Communities' Physical Contributions for Developing Rural Transport Infrastructure in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Background: Dong Nai province is located in the southwest of Vietnam. A well-developed Rural Transport Infrastructure (RTI) system is one of the key facilities that enable the development of the province. In fact, the RTI's concrete covering rate in the province is as low as 51.8%. While the current state-funded investment is shorted, a physical contribution from the community is indispensable. Objective: Therefore, this study is carried out to understand the existing situation, and to suggest solutions that promote the participation of the community in contributing physical assets for developing the RTI. Methods: Questionnaire surveys are conducted with the participation of 438 households located in four districts of the province. Results: The results shown that physical contribution is popular in the community, in the forms of labour (99.3% of households), money (85.8%), land (78.0%) and material (64.4%). The study also pointed out the success factors to the active physical contribution from the community, including participated organizations, authorities, contribution mechanisms, households' economics and income, rates of return, education and gender of households' heads, social relationships, household benefits from RTI. Conclusion: Based on the finding, the study concludes with some solutions of a suitable participatory model and mechanism, of training for community and its representatives, of communicating and mobilizing physical contribution, and of supporting the community's economic development.