A number of provinces in the Mekong Delta region were cited among the top five provinces on the list, including Kien Giang (63.55 points, 3rd) and Dong Thap (63.35 points, 5th).
HCM City – the economic hub of the south – leapt up three steps to make it into the 2013 PCI’s top ten.
The central province of Thua Thien Hue secured 65.56 points and 2nd position, while the northern province of Quang Ninh ranked fourth, eking out 63.51 points.
Many northern mountainous provinces were listed among those with the lowest PCI.
