Special cities: Center of politics, economics, culture, science-technology, education, tourism, service, transportation in Vietnam and plays the key role in fostering the country’s social-economic development; non-agricultural labor inner the city accounts for 90 percent upwards; population in the inner city of 1.5 million people upwards, population density in the inner city of at least 15,000/sq.km

In Vietnam, only Hanoi and HCM City are rated as special cities. The two cities enjoy special financial-budget policies to fulfill their functions as special cities.

First-grade cities: Center of politics, economics, culture, science-technology, education, tourism, service, transportation of a region and plays the key role in fostering the region’s social-economic development; non-agricultural labor inner the city accounts for 85 percent upwards; population in the inner city of 500,000 people upwards, population density in the inner city of at least 12,000/sq.km.

Vietnam has three first-grade, centrally-governed cities, including Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho and seven first-grade, provincially-governed cities, consisting of Hue city, Vinh, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Buon Ma Thuot and Thai Nguyen.

Second-grade cities: Center of politics, economics, culture, science-technology, education, tourism, service, transportation of a province or a group of provinces and plays the key role in fostering the province or a group of provinces’ social-economic development; non-agricultural labor inner the city accounts for 80 percent upwards; population in the inner city of 250,000 people upwards, population density in the inner city of at least 10,000/sq.km.

There are 12 second-grade cities in Vietnam: Bien Hoa, Nam Dinh, Ha Long, Vung Tau, Viet Tri, Hai Duong, Thanh Hoa, My Tho, Long Xuyen, Pleiku, Phan Thiet and Ca Mau.

Third-grade cities: Center of politics, economics, culture, science-technology, education, tourism, service, transportation of a province or a group of provinces and plays the key role in fostering a province’s social-economic development; non-agricultural labor inner the city accounts for 80 percent upwards; population in the inner city of 100,000-350,000 people upwards, population density in the inner city of at least 10,000/sq.km.

Vietnam has 35 third-grade cities.

Centrally-controlled cities: special cities or first-grade cities which have developed economies, play the key roles in terms of military, politics, culture, economics and society and foster the development of the country or regions.

There are five centrally-governed cities: Hanoi, HCM City, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hai Phong

Provincially-controlled cities: cities which are directly managed by the government of provinces and are the capitals of provinces.

There are 57 cities of this kind in Vietnam. The provincial-controlled city with the largest population and population density is Bien Hoa in the southern province of Dong Nai, with around 790,000 people. The city with the largest area is Mong Cai (Quang Ninh province) with 516 sq.km.