A. Introduction and Approach

In order to echo the design contest “Thong Nhat Park – a place for all”, our team of five (5) architects and planning engineers has established a proposal solution for the renovation of Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi. We consider this contest a golden opportunity to develop our academic and practical profession, as well as to examine and supplement necessary skills in urban planning in particular, and social planning in general. In addition, we – on behalf of the community and young generations who are keen on the development in many aspects of our society, our city and region, want to raise some ideas in order to partly protect, conserve and develop this public, green space.

B. Purpose and Target

Purpose: Renovate and improve Thong Nhat Park as a symbol of community in Hanoi where will appear as a public

space for cultural, social, and historical occasions of every people in the society. Establish a new model of democratic and freedom in designing, planning and managing public spaces.

Action Target: through general on-site researches and evaluations (Thong Nhat Park), our team tend to establish a comprehensive and correct view on the site, and then work out a solution to redevelop this space. The action target of this solution includes:

Urban planning, designing and constructing: (a) basically address current issues as well as (b) introduce

new valuable items for Thong Nhat Park in (1) technical infrastructure, material standards, (2) ecological environment, (3) landscape architecture.

Social planning: Propose solutions to improve and supplement social values for Thong Nhat Park via attracting the ideas and actions of the whole society.

Policy Planning: (a) establish a management method and new decision-making system relating to Thong Nhat Park, in which highly appreciate the role of representatives from social and beneficiary groups, (b) propose a method to raise fund (in short term and long term) for Thong Nhat Park.

C. General view of Thong Nhat Park

I/ Historical period :

Map on the development of Thong Nhat Park and Map on the attention of the community over Thong Nhat Park It is easily seen that the development of Thong Nhat Park is parallel with the development and changes of the whole country. Although the site and function of this park have not changes over time, its importance – expressed in the attention and usage of the people, has changed over years. The attention rate of the people over Thong Nhat Park is influenced by changes in current era, and tends to increase rapidly in the future. Especially, we need to pay attention to the appearance of development projects affecting Thong Nhat Park over the passing years, attracting serious attention from the society.

II/ Efforts to Renovate Thong Nhat Park

Project of Disney land Reduced Model

Time: 2007 Investor: Vincom Group Content : Game, sport and culture stations on the ground and under water surface, entertainment areas ( hotel, shopping malls, bars, cinemas, underground garages) From 4 am to 7 am, free of charge for morning exercises. Charge is imposed after 9 am. The project was not carried out ( - - )

Project to construct Novotel Hanoi Hotel

Time: at the end of 2008, beginning of 2009 Investor : Hotel Management Group Accor and General company Hanoi Tourist + Investment Group SIH Content : 4-star hotel, restaurant, swimming pools, meeting rooms, amusement areas

The project was not carried out (- - -)

The Renovation to welcome the 1000 anniversary Thang Long, Hanoi Time: 2010 Investor: Hanoi People’s Committee. Content: Renovate the landscape of main areas in Thong Nhat Park, amusement areas… especially the Hoa Binh (Peace) Island with the statue of Uncle Ho and Uncle Ton. Improve and set up the lightning system, stages, green areas and specific architectures. The project was carried out (+ +)

Thought researches on previous efforts to renovate the park, it is clearly seen that such projects were not approved by relevant authorities and the whole society, then not been carried out because of reasons as following:

Their development contents went against the original roles and the using purposes of the Park (green park for relaxing and entertainment), threatening the use of green, public spaces of the community.

They bypassed and underestimate historical, cultural, social, architectural value of Thong Nhat Park. As a result, such values could not appear at their original functions, even were in danger of disappearing.

They tended to classify the Park’ users into various classes, limiting social and public values of the Park. They proposed roles, sites, and action contents that were unsuitable and improper for the resilience of the

environment, ecosystem, and material resource of Thong Nhat Park.

In contrast, the project to renovate the Park to welcome the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long, Hanoi was carried out and showed positive results, because:

The investor and implementing unit were state-owed units – which had both power, financial source, and capacity to implement the project.

