Integrated Urban Design: Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

Intregrated Urban Design Vietnam, hcmc

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Forward The Architecture course at The University of Huddersfield encompasses within it the International Study.

Students along side tutors have travelled to various number of cities outside of Europe in developing cities to experience how location, culture, climate and a multitude of other variables can effect design.

Designing architecture for the climate of the UK requires a method of keeping the heat in. This is the case for most of the architecture in cold climates, however within the context of a warmer climate the responcibility of the archtitecture is to keep the heat out or designed to circulate air to create an outlet for the heat.

This change alone creates interesting solutions for architecture.

The MArch course of 2014 travelled to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City formally known as Saigon. The aim of traveling to Ho Chi Minh was to create an urban study to understand the variables mentioned earlier and to further this information into creating a new urban plan which would in turn inform a design placed within this urban plan.

During our stay in Ho Chi Minh we were fortunate to have the help of a number of people. We would like to thank all the students from Ho Chi Minh University of Architecture. We would like to thank them for the Information and local knowledge they provided but most importantly thier time. A final thank you as this interaction between students would not have been possible without the guidance of our lead tutor Jon Bush.

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Thalia Adamidou George Agathokleous James Barnes Jason Hall Umar Hussain Mannan Iqbal Nicholas Keravnou Sufian Mahboob Thinh Ngo Kien Chris Rose Richard Sandbach Nikesh Tailor Sarah Taylor

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Content Location and Landmark History Religion and Culture Environment Routes and Movement Tectonics Future development Reference

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Vietnam

(The official name of the country is Socialist Republic of Vietnam) Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodiat Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 106 00 E Land boundaries: border countries: Coastline: Climate:

total: 4,639 km Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km 3,444 km (excludes islands) tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March) Geography note: extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point

Vietnam consists of 59 provinces and 5 municipalities: Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho, Da Nang

Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City) is a center for education, science, industries,

health care, culture and a nexus for international relations in Vietnam. Playing such a key role, the city avails propitious conditions to draw investments for development. Currently it occupies 6% of the natural land area of Vietnam; on the national scale, its population makes up only 7% but its GDP share is 21%, its industrial out put value is 29.4%, its export value, 37%, its contribution to the State coffers, 30%.

Capital (2009 est.): Hanoi, 6.5 million (metro. area), 2.6 million (city proper) Monetary unit: Dong

Right: Indochina Atlas (1970) Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, University of Texas Libraries

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LOCATION

Ho Chi Minh city

HCM districts: District 01 District 02 District 03 District 04 District 05 District 06 District 07 District 08 District 09 District 10 District 11 District 12 Go Vap District Tan Binh District Tan Phu District Binh Thanh District Phu Nhuan District Thu Duc District Binh Tan District Suburban districts: Cu Chi District Hoc Mon District Binh Chanh District Nha Be District Can Gio District

District 4

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Landmark - Residential Block Planned and regulated urban development in District 4 has been demonstrated in the southern quadrants; however it is in the west block that a sense of enclosed community is most meaningfully achieved. The buildings facing the main roads tend to exhibit a street-level business, opening out to the pavements and potential customers with residences above this. Such outwards-facing buildings buffer an internal block that, conversely, faces inwards to a communal area that is shaded by the built environment. Residents are provided with a naturally cool space which is protected from sound and pollution of the main transport routes.

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Landmark - District Water Tower The water tower situated on the south-east most point of the site. Despite being an inauspicious and purely utilitarian concrete structure, District 4’s water tower remains a landmark which has a unique presence in the townscape and further afield. Its visibility from both District 1 and the Reetec Tower is notable and contributes to a sense of aesthetic identity to the district as a whole and also serves as a clear waypoint when traversing the area.

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French Infuence

Ho Chi Minh, was conquered by France in 1859 and under the name Saigon was the capital of the French colony of Cochin-china until 1945. Attempts to rid the city of evidence left behind from French colonial rule can be seen in the changes of street names, but affirmation of this period is still seen in some of the more elaborate architecture within the city.

Building:

Fig Fi1: Ho Chi Minh City Hall Ho Chi Minh City hall was built between 1902 and 1908 in the French Colonial style. The building’s design is based on that of the Hotel De Ville in Paris.

Food:

Fig Fi2: The Municipal Theatre The Municipal Theatre was built in 1897 and was designed by French Architect Eugene Ferret. The buildings facade is modelled on that of the Petit Palace in Paris.

Landscape:

Fig Fi4: Nguyen Hue The tree line boulevards of District 1 were designed by French Architects in an attempt to mimic the boulevards of Paris. An example of one such boulevard is Nguyen Hue.

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Fig Fi5: Tao Dan Park The central parkland to district one, which now comprises of the gardens around the Reunification Palace and the Tao Dan park were created by the French. These green space have become very important social spaces for the Vietnamese people.

Fig Fi3: Notre Dame Cathedral Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh is based on its namesake in Paris, all of the brick and the majority of the other materials which were used to create the exterior of the building were transported from France.

FigFi6: Ben Nghe Canal The Canal de la Derivation (Te Channel) and the Ben Nghe Channel both of which were developed or expanded during the French Colonial period were key to the further development of the city.

These canals allow better watter supply and transport to the rice fields to the West.

Society:

Pork and chicken were the traditional meats used in Vietnamese cooking before the French colonials arrived. The use of beef in cooking became more prodominant during this period and was soon common in Pho dishes.t

The French introduced coffee to Vietnam in the 1800s, and since then it has become one of the most integral parts of modern Vietnamese social culture. Iced coffee is particularly popular due to the warm climate.

The main religion before the French arrived was Buddism, under French rule Christianity became a lot more common.

The law and justice system in Vietnam was established by the French and to this day the judicial system is still mainly in line with the French law system.

Fig Fi10: Latin Alphabet When the French came to Vietnam they brought with them the latin alphabet. This replaced the Chinese alphabet which was used previously.

Although French is no longer the main language in Vietnam (it is third behind Vietnamese and English) the latin alphabet and the French accents are still used.

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Landmark - Cau Mong The Cau Mong was constucted by the French in 1893 in order to help the development of the new docklands which were being formed in District 4. The bridge is the oldest of the bridges in Ho Chi Minh City.

The bridge, which is iron in construction, spans the Ben Nghe Channel at the northern mid-point of our site. It measures 371m long and 7.6m wide and is soley used for pedestrian access from District 1 to District 4. Historically the bridge was used as a location for a marketplace which sold live animals however this market was closed in the mid-2000s.

Due to the construction of the roads both to the North and the South of the bridge it has become isolated and more difficult to get to in order to cross the cana

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Landmark - Ho Chi Minh Museum The Ho Chi Minh Museum, which is located to the North-Eastern corner of our site, was originally the Nha Rong Wharf Terminal. It was built by the French in 1863 in the French Colonial style, taking influence from traditional European architecture.

There are however consessions made to Vietnamese culture, particularly the two flanking dragons on the rooftop.

The building has high cultural significance as it was through this terminal that Ho Chi Minh left Saigon in order to travel to Europe, it was in Europe that Ho Chi Minh developed his Socialist ideals before returning to Vietnam to enact them.

After the Re-unification of Vietnam the building stopped serving the Wharf and was made into a memorial building in memory of Ho Chi Minh. In September 1982 the building was changed from a memorial buiding into a full time museum.

The building now holds more than 14,000 items relating to the life and work of Ho Chi Minh.

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Chinese Influences

The Chinese introduced many important and beneficial agricultural, technical, and educational innovations to benefit of the Vietnamese people.

