The Meaning of Development: The Case Study of Ben Tre Province in Vietnam

Abstract

The meaning of development has been changed and re-defined from Seers (1979) and Sen (1999) across time. Despite the rise in national income during the era of industrialization – urbanization – technology advance, the world has paid attention on other potential indicators of development; such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, development as freedoms, and sustainability in the 21^st century. Vietnam is known as the developing country with the rapid economic growth and the stable political system in the ASEAN region. It is easy to understand the national development and prosperity through two remarkable mega-cities like Ha Noi capital and Ho Chi Minh city. Hence, the purpose of the study is to contribute to the fuller understanding on the development in Vietnam through the typically unfavorable province like Ben Tre province located in the Mekong River Delta in the South of Vietnam. The author conducted the explorative research by using the qualitative approach, and gathering the narrative data and descriptive data collected within the period 2011 - 2017. Under the solid foundation on development, the research drew the fuller picture on the development in Ben Tre province. Positively, the study found four main factors explaining the development; such as sufficient infrastructures, good education, self-reliance ability for the poor, and good governance. Negatively, the research pointed out critical issue of climate change happening annually and causing severe consequences for the cultivation, the production and the living conditions across the province. In addition, the province has some potentials to reach sustainable development. The article adds to the fuller understanding of the development amid un-favorable areas, where the government and policy-makers should consider proper and effective development policies, leading to the propensity and the sustainability for the whole country. The case study can be used as the teaching case about Rural & Urban Development for Public Administration students.