The content went along with the original function of the Park The purpose was positive and necessary – meeting requirements of the whole society

III. General evaluation of Thong Nhat Park

- Has good geographic position in the whole urban area, and in the connection with other surrounding areas. - Easy access: a lot of gates which are set up along the park, good public transport system - Natural factors (green trees, water surface) are abundant and diversified. - Thong Nhat Park is the symbol of a new social construction period of socialism, symbol of unique and aspiration of the country’s liberation. - Thong Nhat Park, for many years, is the lively and emotional space of the people. - The park has a high community value ( expressed in the fact that it attracts users and visitors from various classes, groups in various types of activities). - High social value: the park is the connection among users (sport clubs, cultural, environment groups).

Strong Points

- Lack of facilities (resting tents, and toilets), services (drinking, eating, and information, etc) to serve the people. - Some functional areas (orchid garden, stages, museum, water surface space) and other material conditions (game station) have not been used properly and effectively. - Landscape is unattractive, and artificial (lack of stress points, monotonous herbal decoration system) Water environment is polluteg. - Security: some areas are unsafe (the North West area, the East area near resident inhabitant), the management work is still loose. - Lack of connection with green and open spaces (with fences set up by vendors in the Park). - Have a difference in charging system.

- The role of the community in managing and imposing decision toward the Park is very limited. - Lack of connection among beneficiary groups (management board, users, investors, and service suppliers) in the Park

Weak Points

Chances - Attention from investors - The development of transport system helps to ease the access to the Park - The increasing attention in the sources of green, open spaces, and especially in Thong

Challenges - The high value of real estate of the land presses on the maintaining the operation of the Park - Pressures from the urbanization process (environmental pollution, cut land) Improper changes will destroy (historic and social)

IV/ Conclusion:

Thong Nhat Park is not simply one of parks for entertainment and relaxing, playing an important role in the general development of Hanoi city. Thank to its valuable and long-standing values, green resources – huge water surface and good geographic position, Thong Nhat Park attracts huge attentions, sentiments and is used by the people. Social and ecology values are among the most strong points of the Park. On the other hand, this Park also remains many problems relating to the designing, planning and managing tasks of the Park; and especially lacking of the ideas and involvement of the community in implementing such tasks.

In general, it can be stated that factors, namely the social psychology changes, social changes, urbanization processes, the development of market economy are both opportunities and challenges for the development of Thong Nhat Park. D. General Vision for Thong Nhat Park Our proposal is to establish a general vision for Thong Nhat Park. This vision is the guideline for the characteristics of proposed actions. Nowadays, one person, one unit who want to exist and develop stably, need to inherit from the past, go along with the current condition and handle the future’s trends. From this judge, our team also establish a general vision for Thong Nhat Park to meet requirements stated above. In the future, this Park, as our proposal, must be characterized as follow:

Unique, cooperation and reunite: this is to inherit from the past – the need to maintain and develop old values.

Democratic: one of the most important factors which attracts our most attention and development. Integration: “integrating, not dissolving”. It is both to keep old valuable values, and access new, advanced

and diversified subjects. Peace and Harmony: peace, and harmony among group of people, minorities, religion, classes and

beneficiary groups. Stability: it is environment stability, in detail. We now do not stand “beside” natural issues – the global

warming, pollution or natural disasters, etc. on being awareness of such issues and the solutions in various levels, we can ensure the long-term and stable development of Thong Nhat Park.

Nhat Park of relevant authority and community.

values of the Park. - Competitiveness: the strong development of other parks and entertainment centres in the city will make Thong Nhat Park less attractive. Social crimes and low awareness of the people in using and protecting the Park will impact the environment, material condition and image of the Park.

E. Action Plan :

I. Renovation, improvement and new construction: ( Appendix 1, 2)

The landscape renovation and designing of the Park, firstly focuses on addressing main issues of the Park, such as the ineffective use of functional areas, the planning and landscape, security and environment. Besides, it is also important that new functional areas will be established. (this recommendation comes from both ideas of our team and from the people).

Region 1 – Culture Square: with open-are stage and other supporting structures to replace the current ineffective open-air stage. This square will be space for entertainments, events, shows and display, etc to serve for the people living around the Park. This square will function as a district-level square for Hai Ba Trung District. This square will face to Tran Nhan Tong street – Thien Quang Lake. A bridge will connect Thien Quang Lake to this square.