However, the imposition of Chinese culture, customs, language, political institutions, and at times cruel oppression and exploitation of the nation.

Jain shui is located in south east of Yunnan had has many ancient preserved buildings like the Confusion temple, The sold Gate and Zhu family gardens These buildings show some of the many elements of traditional chinese architecture. So comparing it to the citadel in hue city you see many elements which have been implemented as you can see from the images there is many influences in Vietnam from china starting from Architectural detail that was used for the windows in Zhu family garden which has been patterned on to the gate of the Citadel.

Building today in Ho Chi Minh City

Citadel of Hue City

Chaoyang Lou It used to be the city gate of ancient Jianshui.

Rice Feilds China, Yunnan

Rice Fields Vietnam, Sa Pa

Comparing buildings that have been built around the same period it is interesting to see different approaches as some buildings have mixed the French style and Chinese together as you can see the hints of both in the temple in district 4. But some have gone with the full traditional Chinese method as you can see from the school in district 4.

The Form in the Chaoyang Lou Gate and Citadel are very similar and both producing the same purpose in terms of security and functional space inside.

Spaces like elevated roofed platforms in the gardens allocated generally in the courtyards is a space used in many traditional Chinese architecture it’s a space where many rich emperors would sit as you see in the confusion gardens used and in the Citadel of Hue City.

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There are some more recent buildings in Saigon District 4 and 1 that go back to the traditional Chinese architecture style . Some of the buildings have used the traditional method of construction.

Detail on the Gate Citadel of Hue City

Window Pattern Jian Shui Zhu Family Gardens

Temple District 4

Elevated Platform re-unification palace District 1

Elevated Platforms Citadel Of Hue City

Elevated Platform Jain Shui ConFusion Garden

School District 4

District4

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Landmark - ChuaLinh Son Chua Linh Son is a small Buddhist temple which is located in the northern part of the central southern block of the site. The building is currently surrounded by low grade residential properties.

The temple has a high architectural value in terms of it’s aesthetics, which have taken from a traditional Buddhist and Oriental theme, but an even higher social value in terms of it’s usage.

The temple which is run by Buddhist Monks is used as an orphanage for children aged from 0-5 who have been abandoned at the local hospital by their parents. The good work that has been done here has led to the building becoming a celebrated part of the community.

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History

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Vietnam Historical Timeline

Fig TL1: The Trung Sisters

Fig TL2: Ngo Quyen

Fig TL3: Map showing the Southern expansion of Vietnam

Fig Tl4: Emperor Le Loi

Fig Tll5: Map showing the Trinh and Nguyen territories.

Fig Tl6: The Tay Son Rebels

When the Chinese Tang Dynasty collapsed in the early 10th century the Vietnamese saw an opportunity to reclain their lands.

In 938 AD Ngo Quyen gathered an army for a long overdue revolt and at the Bach Dang River the Chinese were finally defeated bringing to an end 1000 years of Chinese Rule.

The Ly Dynasty, founded by Ly Thai To and running from the 11th to the 13th centuries, was able to consolidate Vietnamese indepenence from China.

At the start of the 15th century the Chinese once again wrestled control of Vietnam and moved a large number of artifacts and intellectuals to China.

A rebellion took place in 1765 at the town of Tay Son. The Tay Son Rebels were led by the three Nguyen Brothers, who were of no relation to the Nguyen Lords.

During the Ly Dynasty period Vietnam (Nam Viet) was attacked by many outside forces including the Chinese, the Khmer and the Cham but all failed. In return the Vietnamese counter-attacked and expanded southward and slowly began to absorb the Cham Kingdom.

The Chinese imposed a heavy taxation and slave labour. In 1418 a wealthy philanthropist named Le Loi lead what became the Lam Son Uprising. The uprising proved successful in 1428 and Le Loi made himself the Emperor of Vietnam creating the Le Dynasty.

During the 17th and 18th centuries Vietnam was split Noth and South. The two ruling families the Trinh and the Nguyen Lords divided the country with the Trinh’s ruling the North and the Nguyen’s ruling the South.

Many wars were waged between the two families.

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The Chinese first moved south into the Red River Delta area in the 2nd century BC. The movement of Chinese nationals continued over the next few centuries and eventually a centralised state system was imposed on the Vietnamese people.

The occupation by the Chinese was not well recieved. In AD 40, in an act of rebellion against the Chinese, the Trung Sisters led an army that forced the Chinese from Vietnamese soil.

The Sisters made themselves the queens of an independant Vietnam. In AD43 the Chinese attacked again and rather than facing the shame of losing to the far superior Chinese army the Sisters drowned themselves in the Hat Giang River.

During their time in control of the South the Nguyens expanded to the South and absorbed the Khmer territories of the Mekong Delta.

In less than 10 years the Rebels had taken control of central Vietnam and in 1783 they took control of Saigon killing the ruling prince and members of his family.

The Rebels then moved North in order to lay claim to the lands controlled by the Trinh Lords.The Chinese tried to reclaim Northern Vietnam as a power vacuum began to form.

Nguyen Hue, the third of the rebel brothers, gathered a large army and overwhelmingly defeated the Chinese in 1789 at Dong Da.

Through the 3rd to the 6th centuries AD there were a number of minor rebellions against the Chinese but none were sucessful.

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Fig Tl 9: Emperor Gia Long

Fig Tl10: Map of “French Indochina”

Fig Tl11: Vietnam Famine of 1945

Fig Tl10: Rally in Ba Dinh Square

Fig Tl11: Bombing of Haiphong

Fig Tl12: Monument to the Battle of Dien Bien Phu

In 1802 Nguyen Anh, a survivor of the Nguyen Lords family, rose up in order to reclaim his families lands. Gradually he was able to overthrow the Tay Son Rebels and he proclaimed himself as Emperor Gia Long.

1847 saw the first French military involvement in Vietnam. The French were looking to expand their empire and when it was reported that Vietnamese Emperor Thieu Tri was suppressing Catholic missionaries the French saw this as a perfect way to gain a foothold in South East Asia.

1940 the Japanese saw an opportunity to move into Vietnam.

The French had control in Vietnam in little more than name and when French forces attempted to re-enter the city of Haiphong the were met with a strong resistance which killed a number of French soldiers. In retaliation the French began to shell the city, killing hundreds of civilians.

The war lasted for eight years and the Viet Minh had slowly managed to take control of large chunks of Vietnam and neighbouring Laos.

The French Navy attacked Danang Harbour and in 1859 seized Saigon. Emperor Tu Duc signed a treaty in 1862 giving control to the French.

Things remained largely unchanged until WWII began to reach its climax. The Japanese began stripping Vietnam of it’s resources in order to fund the war effort. Famine in the country was rife and it was estimated that 2 million people in North Vietnam died from starvation.

By the beginning of 1945 the Viet Minh had managed to gain contro; of large areas of Vietnam. Their leader Ho Chi Minh formed the National Liberation Committee and called on the Vietnamese people to come together as part of a mass uprising. This uprising later became know as the August revolution. With the French and the Japanese firmly focusing on the events of WWII the Viet Minh seized power.

Gia Long led his army North and captured Hanoi thus uniting Vietnam for the first time in 200 years.

By the end of the 1880’s France controlled all of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, these countries were collectively renamed as “French Indochina”

The Japanese took control of the country but left the French government retain day to day running of the country.

As WWII continued conditions and political relations worsened, this gave the Viet Minh (led by leader Ho Chi Minh) an opportunity to strike.

On 2 September 1945 at a rally in Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh declared Independence from the French.

