Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Hanoi

The document examines how residents of Hanoi define 'middle-income' status, identifying key markers such as owning a motorbike and air-conditioner, and emphasizing hard work and salaried employment over business ownership. It highlights that while internal migration to Hanoi is a significant driver of upward social mobility for education and employment, international migration is generally not viewed as a primary pathway to achieving middle-class status, though it remains an aspiration for children's education.

• Hanoi residents associate middle-income status with specific consumer goods, with a vast majority identifying the ownership of a motorbike and an air-conditioner as typical markers. While motorbikes are common across classes, expensive brands and car ownership have become markers for the upper-middle class.
• The process of becoming middle class in Hanoi is primarily attributed to personal values, hard work, and employment stability. Having a salaried job and possessing the right connections are seen as more critical than owning a business or being well-educated.
• Internal migration to Hanoi is a key driver of upward social mobility, as the city is a preferred destination for those seeking better job opportunities and education. Many residents or their parents migrated from rural areas, particularly the Red River Delta region, to improve their living standards.
• International migration is not perceived as a primary strategy for achieving middle-income status, nor is receiving money from abroad considered important for this transition. However, moving abroad is a common aspiration for children's higher education.
• Middle-income groups in Hanoi are diverse, with distinctions based on employment sector (public vs. private) and financial capacity. Upper-middle-income groups are characterized by higher savings, the ability to invest without borrowing for basic needs, and more frequent overseas travel.
• Most middle-income families in Hanoi utilize public schools for their children because private and international schools are considered too expensive.

APA

Liao, K., Erdal, M. B., Hansen, A., Abraham, A., & Fitzmaurice, M. (2024). Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Hanoi. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/267be9c7-6681-4368-a78a-e8d4c0a48c99/PRIO Paper - MigrationRhythms HANOI.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Liao, Karen, Marta Bivand Erdal, Arve Hansen, Anu Abraham, and Maisie Fitzmaurice. Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Hanoi. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2024. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/267be9c7-6681-4368-a78a-e8d4c0a48c99/PRIO Paper - MigrationRhythms HANOI.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Liao |first1=Karen |last2=Erdal |first2=Marta Bivand |last3=Hansen |first3=Arve |last4=Abraham |first4=Anu |last5=Fitzmaurice |first5=Maisie |title=Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Hanoi |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2024 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/267be9c7-6681-4368-a78a-e8d4c0a48c99/PRIO Paper - MigrationRhythms HANOI.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{liao2024middle, author = {Liao, Karen and Erdal, Marta Bivand and Hansen, Arve and Abraham, Anu and Fitzmaurice, Maisie}, title = {{Middle Classes, Moving and Staying in Hanoi}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2024}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/267be9c7-6681-4368-a78a-e8d4c0a48c99/PRIO Paper - MigrationRhythms HANOI.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }