnam’s population density is among the highest in the Asia Pacific region, and its population continues to grow. The Red River Delta and the Mekong River Delta are the two areas in Vietnam with the largest concentration of inhabitants historically due to their favorable conditions for agriculture. This created two densely populated urban centers: Ha Noi in the North and Ho Chi Minh City in the South. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam in terms of population size, followed by Ha Noi. Together with Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Can Tho, these cities are the only five centrally controlled municipalities, the highest rank within the administrative units of Vietnam.As Vietnam’s economic and financial center, Ho Chi Minh City recorded the highest monthly average income per capita in the country. Overall, the urban population enjoyed a much higher average income than their rural counterparts. Consequently, some of the benefits of living in the cities include access to better healthcare and sanitation infrastructure. As a result, Vietnamese urban areas outperformed rural areas in certain health indicators. For instance, the infant mortality rate in rural areas of Vietnam was twice as high as in urban areas.