The Viet Minh were unable to hold onto this indepenence for long. On 24 September 1945 French generals vowed to “Reclaim their inheritance”. The Viet Minh agreed to a return of the French in order to prevent the Chinese invading from the North.

The shelling was the last straw for the Viet Minh and soon fighting broke out in Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh and his forces decided to adopt a form of guerrilla warfare and fled to the mountain where there were to remain during the Franco-Viet Minh War.absorbed the Khmer territories of the Mekong Delta.

The Viet Minh laid siege to Dien Bien Phu where 10,000 French troops were based. After 57 days on 7 May 1954 the French surrendered.

This defeat ended France’s colonial power in Indochina.

The Geneva Conference was held the next day in order to negotiate an end to the conflict.

The resolution included trade of Prisoners of War and the separation of Vietnam into two zones, North and South.

When France fell to Nazi German forces in 31

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Fif Tl13: Southern Vietnam Leader Ngo Dinh Diem was strongly anti-communist and so recieved a large amount of support from the United States.

Fig Tl14: Buddhist Monks, most famously the Monk Thich Quang Duc, self-immolated themselves as a protest against Ngo Dinh Diem.

Fig Tl15: American President Lyndon B. Johnson orders an attack on

Vietnam following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.

Fig Tl16: Tanks storm into Independence Palace

Fig Tl17: “Re-education camps”

Fig Tl18: Bill Clinton in Northern Vietnam

The Geneva Accords signed in1954 led to Vietnam being split in two. The North was to be governed by the Viet Minh and the South by a government led by Ngo Dinh Diem. A period of free passage between the two nations led to nearly 900,000 refugees more to the South from the communist North.

In 1959 Northern Vietnam began a campain to “liberate” the South. This involved expanding the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the implimentation of conscription.

The USA had been keen to stop Vietnam falling into Communist hands since the 1950’s. They had offered political and financial support to the French and the Southern Vietnamese.

In 1973 the US military were withdrawn from Vietnam.

The North Vietnamese decided that the South should adopt their Socialist policies.

scale back its commitment to other communist nations.

Ngo Diem began to become tyranical, favouring the Christian community and suppressing the Buddhist community.

When two US Destroyers, the Maddox and the Turner Joy, came under what was claimed to be an “unprovoked” attack whilst off the North Vietnamese coastline the US congress passed a decree allowing the US president to used any necessary force to assist any government under pressure from communist aggression.

On 30 April 1975 the Viet Cong forces of North Vietnam smashed through the gates of the main gates of the Independence Palace.

The South Vietnamese president General Duong Van Minh surrendered bringing about an end to the war.

Reunification brought about wide ranging issues.

The economy struggled as a result of the change in political direction and there was also widespread political repression.

Vietnam struggled with this reduction in funding and so a rapid series of economic reforms were introduced, Doi Moi.

Ngo Diem’s anti- communist and strong catholic beliefs held him in high regards by the US Government.

Due to political unrest and a series of demonstrations against Ngo Diem including a series of self-immolations by Buddhist monnks, Diem was considered a liabilty. A coup ensued and and by 1963 was overthrown and killed.

By early 1965 government in the South was in danger of crumbling and was close to surrendering to the Viet Cong forces that were invading from the North.

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In March 1965 the first US troops landed in Vietnam at Danang. By December there were 184,300 members of the US military in Vietnam. In the following two year this number rose to 485,600 soldiers. In total there were 1.3 million service men and women fighting for the Saigon Government, including the South Vietnamese and its other allies

On the 31 April 1975 Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in honour of General Ho Cho Minh.

Hundreds of thousands of people who had been loyal to the previous regime had their houses and lands taken from them and many were rounded up and forced into “re-education camps”. Artists, intellectuals, buisnessmen and women and religious and political leaders were imprison without trial in horrific conditions at these forced labour camps.

Vietnam had been subject to a series of economic sanctions, most particularly from the USA. It wasn’t until 1994 that the USA lifted their transfer embargo. Full diplomatic relations were restored with the US in 2000 when Bill Clinton became the first US President to visit Northern Vietnam.

Vietnam has been on a steady incline since the new millenium, it has restored its position as the worlds largest exporter of rice and with its rich and well publicised history the country is now a popular tourist destination.

When Mikhael Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 the USSR began to 34

Vietnam Fact File: Official Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam Capital city: Hanoi Total Area: 331,210 sq km Boarder countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km Climate: Tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March) Terrain: Low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest Natural Hazards: Occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta Nationality: Vietnamese Languages: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favoured as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer,mountain area languages Population: 92,477,857 (July 2013 est.)

Average population age: 28.7 years Life expectancy: 72.5 years Currency: Vietnamese Dong Government Type: Communist State

1890 Born on the 19th may in a small Village in Annam (Centeral Vietnam) his Mother Was a Farmer and his father was a teacher 1907 Getting his primary edcuation from a local school. him and his brother traveled to the capital ( hue ) to be educated in a French-vietnamese school where 3 years later he graduated 1917 Ho moved to Paris during the height of World War I. He became involved in leftist and anti- colonial activism 1919 Ho worked to found the Association for Annamite Patriots, an organization composedof Vietnamese nationals living in France who opposed the French colonial occupationof Vietnam. He authored a petition demanding the end of the French colonial exploitation of Vietnam, His petition was never officially recognized, but his effort was well known in Vietnam.

1923-1925 He visited the Soviet Union to study revolutionary tactics and was sent to China to spread communism throughout Asia 1931 Ho was arrested in HongKong by British authorities for his involvement inrevolutionary activities and for that he was prisoned for two years. when he was relaesed he returned to Moscow where he stayed till 1938.

1945 As the world war 2 drew to an end Ho Chi minh started a organization on a large scale that led to the uprising in Vietnam. They (Vietminh) captured major cities in Vietnam.

During this time Vietnam became known as the democratic republic of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh became its first president Conference were held in berlin which partion between the north and south the administration of the south was given to the British where they allowed the French troops to re-enter the south Vietnam . Northern Vietnam was temporarily given to Nationalist China 1946-1954 Ho Chi Minh led the Viet Minh through 8 years of resistance against the french forces , futher more it then turned to guerilla warfare against the anti-communist government in South Vietnam.

1959-1963 Minh appointed Le Duan to serve as the acting party leader.

Also he played an Vital role in negotiating the peace deal in 1963 with the South Vietnamese President (Diem). However, the move was of not much help 1969 On the September 2 Ho Chi Minh Died at a age of 79 legacy After his death and the fall of south Vietnam Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh city as a tribute to him. He is known among the great heroes in Vietnam and has his body in a museum in Vietnam

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Viettnam War - What Was the Vietnam War? The Vietnam War was the prolonged struggle between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the United States (with the help of the South Vietnamese) attempting to prevent the spread of communism. Engaged in a war that many viewed as having no way to win, American public’s support was eventually lost for the U.S. leaders involvement in the war. Since the end of the war, the Vietnam War has become a benchmark for what not to do in all future U.S. foreign conflicts.

Dates of the Vietnam War: 1959 -- April 30, 1975

Prior to the Vietnam War there had been fighting in Vietnam for decades. For nearly six decades the Vietnamese had suffered under French colonial rule when Japan invaded portions of Vietnam in 1940. It was in 1941, when Vietnam had two foreign powers occupying them, that communist Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh arrived back in Vietnam after spending thirty years traveling the world.

Post World War II the fear of the spread of Communism was heightened by the U.S. “domino theory,” which stated that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to Communism then surrounding countries would also soon fall. The reason why the U.S. decided to help France defeat Ho and his revolutionaries by sending the French military help in 1950, was to help prevent Vietnam from becoming a communist country.

