Page 268 - Ebook HTKH 2024

In the process of green transformation and moving from a traditional economy
(the brown economy) to a green economy and green growth, urban regions and their
development could not be ignored. Of course, the rural area has its own, independent

tasks and plays its own role, but in general, urban regions interact with the rural areas
and play a leading role in the transformation process of the whole country to the green
economy.
Under that understanding, this paper tries to briefly provide an overview about the
role of urbanization in the green growth in Vietnam. It also consists of a brief review of
the theoretical background of that issue, which serves as the basis for the analysis of
practical circumstances in Vietnam. The analysis will cover mostly a time period

between 2010 to 2023. Data and information of a longer time period would be
considered if they are necessary to make a trend more clearer or deeper.
2. Method
The paper is prepared on the basis of a literature review and secondary research.
Literatures being reviewed and analyzed are 1) theoretical studies and analyses on the
essence, characteristics of the green growth and related terms as well as ways and forms

of the transformation form the traditional to the new model of green growth, green
economy; 2) studies, surveys, case studies, practical analyses and assessments of
situations of current green growth, green economy, including such documents of
international organizations; 3) studies and reports about policies on green growth, green
economy and results of their implementation in Vietnam and other countries; 4) research
results in form of publication (monographs, papers on scientific and professional
journals/ magazin) about the green growth, green economy, including recommendations
and suggestions for international organizations, for Vietnam or for government of other

countries on realizing the concept of green growth.
A small group discussion was conducted in order to check and confirm knowledge
and conclusions learned from the secondary research. Participants of the group
discussion were researchers from universities, research institutions in Hanoi (10 people)
and middle officers of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of
Construction, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Science and

Technology as well as Ministry of Finance, who has to deal with issues related to the
urbanization and has understanding on the green economic growth).
3. Literature review
Green growth
Green growth is an “economic development, while ensuring that natural assets
continue to provide the resources and environmental services which contribute to the
country’s prosperity” 123 . It is also defined as “a call for balancing longer-term

investments in sustaining environmental wealth with nearer-term needs for growth to

123 OECD (2011), Green Growth Strategy, Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

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