title: The Greening of Hanoi: Towards a Liveable Capital City, A study of the Cultural Context of Open Space Planning
Creators: name: Nguyen, Lien Thi Hoang
Publisher: name: Griffith University
Year: 2010
Subjects: subject: Open space and liveability
subject: Urban planning
subject: Open space planning
subject: Hanoi urban development
subject: Vietnam urban development

description: This study has two main objectives, namely: (1) to examine the relationship between open space and liveability; and (2) to investigate the difference between Eastern and Western views of open space planning which may lead to different liveable outcomes. To achieve the first objective, the literature on open space, sustainability and liveability issues related to urban planning, was reviewed and assessed. A review of the literature showed that open space can perform many functions for society and provides several benefits. Quality open space is a key factor in making urban centres attractive and viable places in which to live. Open space plays an important role in improving the quality of life and the liveability of urban communities largely through the design, management and maintenance of the open space system. It was concluded that there is a close relationship between open space and liveability. The review of literature also demonstrated that liveability has now gained importance within the community and become a desired goal of contemporary urban planning. However, the term liveability is broad and often its achievement is seen as an ideal. It is not easy to measure liveability as it integrates several issues that can be considered in social, economic and environmental contexts. Indicators of liveability have been recognised as an useful technique that can help to determine this difficulty. The research also introduced a set of open space indicators which can be used as surrogate indicators to evaluate the achievement of the planning goal of liveability. Open space indicators were organised in economic, environmental and social categories which are common standards used to organise indicators of liveability. These indicators were developed and applied in the To achieve the second objective, Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam was selected as the case study. Hanoi was selected as the case study because during its long history, the city has experienced many different cultures including Chinese, French, Soviet and other contemporary influences. The review of the case study showed that the various fragmented historical and cultural periods of influence have generated different approaches to urban planning and provision of open space. These differences are still evident in present day Hanoi City. Furthermore, the study also examined how these differences have led to different liveable outcomes. To do this, an evaluation framework was developed to assess whether a planning process was utilised during each discrete planning phase which could have placed the city on a pathway towards achieving its liveability objectives. Several criteria were developed to form the basis of the evaluation framework. A set of proposed indicators relating to open space provided the framework for this evaluation. The analysis of the case study concluded that although representative plans for each historical period highly valued open space, none of these plans met all the evaluation criteria. The analysis also highlighted the limitations of each plan which needed to be considered in order to achieve effective planning. Findings of this study will contribute to the research literature on the fields of planning for liveability and urban open space. They will also help to inform the city government, planners and communities of Hanoi City about issues related to city planning and provision of open space from the past to the present. In this manner, this study makes a contribution towards a “greener” Hanoi in a more liveable capital city. The study has also introduced guiding principles for planners to apply in situations beyond the case study.