Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, April 29 (VNA) -- The living conditions of people in Ho Chi Minh City have improved with 20.2 per cent of the population spending an average of VND540,000 per month, up 29.8 per cent on 1996.

According to the municipal General Statistics Office, during the last five years the proportion of people with low living standards fell from 10.9 per cent in 1996 to 8.7 per cent last year, while those with medium living standards rose from 35.7 per cent to 37.8 per cent in the same period.

Significantly, the proportion of people with decent living standards rose from 18.8 per cent in 1996 to 20.2 per cent at present.

The municipal GSO also highlighted increased expenses incurred by local residents during the last five years.

Expenditure on accommodation, water and electricity rose by 55.07 per cent; on home appliances, by 49.99 per cent; on education, by 34 per cent; and on health care services, by 20.3 per cent.

It also reported that 88.5 per cent of the cityEs households have television sets, 61.1 per cent have video players, 81.4 per cent have cassette players, 77 per cent have motorbikes, 43.4 per cent have refrigerators, and 33.4 per cent have telephones.

However, population experts complained that the gap in living standards between urban and rural people has increased in recent years.

They said last year urban residents spent an average of VND596,385 a month while rural people spent a mere VND351,911 a month, down VND24,110 on 1999.--VNS/VNA