I wonder how many people actually live in Hanoi city? I think the embassy website says 2,5 million, Lonely Planet say 3,5 and the locals say 5 million. What is your take?
yeah its tough to say in Vietnam, basically because the government numbers count only the number of Hanoi issued identity cards and use this as its population figure.
I am in HCMC, and the issue is the same.
This ignores all kinds of side issues - the most obvious of which is huge population migration into the cities from the provinces. People flood in, but do not get new identity cards, therefore do not count.
The second issue is the fact that surrounding provinces have huge industrial zones which have sprung up for various reasons, notably better provincial tax rates - where literally millions of people live - and since the infrastructure is better nearer the cities, they are basically clinging to within a few kms of the 'county line'.
In the case of HCMC then, in Binh Duong and Dong Nai - provinces that are essentially greater Saigon - millions arent counted into the HCMC population, despite the fact that they are just a few kms outside.
When I first moved here (I am in Saigon) someone told me "whenever you hear a number in Vietnam, halve it or double it until it sounds realistic" - good advice, so if the govt is saying 2.5, its probably around 5.
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Google says 4,100,000, I'll stick with them.
yeah its tough to say in Vietnam, basically because the government numbers count only the number of Hanoi issued identity cards and use this as its population figure.
I am in HCMC, and the issue is the same.
This ignores all kinds of side issues - the most obvious of which is huge population migration into the cities from the provinces. People flood in, but do not get new identity cards, therefore do not count.
The second issue is the fact that surrounding provinces have huge industrial zones which have sprung up for various reasons, notably better provincial tax rates - where literally millions of people live - and since the infrastructure is better nearer the cities, they are basically clinging to within a few kms of the 'county line'.
In the case of HCMC then, in Binh Duong and Dong Nai - provinces that are essentially greater Saigon - millions arent counted into the HCMC population, despite the fact that they are just a few kms outside.
When I first moved here (I am in Saigon) someone told me "whenever you hear a number in Vietnam, halve it or double it until it sounds realistic" - good advice, so if the govt is saying 2.5, its probably around 5.
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