Translocal livelihoods and urban resilience: A systematic review and research potential implications in Vietnam

Abstract

Translocal livelihoods constitute not merely a migration strategy but an effective risk-distribution system for laborers within volatile urban environments. They play a pivotal role in elucidating how the circulation of resources and people shapes sustainable urban development. However, current urban policies tend to focus exclusively on physical infrastructure, often neglecting the significance of informal resource flows across various localities. Furthermore, there remains a deficiency in systematic analyses within scientific discourses concerning the nexus between translocal livelihoods and urban resilience. Employing a systematic review methodology based on the Scopus database, this study reveals that translocal connectivity bolsters the social infrastructure of cities. Households engaging in translocal livelihoods tend to exhibit accelerated recovery following disruptive events. Drawing from these findings, the study proposes policy implications for urban development in Vietnam, emphasizing the integration of migration into adaptive urban planning strategies to optimize social resources. Most importantly, recognizing the legitimacy of translocal livelihoods is identified as a cornerstone for fostering more resilient and inclusive Vietnamese cities in the future.