Hanoi, HCM City among most dynamic growing cities

Hanoi and HCM City are among the top ten most dynamic growing cities in the world, according to a study by a leading international property and investment management company. - Photo zing.vn

Vietnam’s capital was ranked third and HCM City eighth in the data released as part of JLL’s Short-Term City Momentum Index (CMI) 2019.

JLL tracks social-economic and commercial real estate growth in 131 cities over a three year period.
Vietnam was the strongest performing country with two cities ranking the highest in ASEAN, said JLL.

Number one in the list was Bengaluru and number two Hyderabad, both cities in India.

In its report, JLL said the two cities performed very well for socio-economic momentum, with fast-growing populations and economies.

"HCM City is generally viewed as the more business-friendly destination attracting overseas investment along with a higher corporate presence, whereas Hanoi has lagged commercially but is a city that is swiftly evolving."

On the real estate front, Vietnam has "a small real estate investment market struggling with issues such as low transparency and a limited volume of investment grade stock," JLL added.

However, steps are being taken to improve transparency, such as enhanced access to the land registry, better valuation practices and increasing application of green building certification system, it said.

Two other ASEAN countries also made the top 20 list in JLL’s index. The Philippines was represented by Manila in 12th place and Thailand by Bangkok in 18th place.

According to JLL, the City Momentum Index looks at 20 indicators including recent percentage changes in GDP, population, air passengers and corporate headquarters presence; projected percentage changes in GDP, population and retail sales; and recent levels of and changes in foreign direct investment, as a proportion of a city’s economy.

Others factors included recent and projected percentage changes in office net absorption, office rents, retail rents and hotel rooms; international retailer presence; and recent changes in direct commercial real estate investment volumes and real estate transparency.