Casualties Estimates of the number of casualties vary, with one source suggesting up to 3.8 million violent war deaths.

195,000–430,000 South Vietnamese civilians died in the war.

50,000–65,000 North Vietnamese civilians died in the war.

The Army of the Republic of Vietnam lost between 171,331 and 220,357 men during the war.

The official US Department of Defense figure was 950,765 communist forces killed in Vietnam from 1965 to 1974.

Defense Department officials believed that these body count figures need to be decreased by 30 percent. In addition, Guenter Lewy, a professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, assumes that one-third of the reported “enemy” killed may have been civilians, concluding that 444,000 may have been closer to the actual number of deaths of communist military forces.

A detailed demographic study calculated 791,000–1,141,000 war related deaths for all of Vietnam.

Between 200,000 and 300,000 Cambodians died during the war.

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With help from the United States, South Vietnam carried out the election only in South Vietnam rather than countrywide. Ngo Dinh Diem was elected after eliminating most of his rivals. He was killed in 1963 during a coup supported by the United States due to his leadership, which was ultimately proved to be horrible.Many South Vietnamese were alienated by Diem during his tenure, communist sympathizers in South Vietnam established the National Liberation Front (NLF), also known as the Viet Cong, in 1960 to use guerrilla warfare against the South Vietnamese.

From 1965 to 1969, the U.S. was involved in a limited war in Vietnam. Although there were aerial bombings of the North, President Johnson wanted the fighting to be limited to South Vietnam. The U.S. forces would not conduct a serious ground assault into the North to attack the communists directly as their fighting parameters were limited, nor would there be any strong effort to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail (the Viet Cong’s supply path that ran through Laos and Cambodia).

The U.S continued to send additional advisers to South Vietnam as the fighting between the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese continued.

When the North Vietnamese fired directly upon two U.S. ships in international waters on August 2 and 4, 1964 (known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident), Congress responded with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution gave President Lyndon Johnson the authority to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam. This was executed by using that authority to order the first U.S. ground troops to Vietnam in March 1965.

U.S. troops fought a jungle war, a majority of the time it against the well-supplied Viet Cong.

Ambushes, created booby traps were the main methods of which the Viet Cong would attack and then escape through a complex network of underground tunnels. For U.S. forces, even just finding their enemy proved difficult . Since Viet Cong hid in the dense brush, U.S. forces tended to drop Agent Orange or napalm bombs which would instantly clear an area by causing the leaves to drop off or to burn away. In every village, women and children could build booby traps or help house and feed the Viet Cong, which made it difficult for the U.S. troops to determine which villagers were the enemy.

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On January 30, 1968, the North Vietnamese surprised both the U.S. forces and the South Vietnamese by coordinating an organised assault with the Viet Cong to attack approximately a hundred South Vietnamese cities and towns. The Tet Offensive is known as the event where the U.S. forces and the South Vietnamese army were able to repel the aforementioned assault, this attack proved to Americans that the enemy was stronger and better organized than they had previously predicted. The Te t Offensive was a turning point in the war because President Johnson, faced now with an unimpressed American public and bad news from his military leaders in Vietnam, decided to withdraw from the war.

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In 1969, Richard Nixon became the new U.S. President and he had his own plan to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The new outlined plan by President Nixon was called Vietnamization, which involved a strategic ploy to remove U.S. troops from Vietnam, while handing back the fighting to the South Vietnamese.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops began in July 1969. President Nixon wanted a faster end to hostilities, he achieved this by expanding the war into other countries, such as Laos and Cambodia, a move that created thousands of protests, especially on college campuses, back in America. New peace talks began in Paris on January 25th, 1969, as a step towards peace.

On March 30, 1972, the North Vietnamese staged another massive assault, called the Easter Offensive (also called the Spring Offensive), this assault occured after the U.S. had withdrawn most of its troops from Vietnam. North Vietnamese troops crossed over the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the 17th parallel and invaded South Vietnam. The remaining U.S. forces and the South Vietnamese army fought back.

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Vietnam War and Ho Chi Minh city Ho Chi Minh city came under the control of the Vietnamese People’s Army when the conclusion of the Vietnam War happened on 30 April 1975, among Vietnamese diaspora communities and particularly the U.S. (which had fought the communists), this event is commonly called the “fall of Saigon”, while the communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam refers to it as the “Liberation of Saigon.” In 1976, upon the establishment of the unified communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city of Saigon (including Cholon), the province of Gia Ðịnh and two suburban districts of two other nearby provinces were combined to create Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the late Communist leader Hồ Chí Minh. Many Vietnamese citizens still refer to the city as its former name Saigon, particularly in informal contexts. Generally, the urban districts of Ho Chi Minh City are referred to as Saigon.

Malcolm Browne’s photo of Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist Monk immolating himself in protect to the war (June 11, 1963).

On 10 June 1963, U.S. correspondents were notified that “something important” would happen the next morning on the road outside the Cambodian embassy in Saigon. A lot of the reporters ignored the message, since the Buddhist crisis had at that point been going on for just over a month. Only a few journalists turned up the next day, including David Halberstam of The New York Times and Malcolm Browne, the Saigon bureau chief for the Associated Press. Duc arrived as part of a procession that had begun at a nearby pagoda.

April 30, 1975: a North Vietnamese tank rolls through the gate of the Presidential Palace in Saigon, signifying the fall of South Vietnam.

The fighting continued in Vietnam even after the U.S. had withdrawn all its troops. In early 1975, North Vietnam made another massive ambush south which toppled the South Vietnamese government. South Vietnam officially surrendered to communist North Vietnam on April 30, 1975.

Vietnam was reunited as a communist country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on July 2, 1976.

Vietnam peace agreement signing.

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Americans leave Saigon in 1975.

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Vietnam’s Economic History The Vietnamese economy is one which has been hampered and fractured by a series of wars and political upheaval.

The Sixth Party Congress approved sweeping changes in 1985 which re-opened Vietnam’s doors to foreign trade.

Prior to the “Le Dynasty” period and French colonialism the Vietnamese economy had mainly consisted of small self sufficient villages, with a small amount of trade with China.

These changes dramatically improved the country’s economic fortunes and the GDP began a rapid rise. However, the country suffered a dramatic set-back when due to political reform in the USSR the Russians decided to stop helping to fund other Socialist nations.

The “Le Dynasty” period was focused on the growth of Vietnam, the “Kings of Ly” made many positive steps in order to improve the economy. These steps included moving the capital from Hua Lu to Dai La (renamed Thang Long) due to it’s larger population, canal network and more fertile lands.Vietnam’s industrial reputation grew and Thang Long was revered as an industrial and economic hub, this led to greater foreign recognition and increased foreign trade.Taxes during the Tranh and Ho Dynasties were increasingly used in order to build a governmental fund and to build an armed forces. Taxes were often high for the common people and money often disproportionately distributed.

The Trihn-Nguyen War brought then end of the Le Dynasty period and brought about the splitting of the nation into two. South Vietnam became more open to European trade with the arrival of Dutch, Portuguese and French traders.

In 1749, South Vietnam and France agreed to a formal diplomatic relationship.

Further wars between the Trihn, Nguyen and Tay Son Dynasties caused economic turmoil in both South and North Vietnam. Vast quantities of money and resources were spent on all sides and trade was brought to a grinding halt.

