Exploring the Role of Social Capital in Urban Resilience for Sustainable Development: The Case of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam

Abstract

The escalation of climate change has challenged urban sustainable development, especially in the top globally vulnerable countries. This paper investigates the role of social capital in shaping the resilience of residents in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s first mega urban, based on survey data from 300 households, using a stratified sampling strategy to reflect the urban and suburban population structure of the city-dwellers with the application of PLS-SEM. The study highlights the significant role of bridging social capital, drawing on established research and theories, which emphasizes the importance of diverse social networks in enhancing problem-solving, optimism, material resources, and social resources. Additionally, the study uncovers the impact of bonding social capital, particularly in terms of enhancing material and social resources, underscoring the cultural inclination towards close-knit networks within Vietnamese society. Structural barriers associated with vertical networks are identified, implying the need to promote the role of linking social capital in enhancing resilience. The study confirms the cruciality of addressing socio-economic factors and promoting access to formal support systems for bolstering overall resilience among urban residents in Ho Chi Minh City and beyond. The results enrich the current literature when operationalizing and exploring the nexus of social capital and resilience multi-dimensionally in a mega urban setting of an emerging country for new pathways to achieve sustainability.