Region 2 – Information Centre and Exhibition system of Thong Nhat Park: in the past, this place was to exhibit things used during the war. Then, it was used as place for entertainment with low effectiveness due to the hidden from view and unattractive action contents. Our team propose to turn this area into an Information – Culture – Education centre. This centre can be the museum of the Park: to introduce the history and other important periods of the park, etc through displaying cultural products, such as pictures, images, books, and items, etc in many forms. This space is also for cultural events such as seminars, education events, etc. Region 3: Topic landscape and natural preservation: the area which used to be orchid garden and water polluted area due to construction materials is a very potential area in term of position, and ecosystem (flora, water surface) and landscape. As a result, our team propose to renovate this area and turn it into a topic landscape area, creating living environment for animal (birds, reptiles, etc) and a submarine. Region 4: Sport area: lie in the East of the park. At the present, there exist some facilities for sport activities, but the scale is too limited and the landscape for sport is not good. We propose to expand the sport area to the East of the park, near the resident inhabitant. This area will be supplemented with other kinds of sport, which are more attractive, such as mountain climbing, basket ball, etc. An artificial vertical mountain will help to separate the resident inhabitant and the park. Region 5: Garden for reading books and mobile library: lie in the hidden area in the South East area of the park where the land source is huge and the environment is peaceful and silent, but is used ineffectively, now. This are is suitable for resting and relaxing activities, so we propose to turn this area into a garden for book reading, combining with a mobile library. Garden for chess playing and Channing is also built up here. Region 6: Hoa Binh (Peace) Island: a small island in the centre of the lake, nearly no visit here. We propose to keep the original function of this island, but enhance it to a preservation area of valuable species. The access to the island will be accomplished by boat- transportation line which is in parallel with the topic-base landscape line.

The current high fence of the Park in some areas will be replaced by low fences which is about 90 centimetres to 1 metre, with the height is different in different columns of the fences. Gates are kept. This replacement is to increase the access to the Park, and abolish the feeling of separation from green spaces, and at the same time, ensure the security of the park. Private valuable and expensive facility will be protected by high fences or guards.

II. Establish the system of management – operation: (Appendix 3)

Definition of Management: is the process to operate and make decisions relating to issues of the Park. Management also includes the implementation and supervision processes.

In order to improve and develop the democracy in management and operation process of Thong Nhat Park in particular and in:

1. Units involve in the management process of Thong Nhat Park The key units: have the rights and duties to directly make decisions in the management process of Thong Nhat Park.

Management body: representatives for the current managing board of the Park Users: representatives of users of the parks. These groups are established based on the organizing of clubs in

the parks (sport, culture, old people clubs, etc). these groups must have their own operation rules which do not go against to general rules of the Park.

Service Providers: including representative from sectors, or based on the kind of the products or services they are providing, such as small vendors (selling flowers, books, toys, etc); meal and drinking providers; medium vendors (restaurants); vendors do businesses which closely relate to the park (entertainment). These groups are established, managed and operate based on clear rights and duties. The function of implementation and management of people in this group are the same as they are for Users, but at a lower level.

Participants: people who can raise their ideas and consulting solutions in a limited area and/or in some certain events, or period (ceremonies or big projects, etc).

District-level People’s Council: representing the people (hereby, they are the people living in Hanoi). Investors: units who finds opportunities to gain economical profits from the Park. Experts: architects, planners, experts in many different fields. Environment officials Groups operate for social purposes: women union, old people group, disabled people, group for children’s

rights, non government organization, etc. 2. Management process: o Management process will be in the form of proposal and must be approved through discussion by the Key

Unit (including 3 parties as stated above). o The final official decision is given out after gathering ideas from participants. o The implementing and supervising processes: the Management body play the main and continuous role in

this process (operating the Park). Users, in contrast, play an important role (raising fund, keep the sanitation, ensure security, small decoration, while the Service Provider must be in charge of the supervising the implementation.