Nguyen Ahn (Emperor Gia Long) eventually reunited the two countries in 1802. When the rench made Vietnam a colony in 1884 the country was split commercially into two. In the North rice production was still prevalent but plantation products such as coffee, tea and tobacco were given a lot more attention. Raw minerals were also extracted and a ship building industry was developed in Hanoi.

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In 1989 the Vietnamese government took the dramatic decision to devaluate the currency so that the new Dong worth 10 old Dong. This led to mass inflation within the country but also mass investment and trade with other countries.

Vietnam became one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, averaging around 8% annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth from 1990 to 1997 and 6.5% from 1998-2003. GDP grew more than 8% annually from 2004 to 2007, slowed to 5.3% growth in 2009, recovered to 6.8% in 2010, Vietnam is now in the top 3 rice exporters in the world and is also seeing rapid expansion into new sectors such as telecommunications.

Fig Ec1: Working in the Rice Fields, Vietnam’s primary financial source The South remained agricultural with rice and rubber being the main focus of attention. When the country was split in 1954 they took different economic approaches. The North took a communist approach with the South adopting a Capilalist system.

The North had a series of 5 year plans the first of which focused upon heavy industry with subsequent plans focussing upon light industry and agriculture. In the same period the South became increasingly dependant upon aid from abroad.

GDP Per Capita since Doi Moi

When the country was reunited in 1976 the differing practices in the North and the South caused financial friction. The South was made to adapt to the North’s Communist Central Economy. Vietnam is one of the few countries in modern history to experience a sharp economic deterioration in a postwar reconstruction period.

The Vietnamese economy contimued to struggled until the introduction of “Doi Moi” financial reform in 1985.

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Khmer Rule

Fig Md1: Map showing Ho Chi Minh City’s location as part of the Khmer empire.

Nguyen Dynasty Rule:

Fig Md2: Stone relief of a Khmer Warrior

Fig Md3: Map of Saigon from 1790, showing the Gia Dihn Citadel.

Fig Md4: Nguyen Huu Canh, established terratorial rule for the Nguyen Dynasty in Saigon.

The area of land in which Ho Chi Minh city now exists used to be part of the Khmer Empire. The site on which the city now is situated was originally a small fishing town named Prey Nokor. This fishing town was surrounded by a large area of mash and swampland.

After the area had been capture from the Khmer’s the citadel of Gia Dihn was built in order to protect the area which had now been named Saigon.

In 1698, the Nguyen Lords who ruled Central Vietnam moved south and began claiming areas of the Khmer Empire, this included the isolation of the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta and the capture of the town of Prey Nokor.tt

By this point some 20,000 Vietnamese people had moved from North and Central Vietnam to the new lands in the South.

Dating back to the 1790’s the area of land that now makes up District 4 of Ho Chi Minh City was used as rice fields. Rice has always been a staple of Vietnamese cuisine and has also been key to the countries economy forming a large part of Vietnam’s trade export since the countries formation.

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The French Rule

Fig Md5: French map of Saigon dated 1892

Figure Md6: French Admiral Charles Rigault de Genouilly led the French assault on Vietnam.

Fig Md7: 1923 map of Saigon

Fig Md7: Emperor Bao Dai

The Gia Dinh Citadel was destroyed by French Navel bombardment in 1859. The city was re-planned by the French in a more European style with a grid structure to the road layout and a large central parkland area. So many European-style buildings were built in quick succession that Saigon soon became known as “The Paris of the Orient�.

The Canal de le Derivation which forms the Southern boundary of District 4 of Ho Chi Minh City was constructed by the French at the end of the 19th early 20th century. This map from 1923 shows how the canals bring more order to the myriad of rivers and canal-ways that used to encroach upon the land that is now District 4.

The Port area in district 4 was established in 1860, this map from 1892 shows how the area that is now District 4 had already began to develop along the Saigon River front and the Ben Nghe Channel.

Development has also caused the city to spread further West with the creation of the Canal de Doublement. During this period the French carried out a number of civil works including the construction of the Saigon-Hanoi Railway which was completed over a period of nearly forty years, from 1899 to 1936. .

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Saigon becomes Ho Chi Minh City

Fig Md9: 1961 American map of Saigon

Fig Md12: Northern Vitnamese tanks at the Independance Palace

American Involvment in Saigon

Fig Md9: 1961 American map of Saigon

Fig Md10: American forces in Vietnam

This 1984 map of Ho Chi Minh City shows how the city looked in a period after the American War. The city has at this point changed its name from Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City. District four has now begun to fill in the spaces towards the centre of the district this is likely to have been accelerated by the construction of the Calmette Bridge.

This 1961 map of District 4 shows further development of the area including the building of the new Ohn Lahn Bridge. The constrcution of this bridge allowed the District to grow at an increasing rate.The map also shows how the developent of the new canal allowed the south and far eastern boundaries of District 4 to begin to develop.

This city has also expanded both further North and West. The network of road that connect the city have largely stuck to the grid system that was adopted by the French when they reconstructed the city in the 1860’s. Despite this sprawl continuing the French model very few extra green, open spaces have been designed into the master plan.

These maps were drawn by the United States Army at the being of their military involvement in Vietnam. The port of Saigon was inudated with U.S. Naval and Army forces.

On the 2nd of May 1964 a USNS aircraft carrier named the Card was blown up in its dock at the Port of Saigon during an attack by Viet Minh forces.

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Modern day Ho Chi Mihn City

Fig Md13: Modern day Cad map of District 4

Fig Md14: Bitexco Town in Ho Chi Minh City

Future Ho Chi Minh City

Fig Md15: Proposed development of District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

Fig Md16: Eco-Masterplan District 4h City

The effects of Doi Moi and the subsequent opening up to foreign investment and dropping of trade restrictions have significatly boosted the Vietnamese Economy. This boom is economy has led to significant boost to building construction in Ho Chi MInh City.

The area in the centre of District 4 is not completely filled in creating a very dense block. Construction has also moved to the south of the Canal de le Derivation with the city also spreading futher North and West.

More high rise structures are also being constructed including the Bitexco Financial Tower in District 1.

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Religion And Culture

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Buddism

Giác Lâm Pagoda Giác Lâm Pagoda is a historic Buddhist pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. It was built in 1744 and also one of the oldest temples in the city. The Vietnamese Department officially listed it as a historical site of Culture on November 16, 1988 under Decision 1288 VH/QD.

It has been estimated that two thirds of the Vietnamese population consider themselves Buddhist whilst just over 50% of the Vietnamese population in Ho Chi Minh city consider themselves to be Buddhist. In Vietnam a modernised version of Buddhism in Vietnam has been incorporated into the Vietnamese civilians lives such as being strictly vegetarian is no longer a fundamental law, it has been replaced with a two day ritual of not consuming meat on a half or full moon per month.

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The temple has gone through several periods of renovation and reconstruction. In 1799 and 1804, the first notable period of renovation took place between, when Thích Viên Quang allowed the total reconstruction of the temple.

From 1906 until 1909, Thích Hong Hung, with the assistance of Thích Nhu Phòng, organised for a second total renovation and rebuilding of the temple.

In the main hall of the temple the history of these renovations are recorded on display.

Entrance to Giac Lam Pagoda representing the gates of heaven.

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Giác Lâm Pagoda, Stupa of seven stories

On June 17, 1994, the Unified Buddhist Congregation of Vietnam staged an opening ceremony for a large stupa that was built for the purpose of the storing the relics of the Buddha. The arrival of the Buddha’s relics from Long Vân Temple in Bình Thanh accompanied the ceremony, where the relics had been stored since their delivery in 1953 by Venerable Narada.

