Hanoi deals with shortage of public recreational spaces

However, changes to Hanoi 's urban landscape may soon be on the horizon. In many places, urban areas and apartment buildings have been built without due attention to infrastructure, public space and population density, leading to residents living in cramped environments.

Not only parks, even sidewalks, lakeside roads and public benches are being encroached upon to become places selling iced tea, causing annoyance and environment pollution.

According to the municipal People’s Committee , the city is now home to 63 public parks and gardens managed by the municipal and district authorities. In addition, there are parks and gardens managed by investors of urban areas.

Among five parks under the management of the city, four are under an upgrade plan, namely Thong Nhat, Thu Le, Bach Thao and Hoa Binh parks.

The city will also renovate 45 other parks which are managed by districts between now and 2025.

Construction of nine other parks is being accelerated, including Chu Van An park covering nearly 51ha in Thanh Tri district, 99ha Kim Quy park in Dong Anh district, a 96.7ha cultural park for entertainment and sports in Ha Dong district, CV1 reservoir park in Cau Giay and Nam Tu Liem districts, and Phung Khoang park in Nam Tu Liem district, and others.

This year, authorities of districts and wards will continue carrying out the renovation of 11 gardens and one park, namely Co Tan, Bac Co, Tao Dan, 19/8 gardens in Hoan Kiem district; Le Truc, Hoang Dieu, Phan Dinh Phung and Thanh Cong gardens in Ba Dinh district; Ly Tu Trong garden in Tay Ho district; Pasteur, Yersin and Tang Bat Ho gardens in Hai Ba Trung district.

The municipal authorities assigned the Department of Construction to hold an inter-sectoral meeting to make proposals on the renovation and upgrade of Bach Thao, Thu Le and Thong Nhat parks which will span around 10ha, 18.7ha and 55.7ha, respectively.

Parks that are being built now face difficulties in site clearance, adjustment planning and capital.

The municipal authorities directed the Construction Department and authorities of districts and wards to regularly urge investors to complete the handover of parks and gardens to serve the public.

In case investors fail to fulfill the investment commitments, the investment licences will be revoked to call for other investors or switch to public investment. For parks within urban areas, the municipal authorities instructed relevant departments and agencies to urge developers to complete the construction and hand over the completed works for public use.

According to Permanent Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Le Hong Son, in order to encourage public involvement and reduce investment and management costs of parks, the Party board of the municipal Party Committee proposed the Government assign the ministries of Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, and Construction to provide guidance on supporting investment in building parks and gardens. The city also encouraged organisations and individuals to invest in parks in line with the planning.

The city will also call for social investment in thematic parks. For public parks, only technical infrastructure will be built while green spaces will increase, thereby reducing investment and maintenance costs./.