III/ Capital Raising:

In order to make the action plan come in to practice, we also recommend a strategy to raise fund to improve the effective and stable management and operation processes of Thong Nhat Park, including:

(1) Maintain and improve the fund raising processes from current sources, such as (1a) state – owned capital sources, service fee from business services in the Park; (1b) Fee from special events from the organization of events in the parks; (1c) Money from individuals, firms and businesses through establishing a mechanism to call for such individuals, organization to invest in and operate the Park.

In parallel with raising funds from these sources mentioned above, we also propose (2) to look for and call for other sources to participate in completing and operating the Park.

(2a) The volunteer investments from beneficiary groups in the Park That beneficiary groups attend in the completing and maintaining, protecting, preserving processes of material conditions, sanitation, security of the Park through their labor forces or money will help to improve the effectiveness of these activities. This is considered a original step toward the socialization of the management and operation of the Park. In order to call on such participation, we propose: + organize programs, events to give preferable conditions for beneficiary groups to support the Park, such as the program “For a Green – Clean – Beautiful Park” in every Sunday with various activities. + in order to replace the obligatory fee imposing on users, we propose to establish a “Volunteer Fund” where people can support the Park by putting money or a suitable items into a “Volunteer Box”, or “Volunteer Account” to manage this fund effectively. + Propagate, educate, and raise the public awareness to protect, preserve the Park through clubs, groups in the Park in public meetings, etc. (2b) Volunteer supports from social groups and groups operating for social purposes: These are individuals or group of people who work, not because of economic purposes, instead specific and positive motivations and aspirations. In order to attract such people, we will establish programs, and activities in detail to serve for the general benefits of the Park, and then clarify the purposes of such program to call on volunteer groups with the same purposes. For example, the program “ For a green planet” or “ Earth Hours” “ or “Green Summer”.

(2c) Raise fund from Non Profit Organizations To call on funds and non profit organizations – who work for cultural, social, and environment purpose, to learn experiences as well as to raise fund to operate and manage the Park, etc through certain and clear action plans.

REFERENCE

[1] Lisa Hellberg, Åsa Johansson – “ANOTHER FUTURE FOR THONG NHAT PARK” – 2008;

[2] TS.Pham Thuy Loan (chủ trì) – “Nghiên cứu quy trình thiết kế đô thị có sự tham gia của cộng đồng cho các trục đường của Hà Nội” – Đề tài nghiên cứu khoa học và công nghệ cấp bộ - 12/2010;

[3] Đỗ Đức Minh – “Nghiên cứu cải tạo công viên Thống Nhất” – Đề tài tốt nghiệp đại học, Trường Đại học Xây dựng – 2011;

[4] Chử Đức Trung – “Quy hoạch cải tạo cảnh quan công viên Thống Nhất hướng tới 1000 năm Thăng Long” – Đề tài tốt nghiệp đại học, Trường Đai học Kiến trúc - 2008

[[5]http://ashui.com/mag/index.php/tuongtac/phanbien/55-phanbien/3627-su-tham-gia-cua-cac-tang-lop-xa-hoi-trong-quy-hoach-va-quan-ly-khong-gian-cong-cong.html

[6]http://vntim.blogspot.com/2010/04/cong-vien-thong-nhat-ngay-ay-va-bay-gio.html

[7]http://ashui.com/mag/index.php/congdong/kientrucsu/42-kientrucsu/711-hinh-anh-nhung-thay-doi-mot-goc-cong-vien-thong-nhat-qua-thoi-gian-1991-2009.html

[8] http://www.thaukinhvietnam.com/index.php/bandocviet/cong-vien-thong-nhat-phai-la-khong-gian-tinh/cong-vien-thong-nhat-phai-la-khong-gian-tinh.sn

[9] http://ashui.com/mag/index.php/tuongtac/phanbien/55-phanbien/739-de-cong-vien-thong-nhat-la-hon-ngoc-thu-hai-cua-ha-noi.html

APPENDIX 1: MAP ON CURRENT DESIGN OF THE PARK

APPENDIX 2: MAP ON THE NEW PROPOSED SOLUTION

APPENDIX 3: MAP ON MANAGEMENT SOLUTION FOR THONG NHAT PARK