Vietnam in a Transition Time

Trang Đỗ
Sep 20, 2022
6 min read

Viet Nam is growing rapidly. One example is Ho Chi Minh city, a “mega city” identified for its rapid urbanization and economic development.

ree — Dense urban area in district 1, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

Along with the fast development are many problems. For this post, I will specifically discuss four topics: the preservation of historical buildings, environmental issues, the needs of public spaces and mental health.

These topics include some of the most relevant issues of Ho Chi Minh city that I have experienced personally as a resident.

Being a design practitioner, I always ask myself - “How do my designs response to the contemporary issues of the city?”

The Challenges

🏛️ Heritage preservation

First is the preservation of historical buildings. Research shows that more than a third of the Vietnamese city’s historic buildings have been destroyed over the past 20 years [1].

Architectural historian Mel Schenck estimates around 80% of the city is built in southern Vietnam modernist style - a vernacular architecture that speaks the identity, culture, and history of Southern Vietnam in the mid-twentieth century [1]. According to Schenck, this Vietnamese architectural movement “accommodated the tropical climate and reflected the identity of a newly-independent culture.”

ree — A Southern Modernist building, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

In Ho Chi Minh city, many important landmarks have already been recognized and preserved. However, smaller-scale buildings in modernist architecture are under the radar and being torn down for modern skyscrapers [1]. The practice of demolishing and constructing a new building can be costly and create negative impact to the environment, namely air and noise pollution [2]. More importantly, the city lost some of the most important historical artifacts along the way.

Though not a direct response to the preservation issue, many businesses are renovating and repurposing these mid-twentieth century buildings into restaurants, cafes, creative spaces and even homestay services. These interventions are more cost-effective and sustainable [2]. In my view, this practice also enriches the culture of the city by adding a contemporary layer on the historical buildings.

ree — Renovated café space by NEO-, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

In short, repurposing old buildings can help to preserve the historical values of the city and create new cultural values. As a designer, it is important to support these types of design and raise awareness of heritage preservation among the city dwellers.

🤼 The need for public spaces

According to Jan Gehl, public space is everything that can be considered part of the built environment - streets, alleys, buildings, square and bollards. Public life, is understood as everything that takes place between buildings - standing, sitting, walking, biking, etc [3]. Public space is where the public life takes place. “[…] it contains the interplay between life and space in all its guise” [3].

ree — Fully occupied sidewalk in Thu Thiem new urban area, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

Public areas provide public access for everyone and shape community ties in neighborhoods. They are places of encounter, stimulate actions and help prevent crime. Moreover, public spaces are the most important space for socially vulnerable residents, namely low-income residents, children, youth and seniors living alone [4].

Ho Chi Minh city, however, is lacking public space. It is estimated to has just 0.55 sqm of public park per resident, compared to 30.3 sqm per person in Singapore and 41 sqm per person in Seoul [5].

A normal evening at Ton Duc Thang street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

I often see most of the city population flood to central districts for relief and entertainment, such as District 1 or District 3. Meanwhile, there are so many potential public spaces in other parts of the city that are underused or underdeveloped. As a result, the lack of public space contributes to the increasing pressure in the central districts, especially during weekends or holidays.

Responding to this issue, many solutions have been put on the table. Such as focusing on decentralized and smaller-scale public spaces; making use of spaces near river banks; or renovating abandoned spaces [6]. Other aspects of public space that should be considered are designing inclusive space for the disabled, creating usable green public spaces, promoting sidewalk for pedestrians or designs that support commercial activities - i.e vendors and markets [6].

Public spaces are the living room of the city. As a designer, it is important that we seek opportunity to improve the public life, thus, enhances social bonds and nurtures the city culture.

ree — A public park near Saigon river, district 1, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

ree — A lively community space in Nguyen Thai Binh apartment, district 1, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

🌳 Environmental-friendly design

A growing city means that there will be more people, more transportation vehicles and produce more waste.

The first problem is the lack of green space in the city. The average rate of greenery per capita in the city is around 2sqm, while each urban dweller needs around 9sqm of green space to ensure a healthy life, according to WHO [7].

For a compact city like HCMC, there are opportunities for smaller green spaces beside large parks [6]. These pocket gardens can be placed between buildings or across the street, that serves as places of refuge from the bustling city and provides ‘daily dose’ of nature for the residents.

Secondly, plastic waste is one of the most significant issues of Vietnam’s big cities [8]. In 2020, Vietnam is the world’s 11th biggest contributor to mismanaged plastic waste, meaning plastic ends up in the environment rather than being dealt with [8]. This has led to serious economic, environmental, and social consequences [9].

Dealing with plastic waste issues, the concept of circular economy is introduced. The circular economy is a practice that reduces waste to a minimum and create further values by reusing, repairing and recycling existing material and products [10].

ree — Recycled plastic box with terrazzo texture by Plastic People. Photograph by author, 2022

In Ho Chi Minh city, the circular economy is slowly taking shape. It is rooted in our traditional house holds to find ways to creatively reuse a product, thus, saving cost and resource. Today, many entrepreneurs take this practice to a larger scale by upcycling waste into construction materials, or turning thrown away objects into a unique and well-function furniture. Designers are also constantly raising awareness about waste management and environmental issues in the city.

ree — A creatively assembled table lamp using thrown away parts. Photograph by author, 2022

As designers, we have the power to influence people’s decision with meaningful designs. Through small interventions such as designing a small garden, finding ways to creatively reuse an old chair, or telling people to reduce plastic waste through meaningful artwork, we are helping the city to be more sustainable in our own ways.

💗 Design for Mental health

A healthy mind is one of the vital needs of human to live happily, productively and meaningfully. However, mental health disorders are affecting 15% of Vietnamese population, especially children and youth according to the Ministry of Health and UNICEF [11].

Stress are often found in our most familiar places. Due to stress at school and at home, many youth have been found to damage themselves physically [11]. In office, chronic stress is causing physical and mental problems to many workers [12]. Depression, anxiety and schizophrenia are among the most common mental illnesses [13].

Dealing with mental health issues, design can help to reduce the stress level by positively influencing its user. The notion of therapeutic design refers to design that is conducive to the mental health, wellbeing and rehabilitation of its residents [14]. In spatial, design elements such as natural lighting; reduced noise levels; access to gardens and nature, have seen to improve the mental wellbeing of its users [14]. Graphic and media can also engage with people’s experience through storytelling and communication.

A green area at University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh city. Photograph by author, 2022

Design for mental health acts as the backbone that support the city - it nurtures the people - from reducing the stress level, fighting social stigma to raising awareness on mental health issues. By engaging with its user at a more personal and intimate level, design for mental health supports the happiness of the city dweller.

Conclusion

One of the fastest growing cities in Vietnam is Ho Chi Minh city. Along with the fast development are many relevant issues such as preservation of historical buildings, environmental issues, the needs of public spaces and mental health.

These obstacles, however, are opportunities for the new generation of creatives to step in and participate in the making of city. Our response to these contemporary issues, and many more to come, will lay the foundation that defines the future of the city. This is the reason why I think Vietnamese big cities are in an important transition.

During this transition phase, design the city is no longer the sole responsibility of urban planners and city leaders, but everyone - especially the young generation - should be considered as important stakeholders. By contributing in the making of city in our unique ways, we can create a livable city: a city for people, a city of sustainability and creativity.