The stupa is seven storeys high, on hexagonal shape, and each storey comprises tiled roofs and doors. In 1970, the construction of the stupa began under the architectural plans of Vinh Hong, until construction was temporarily in 1975 following the fall of Saigon to communist North Vietnam and the chaos of the dissolution of South Vietnam. However, construction was delayed for a lengthy period, and didn’t resume until 1993. The height of the tower is 32 m and looks Eastwards.

It currently is one of the tallest Buddhist towers in the city and is a noted landmark of the city.

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Roman Catholicism in Ho Chi Minh City

Following the French conquest of Cochinchina and Saigon, the Roman Catholic Church established a community and religious services for French colonialists. The first church was built on today’s Ngo Duc Ke Street.

The last church was too small. Thus, in 1863, Admiral Bonard decided to build a wooden church on the bank of Charner canal (Kinh Lon). Lefevre put the first stone for construction of the church on 28 March 1863.

Originally, there were three proposed sites for construction: On the site of the former test school (today, this is at the corner of Le Duan Boulevard and Hai Ba Trung Street).

At Kinh Lon (today it is Nguyen Huu Boulevard) At the present site where the cathedral is situated.All building materials were imported from France. The outside wall of the cathedral was built with bricks from Marseille. Although the contractor did not use coated concrete, these bricks have retained their bright red color until today.There had been a Vietnamese pagoda, which had been abandoned during the war. Bishop Lefevre decided to make this pagoda a church.

The construction was completed two years later and was called “Saigon Church”. When the wooden church was damaged by termites, all church services were held in the guest-chamber of the French Governor’s Palace.

This palace would later be turned into a seminary until the Notre-Dame Cathedral was completed.

After the design competition, bids were accepted for construction. Again, J. Bourard was the successful bidder and became supervisor of constructions.On 7 October 1877, Bishop Isidore Colombert laid the first stone in an inaugural ceremony. The construction of the cathedral took three years.

In 1895, two bell towers were added to the cathedral, each 57.6 m high with six bronze bells with the total weight of 28.85 metric tonnes. The crosses were installed on the top of each tower of 3.5 m high, 2 m wide, 600 kg in weight. The total height of the cathedral to the top of the Cross is 60.5 m.

In the flower garden in front of the cathedral, there was a bronze statue of Pigneau de Behaine (also called Bishop of Adran) leading Prince Canh, the son of Emperor Gia Long by his right hand. The statue was made in France. In 1945, the statue was removed, but the foundation remains.

On Easter Day, 11 April 1880, a blessing ceremony and ceremony of completion were solemnly organized in presence of the Governor of Cochinchina Charles Le Myre de Vilers. One can see the granite plate inside the main entry gate commemorating the start and completion dates and designer. The total cost was 2,500,000 French francs (at that time price). At the beginning, the cathedral was called State Cathedral due to source of the construction cost.In 1959, Bishop Joseph Pham Van Thien, whose jurisdiction included Saigon parish, attended the Marian Congress held in Vatican and ordered a statue of Our Lady of Peace made with granite in Rome.

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Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City

Established by French colonists, the cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of over 58 meters (190 feet). Following the French conquest of Cochinchina and Saigon, the Roman Catholic Church established a community and religious services for French colonialists.

During its construction, all its red bricks were imported from Marseilles and colored glass windows made in France’s Chartres Province, France.

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Tiles have been carved with the words Guichard Carvin, Marseille St André France (perhaps stating the locality where the tiles were produced).

Some tiles were carved with the words “WangTai Saigon.” Many tiles have since been made in Saigon to replace the broken tiles caused by war.

There are 56 glass squares supplied by the Lorin firm of Chartres province in France. The cathedral foundation was designed to bear 10 times the weight of the cathedral. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary. On a whole, the neo-Romanesque architecture and two 58m-high square towers tipped with iron spires dominate the city’s sky line, creating a beautiful religious site!

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Freedom Of Religion The primary influence on Southern Vietnam’s religious life has been Chinese. Hinduism, Islam and Theravada Buddhism were brought direct from India to small communities of Khmer and Cham.

During the fifteenth century Christianity also became known in South Vietnam, predominately Roman Catholicism but with a minor Protestant following.

During the 1960’s the world was made vividly aware by the Buddhist oppostion to the oppressive regime of President Diem. After 1975 the Marxist Leninst government of reunified Vietnam declared the state athiest, while theoretically allowing people the right to practise their religion under the constitution. In reality, churches and pagados were being closed down, religious leaders sent for re educatin and followers discriminated against if not actively persecuted.

Since 1986 the situation has eased, with the right to Religious freedom being reaffirmed in the 1992 constitution where a number of religious leaders had been released from prison.

The Vietnamese citizens in Ho Chi Minh city have a governed moral and religious life. The predominant governing beliefs are a complex mixture of Confician, Buddhist and Taoist philosophical teachings interwoven with ancestor worship and ancient, animistic practices. The most dominant and and significant temples in Ho Chi Minh city are the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Thiên Hậu Temple, the Mariamman Hindu Temple and Saigons Central Mosque to name a few. Throughout different periods of history a range of Religious ideologies from other countries have integrated into Vietnam and became a part of the fabric that has shaped and changed many aspects in Vietnam. The main religions found in Ho Chi Minh are Buddhism, Catholicism and Athiesm, whilst it is difficult to calculate the figures relating to the religious indoctrines within Ho Chi Minh city the figures are estimated to be as shown in the chart below.

Popularity of religious organisations and sects In Ho Chi Minh city.

Buddhism Atheism Roman Catholic Others (Protestant, Coa Dai, Hoa, Islam, Hinduism.

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Hinduism The Hindu temples Ho Chi Minh City are over 100 years. Later the Tamlis (India) from the Chettiar communtiy (nagartar) came to Vietnam especially for money lending business. Apart from conducting business, Nagartars were religious and build Hindu temples for their practices.

In the late 19th century, the Tamlis came from the Pondicerry constructed the Mariamman Temple with a raja goopuram (in ward a Ban Thanh Dist 1).

The Mariamman Temple in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Mariamman and was built in the late 19th century.

Similarly, in mid 20th century Nagarters built two HIndu temples, namely Sri Themdatuthapani Temple and Subramniam Temple (in ward a Ban Thanh Dist 1), using Indian craftsmen, builders and sculptors. Similar to the ancient temples in India temples followed the principles of temple building. All theree temples have large ssized halls (mandspams) and inner outcome circumferences.

Mariamman Temple is open from 7am to 7pm daily. Devotees remove their shoes before entering the temples to maintain the purity of the temple.

Many locals believe in the sacred power of Mariamman and regularly coming to this temple.

The decorations of the cities and joss sticks used are similar to those in Chinese temples. The devotees offer flowers and fruits and burn joss sticks for happiness, health, prosperity.

One of the attractions in the temples is the pres ence of a number of colourfully painted vahanas for utsava murthis. They may be either made in Vietnam by the Indian craftsman or brought in from India.

The Rajagopuram of this temple is about 12m high with a number of statues. Colourful statues of Amnam, Luxshmi, Ganesha, Muruga, angels and dancing girls decorate te entrance of the inner hall.

It is the responsibility of the Authority Government Vietnam by the Board of manangement to look after these temples. All people ger the opportunity to go to the temple for pray by themselves.

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Minorities in Ho Chi Minh City

Cultural Festivals

Chinese (Hao) in Ho Chi Minh City

There are many festivals celebrated across Vietnam, however Tet and Tet Trung Thu are the most prolific.

