Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam with a population of 8.4 million. It is located in the south of Vietnam and is at the core centre of Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Area, which has a population that exceeds 20 million, 16 million of whom live in urban areas. The city is currently undergoing a period of strong economic and population growth; as it is the economic and financial hub of Vietnam, it continues to attract migrants from other provinces.

Bangkok is Thailand’s capital city and biggest urban centre, and one of the world’s megacities. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR),which is further composed of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA) and its five adjacent provinces, covering an area of 7,758 km2. The rapid urban expansion of Bangkok, matched with its population growth over the past few decades, has left many issues unresolved. With the city struggling in maintaining pace with urbanisation trends and match it with the provision of the necessary public infrastructure.