Examining the production and perceptions of public space in developing urban environment: an exploration of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

In developing countries, there is a growing trend for improving public space which transforms the built environment as well as raises the requirement for better public life. The driving forces to enhance experienced quality of urban spaces play significant role in urban design process. Moreover, according to the new life style and social contexts of market demanding, the current political systems and design styles have to be shifted and adapted so that the quality of these planning can meet the need of local citizens. Additionally, in the light of encouraging human interaction with urban environment, the design for public space raises the awareness of both public and private developers as well as local authorities and professionals in planning. The role of each of stakeholders during planning process may give the opportunities for these spaces to have an attractive appearance, exciting activities, and successful formulated design as well as involving all people. The study takes place around the feature of walkable streets as public spaces which associated to the discovered and investigation of two pedestrian streets in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This research contributes to the discussion that investigates the nature of planning and control in decision making process in the Southeast Asian’s socialism country. Furthermore, the study tends to explore social influences involving within the management of local authorities, the meaning of places and people’ perceptions on these public spaces. By using the combination of qualitative, quantitative and case study approaches, the research tends to answer how the triad (local authorities, planning professionals, and developers) deals with design planning for public spaces, the perceived of public space and the perception of users while these public spaces are being transformed. The result of this study not only contributes to the fields of urban design in Vietnam (which is very new in this country), but also it raises the awareness to the design for public space through the lens of all stakeholders involve in these places in the context of Southeast Asian cultures and different management system.