| Abstract | Rapid economic growth, as a result of economic reforms, has commonly brought the unintended outcome of increasing socio-spatial differentiation and unequal neighborhood development in post-socialist cities. In Vietnam, since economic renovation (Doi Moi) in 1986, rapid economic growth and socio-economic stratification have created differentiation in housing development and neighborhood governance in the cities. Through qualitative and quantitative research methods using a case study of four communities in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in Southern Vietnam, this research explains and understands how urban development under economic transition has resulted in various models of neighborhood governance associated with different residential areas in the city. The main motivation of this research is to understand the relations and interactions of different stakeholders in the neighborhood governance in Doi Moi context and to have a better grasp of the dynamics of these relations as it is played out in the arena of decision making, planning and governance of neighborhood amenities at the community level. The research type, therefore, is narrative, descriptive, explanatory, comparative and understanding in investigating different neighborhood governance models. While narrative method is used to historically reconstruct neighborhood governance in pre-Doi Moi period, descriptive one attempts to describe it in four residential neighborhoods in the present. Then, comparative study aims to compare these four models, as well as compare to that in pre-Doi Moi period. At the same time, the research tries to explain the contextual factors for the diversification of neighborhood governance models, as well as understand the trends and implications of neighborhood governance on present overall urban development. Data collection and data analysis employ both qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as secondary documentary research. The research finds out that since Doi Moi, together with socio-economic growth and urban development in HCMC, there has been a shift from unified state-administered neighborhood governance prior to Doi Moi to a segmented models of neighborhood governance in different residential areas in which the role of the state has been loosening from dominance to cooperation with community and civil society organization, joint¬management with private collective, or delegation to the private business. Fundamental neighborhood changes in HCMC have resulted from transformations in the Vietnam's broader political economy and particular shifts in economic and social policies. Foremost among these are the transformation of the economy from centrally planned to market-based model guided by socialist ideology, private sector development and opening up the economy to international investments. Further, the broader context of political reforms during Doi Moi, particularly decentralization and enhancement of grassroots democracy have lead to enhanced involvement of CSOs and private for-profit groups in housing and neighborhood development and governance. In this broad context, the state-centric and exclusive exercise of authority and administration have loosened and opened for various forms of collaborative relationship and delegation of functions in neighborhood governance to non-state entities. The findings prove the complicated development of urban neighborhoods under the context of transition economies. Thus, this research is an example to open a new look on neighborhood governance in transitional economies context |