Ho Chi Minh City elects new mayor

Ho Chi Minh City elects new mayor

HANOI (AFP): Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee said yesterday it had elected Vo Viet Thanh as mayor to shepherd Vietnam's biggest city into the 21st century.

As chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee, a job he will hold for five years, Thanh will face considerable challenges in managing a city of more than five million people.

Since he became acting mayor last year, Ho Chi Minh City has been planning an ambitious urban relocation plan that could see more than 500,000 people moved from the center to the suburbs.

He will also face financial challenges as the city council has said its budget collections have fallen behind schedule this year.