Editor’s note:A PhD holder, Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa, believes auspicious life opportunities enjoyed by residents are key to improving the standard of living in Ho Chi Minh City.

Life opportunities, simply put, are the ability to grasp and turn one’s aspirations into reality.

Life opportunities encompass opportunities to study, seek employment and career advancement, forge social relationships (marriage and friends) and gain access to public services, including healthcare, education, social welfare and administrative assistance.

Seeking opportunities based on personal capacity

In deprived, outdated societies, people had few or even no life opportunities, let alone a choice of many.

In today’s society, people have access to more opportunities and greater choices.

The availability of life opportunities and how to approach them are largely dependent on the state, which wields power and human resource.

With its political institution and policies, the state apparatus is empowered to facilitate the emergence of opportunities.

For instance, the development of a multi-segment economy has created more job opportunities and allowed them to switch from one workplace to another or between different jobs. For example, if city administrations give their consent for peddlers to sell their wares in zoned areas, thus providing life opportunities to the poor, the knock-on effect includes schooling for several thousands of children.

An urban society is home to ample chances. However, life opportunities are not a pie whose parts are shared equally among all citizens. Opportunities instead rely on individuals’ capacity, will, family background and social status.         

In a city worth living in, social institutions are supposed to ensure everyone’s access to such opportunities.

It’s essential that state administrative agencies provide equal access to opportunities among its residents without forming any privileged groups.

A city worth living in is where all people, regardless of their ethnic background, religion, gender, age and poverty gaps, are guaranteed life opportunities based on their abilities.

This is made possible by seeking social positions in the political system and organizing transparent recruitment exams so as to pick out talent.

Apart from coming up with policies, state agencies, along with social organizations, are supposed to help people turn their opportunities into reality. Without timely support, opportunities could vanish just as one is grasping them.

A young person who passes a university entrance exam may never make it to school if they are not granted bank loans or financial support from philanthropists such as a program themed “Vi Ngay Mai Phat Trien” (For Future Development), which is launched by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Similarly a physically disadvantaged person may be denied social integration and a proper livelihood if they do not receive a wheelchair or social support.

Children of migrant workers may be pushed to the social margins if the city administration doesn’t open new schools or become receptive to these children.

Ho Chi Minh City is considered a promised land where everyone from students, motorbike taxi drivers, scrap dealers to construction workers can carve out a niche for themselves.

Everyone loves this city, which is teeming with opportunities, and everyone can benefit as long as they are hard-working and honest.

However, rewarding life opportunities remain far from adequate.

One of the solutions that the municipal administration needs to take into consideration is proper counseling agencies and advisors.      

In developed countries, success in formulating policies is largely attributed to advisors to the central and local governments.

These advisory boards are generally made up of reputable scientists outside of the state apparatus.

Such an advisory board would be integral to the Ho Chi Minh City administration in pointing out visions and mapping out long-term development strategies.