I live in a small city called Hải Dương, which is about 40 kilometers from Hà Nội. It has a population of about 4 million people, and because it's located on the edge of the Red River, many people commute to and from Hà Nội by ferry every day. The city has enjoyed rapid development over the past few decades. New buildings and shopping centers are quickly replacing older establishments, and many of the old streets have been widened to accommodate the number of cars and people going to and from the city center. The advantages of living here are that it's close to Hà Nội, only 40 minutes by bus, and there are lots of opportunities for young people who want to work in the city. Also, because it's a relatively small city, there are not as many cars as there are in Hà Nội or other bigger cities like Đà Nẵng or Hồ Chí Minh City. Although this means that the traffic isn't as bad, it also means that you can't get everywhere by bus or taxi; sometimes you have to use your own car or ride a motorcycle.