In 1970 it was estimated that while Chinese Vietnamese made up only 5.3% of the total population, but reputedly controlled 70 to 80% of the commerce sector of Vietnam. Much of the commerce in Saigon is controlled by Chinese businesses. Ethnic Chinese controlled 40.9% of the small scale enterprises, 100% of the wholesale trade in South Vietnam, transitioning from smaller-scale retail firms to larger wholesale enterprises before the Fall of Saigon occured. At the end of 1974 the Hoa controlled more than 80 percent of the food, textile, chemical, metallurgy, engineering, and electrical industries, 100 percent of wholesale trade, more than 50 percent of retail trade, and 90 percent of export-import trade. Dominance over the economy enabled the Hoa to “manipulate prices” of rice and other scarce goods.

Cham civilians in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Today

As the Viet people pushed down the coasteal plain and into the Mekong Delta they displaced two main ethnic groups, the Cham and Khmer. Up until the 20th century powerful Cham kings had ruled over most of southern Vietnam; nowadays, there are approxiamately 130, 00 Cham people, mostly living on the coast between Phan Rang and Phan Tiet, or on the Cambodian border around Chau Doc, with a small number in Ho Chi Minh City. Cham people have adopted the Vietnamese way of life and dress, though their traditional arts, principally dance and music, have experienced a revival in recent years.

Ho Chi Minh City has a very dense population and is the largest populated city in Vietnam. At he end of 2012, the total population of the city was 7,750,900 people, an increase of 3.1% from 2011, its population is also the largest at the provincial level.

The majority of the population are ethnic Vietnamese (Kinh) at approximately 93.52%.

Ho Chi Minh City’s largest minority ethnic group are the Chinese (Hoa) with a population of 5.78%. Cholon, in District 5 and parts of Districts 6, 10 and 11 is home to the largest Chinese community in Vietnam. Other ethnic minorities, include Khmer 0.34%, Cham 0.1%.

Islamic Cham people in Southern Vietnam.

Tet festival Regarded as one of the most important and auspicious festivals in Vietnam, Tet is the Vietnamese new year which co-insides with the Chinese new year (falling on the 1st day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calander). It is celebrated for 3 days and is nationally celebrated by family members gathering in each other’s company. During this festival, people will clean and decorate their houses, give ‘lucky money’ to children and conduct prayers at their homes or place or worship.

On the stroke of midnight, as the old year turns into the new, Vietnamese usher out the old year and welcome the Kitchen God by beating drums and lighting firecrackers.

In Ho Chi Minh City, flower displays are presented at Nguyen Hue Flower Street in District 1.

Different kinds of flowers from many regions of the country are brought to Ho Chi Minh City and arranged into beautiful shapes. The main flower which represent the Tet holiday, which is thought to represent peace and love amongst people, is the Hoa Mai flower. This is not only present at Nguyen Hue Flower Street but is also lavished on streets above the roads and on signs of businesses.

There are parks such as Dam Sen Park and Suoi Tien Park which will be colourfully decorated and have a festive atmosphere as they hold activities including games and music shows which happen every night over the holiday. Door show performances take place outside many hotels such as drum performances, dragon dance, outdoor concerts, model-shaping dance, pantomimes, classical music performances, circus acts, vaudeville, and folk games.

In places of worship on the New Year day, people pray for luck, happiness and joyfulness for themselves and their families in the upcoming year.

On this occasion, Pagodas such as Phuoc Hai in district 1 are filled with flocks of pilgrims.

Mid-Autumn Festival Tet Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn festival occurs on the fifteenth day of the eights month according to the Chinese lunar calendar. To mark its coming, ornate lanterns are lit to guide the legendary figure on the moon to the Earth. In addition to this, activities involve more entertainment such as the lion dance performed at each house by travelling troupes, toys and food than any other occasion on the calendar. Celebratory cakes such as banh deo and banh nuong are customary, shaped like fish and the moon respectively.

Khumer civilians in Ho Chi Minh City The indigenous people of the Mekong Delt are ethnic Khmer, including Cambodia.

Ho Chi Minh City began as a small fishing village known as Prey Nokor. The area that the city now occupies was originally swampland, before the arrival of the Vietnamese this area was inhabited by Khmer people for centuries. In Khmer folklore southern Vietnam was given to the Vietnamese government as a dowry for the marriage of a Vietnamese princess to a Khmer prince in order to permanately prevent constant invasions and pillaging of Khmer villages.

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Sports in Vietnam

Vietnam has a long an tumultuous history which has been shaped by continuous invasions, religious and political battle and external influences.

Vietnam sports held a key place in the hearts of the Vietnamese people. In a country that has constantly been in a state of flux sport has been used as a way of bringing people together and has played a crucial role in the cultural development of Vietnam.

Constant battles with the Chinese and the colonization by the French has led to Chinese and French influence on food, architecture and culture.

Vietnamese sport is a wide arena that includes a number of sports such as football, martial arts, tennis, badminton, basketball and Jianzi.

Open air gyms are also situated in parks around Ho Chi Minh City which offer residents the oportunity to stay fit and healthy for free.

Political differences, in particular the friction caused by the differing ideals between Communism and Capitalism, have led to many battles and many unwarranted deaths.

Fig Sp1: Jianzi

Fig Sp2: Badminton

Chess and Chinese chess are played extensively throughout the city. On the plastic tables at the street cafes chess boards can often be seen moulded into the plastic.

The National sport in Vietnam is a title that is very much up for grabs. Football/ Soccer is generally considered to be one of main contenders to the title. The National Team compete in the Asian Cup and there are four national leagues.

Strong claims are also made by a Vietnamese sport called Jianzi. Jianzi has the same basic structure as badminton except that instead of using a racket, the shuttlecock is kicked over a net or to one another using the players feet. Jianzi can often be seen being played in the parks around Ho Chi Minh City.The National sport in Vietnam is a title that is very much up for grabs. Football/ Soccer is generally considered to be one of main contenders to the title. The National Team compete in the Asian Cup and there are four national leagues.

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Differing religious beliefs have also been a source of tension throughout Vietnam’s recent history.

Since the French colonization of Vietnam and the subsequent rise of Christianity in the area there has been friction between Christian leaders and the Buddhist community this was highlighted by the self-immolation of Buddhist Monks, most famously that of Thich Quang Duc. The American war shook the country deeply and its infrastructure, economy and people have done a very successful job in bouncing back from what was a horrific war.

Fig Sp5: Martial Arts

Fig Sp6: Chinese chess board

Fig Sp3: Ho Chi Minh’s park gyms

Fig Sp4: Football in Vietnam

Vietnam has been allowed to stand on it’s own two feet and is currently in a period of rapid growth.

This growth has been allowed to come to fruition by a stable period in the country’s history. Ho Chi Minh City is expanding at an incredible rate and is quickly becoming a major international city.

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Environment 69

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General Climate

Solar and Lunar Study Although the sun affects are on average predictable, its actually not as constant as it has a cycle of 11 year meaning there are variations to it intensity . There are a number of different elements of effect the earth from solar activity, include auroras at moderate to high latitudes and the disruption of radio communications and electric power and also changes the structure of Earth’s outer atmosphere.

Although this information is a step beoned what need to be considered, it is worth bearing mind the that the sun changes as much as the rest of the climatic factors.

Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate with a clear distinction between the wet and dry seasons, across the year the humidity averages out at 75%[1]. The rainy season is characterised by an average rainfall of about 1,800 millimetres annually falling in approximately 150 days, usually it begins in May and ends in late November.

