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Defending Public Spaces: Linking Urban Planning and Ecocities in Hanoi

Introduction

This small project is based on the results of HBV’s initial investigation of the current situation and existing policies related to the promotion of a “healthy city” in Hanoi. It seeks to raise public and government awareness of the importance of maintaining and expanding public spaces for human well-being.

Like many other cities in developing countries, Hanoi is undertaking a quick urbanization process. The city has enjoyed rapid economic growth and has seen a lot of changes in recent years. Some of the changes have improved people’s living standards, but some have resulted in negative effects, especially towards people’s living environment. One of these negative effects has been the constant erosion of clean and accessible public spaces where residents can get away from the traffic and pollution that characterizes the city. Although several international development agencies (such as Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Japan International Development Agency (JICA), the EU, Ile de France) are assisting the Vietnamese Government to upgrade its municipal transportation infrastructure and urban planning and to reduce noise and air pollution in big cities, none are addressing the issue of making urban environments more people-friendly.

HealthBridge Vietnam’s initial situational analysis in Hanoi identified problems, opportunities, and resources available to lay the groundwork for future HBV activities related to a healthy urban living environment. The activities that followed the situational analysis generated several notable results, including (i) increased awareness of the current situation, problems and policy in Hanoi related to urban planning and healthy cities; (ii) increased public support to improving the urban environment; (iii) the identification of potential partners; and (iv) improved capacity of the HBV project team to work in the field of ecocities. Of particular note was the successful launch and undertaking of the “Save Lenin Park” campaign, which resulted in the municipal government blocking plans to turn the park into a “Disneyland-type” venue.

The final report from this initial project recommended that HealthBridge continue to work in the field of ecocities, with priority given to improving, protecting, and expanding the city’s public spaces. The Vietnam Urban Planning Association, a highly credible professional association, has given its support to HBV’s work in this area. HealthBridge Vietnam applied to, and received funding from, the Danish Embassy to support the travel of Jan Gehl, a world-renowned Dutch architect and author of Life between Buildings, to Vietnam to launch the publication of his book in Vietnamese and to hold public seminars on the issue of people-focused urban planning. HBV also received funding from the Dutch Arts Council to cover the costs of translating the book from Danish into Vietnamese.

Objectives

The overall objective of this project is to raise public and government knowledge of the importance of maintaining and expanding public spaces for human well-being.

Its specific objectives are to:

To improve public and government awareness of public space issues in Hanoi.
To increase the number of organizations addressing public space issues in Hanoi.
To increase funding support for work on Ecocities in Hanoi.

Results

Objective 1: To improve public and government awareness of public space issues in Hanoi.

Book on public spaces in Hanoi written and ready for publication.
Prime Minister’s Office reversed earlier approval to build Novotel Park Hotel in Reunification Park.

Objective 2: To increase the number of organizations addressing public space issues in Hanoi.