Another factor contributing to the rise of personal wealth and productivity in Vietnam appears to be their less restrictive zoning rules. Vietnam's urban and peri-urban areas are filled with long strips of multi-story, very narrow houses facing the roads, and in most of these properties, the bottom floor is being used as a business by the owners, providing everything from snack shops to tiny petrol stations for the scooters. This freedom of zoning means any family with a home next to a road can potentially earn an income from their property. In contrast, South African property values are closely tied to location, and residential neighborhoods tend to resist non-residential uses in their midst. South Africa's zoning regulations are designed to protect the rights of property owners from the (real or perceived) impact of non-residential uses of properties in residential areas, not only on their living conditions, but also on their property values.