The dry season spans from December to April which has a comparatively high average temperature is 28 C, with the highest temperature capable of reaching 39 C at noon in late April, with the lowest potentially falling below 16 C in the early mornings of late December to early January. [1.1] [1.2] As it spans numerous lines of latitude, Vietnam features a marked climatic difference between the northern and southern regions. The northern regions tend to be cooler with the dry season lasting from November to April. May to October is mostly hot and humid. Comparatively, the southern regions have a far more consistently hot and humid climate across the year.

The central coastline being regularly subjected to typhoon’s which destroy capital goods, which is a contributes heavily to why this part of Vietnam tends not to be as affluent as the other regions. [1.3] All of these climatic factors of Ho Chi Minh city, have contributed to the most to the vernacular of the area, with buildings that have minimal windows and tall narrow street to give the maxim shading. although there are an increasing number of building that have started to uses mechanical system to combat this extreme weather.

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Although the affect of the sun do have variation the average temperature and day light hours of Ho Chi Minh City, are more because of the geographical location of the city being close to the equator with latichowed of ?? degrees. This Latiched gives the city a similar temperature and day light hour most of the year round, as can be seen in Fig 4.1 and Fig 4.2. The High and Low Average daily temperature that can be seen in the diagrams show a average of three degrees different from May to December in the average high High temperature and a four degrees different in the averages low temperatures. also the day light hours only change about two hours over the course of the year, as can be seen in Fig 4.2. showing how temperate the climate is in the city.

As well as the suns affects on the Planet, which give life to the earth, the moon also has an affect on the Planet. The first affect that the moon has on earth is the ocean’s tides which are influence by the moon’s gravitational pull. Along with all the scientific factors of the moons affects, there is also religious factors as well. In the most common religion in Vietnam of Buddhismus uses the moons cycle as a calendar, with new moon, full moon and two quarter moons between, which are call Uposatha days. These Uposatha day are for observances, the cleansing of the defiled mind, resulting in inner calm and joy. As part of this on a festival day which would be on a full moon the Buddhists release fish into the river for prosper 72

Flood Risk

Precipitation

Cold Season Preciption %

Probabily of Preciption %

Given that the seasons are categorised as dry and wet, it is to be expected that there is a clear pattern annually in which the highest frequency of all forms of rainfall occur in the window of May to November. Notably, the proportion of thunderstorms to the other forms of rain is far greater at this point in the year.

According to the average data, the midpoint of the dry season and that of the wet season are almost exact opposites in terms of precipitation versus clear weather. Though this is the case, it is apparent that the apex of the wet season is far more prolonged than its dry counterpart.

With the ever-present risk of climate change, Ho Chi Minh City is amongst the ten most likely cities to be affected, particularly by rising sea level. Managing flooding is increasingly difficult with the magnitude of the precipitation in the rainy season presenting residents in low lying areas and central districts with a high chance of flood. The threat period is between August and October and, due to the strong urbanisation, people find themselves in close proximity to the flood zone.[9.2]

Fig 3.3 Types of Preciption throughout the year %

Flooding in 2009 and Projection for 2050 (with Climate Change) Ecposed Areas or Connunes Number of Communes Exposed (Total = 322) Areas of HCMC Exposed (Hectares) % of HCMC Area Eposed

2009

2050

Extreme Flood

Extreme Flood

Regular Flood

154

235

177

265

108.309

135.526

123.152

141.885

54%

68%

61%

71%

Regular Flood

The uniform flooding of districts in Ho Chi Minh City is caused by high tide in conjunction with heavy rain and high discharge from the Saigon and Dong Nai, however a potential factor that has recently been studied suggest that subsidence of the land is also a major contributing factor.Slowly sinking due to mass urbanisation and over-pumping the groundwater, the city may become more susceptible to the effects of flooding.

Cloud cover typically correlates with the level of precipitation occurring at the any given point of the year.

Throughout the year, there is a fairly consistent band of 40% partly cloud cover with the maximum and minimum aligning with curve of the precipitation graph [3.6].

In the middle of the dry season, for those days that are do not have rain, the distribution between partial cloud cover and mostly clear is relatively even.

As well as this correlation between cloud cover and the two seasons there is also a relationship to the Humidity. The humidity which is is the amount of water vapor in the air can be seen in Fig 3.5 this diagrame reflets the pattem in the two diagrames Fig 3.3 and Fig 3.6 Relative Humidty %

Fig 3.4 Cloud Cover Types %

According to local studies, Ho Chi Minh City is subsiding by an average of 100mm per year with some areas sinking as much as 300mm in the same time period. By 2020, the city is expected to subside between 120 to 220mm on average and with sea levels reportedly rising, the issue is further exacerbated.

Projections on the longer term effect of both flooding and extreme flooding on exposed areas indicate that 2050 may present Ho Chi Minh City with increases of 7% and 3% respectively on the 2009 figures.

The quantity of communes affected is expected to increase in relation to these figures and illustrate the social component to the impact of the flooding.

The quantity of communes affected is expected to increase in relation to these figures and illustrate the social component to the impact of the flooding.

Large volumes of floodwater in the city potentially can threaten and inconvenience the city inhabitants on the scale a large scale; aside from the inability to travel which potentially can affect a family’s the ability to earn there is the major danger of floodwaters infiltrating sewers and flush contaminated water into the streets and buildings posing health risks to the population.[9.1]

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River Contamination In 2011, tests of the River Saigon indicated that it failed national criteria for water cleanliness due to the industrial and domestic wastewater being pumped into it. The figures indicated that 62.2% of contaminants were attributed to domestic sewage. Other major contributions were in excess of 100,000m3 per day of untreated water from industrial sites and 2,600m3 per day of waste containing harmful bacteria from animal farms.

To the south-east, at the Saigon-Dong Nai basin, water samples show that there is a large contingent of toxic micro-pollutants in the sediment from various sources. As the domestic wastewater comprises the majority of pollutants, it is significant that 93% of the micro-pollutants are of acute toxicity with the remaining 7% being very highly toxic. Industrial waste, though having a lower acutely toxic component, has a much greater proportion of materials with higher toxicity. The issue of river toxicity has a greater social implication when considered against the flooding that usually occurs in the wet season. When the waterways burst their banks due to the volume of precipitation, this washes toxic material into the streets and homes posing a potential threat to the health of residents as a result. Though District 4 is presently at lower risk than areas closer to the basin such as District 7, there is data which indicates that the frequency and severity of flooding is going to increase as time progresses.

The cleanliness of the River Saigon has been of concern recently for the residents of Ho Chi Minh City, particularly for those of District 4 which is adjacent to both the main body of water and the smaller Ben Nghe canal. There is a culture of fishing in the canal which was particularly hazardous to the health before a series of water purification tanks were installed along the banks thus allowing the locals to fish with relative impunity. The inverse issue has arisen as a result of the yearly flooding; the detritus from the streets is routinely washed into the waterways in annual cycles, creating a situation where the land is having a negative effect on the water.

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Air Quality

Wind Affects

With the rapid urbanisation if the city, there is a growing need for motorised transport to connect the various districts. The consequence of this trend is that the air quality suffers from contamination by vehicular exhaust fumes, potentially endangering the health of the people.

The wind conditions in Ho Chi Minh are generally very changeable in terms of both speed and direction.In terms of wind speed, there is a clear band across the year that usually has a range of around 20mph and generally aligns with the rainy period of the year with the highest speed of 49mph occurring in early August, approximately half way through the season.

Despite the overall trend, the daily changes are so pronounced that there is correlation is reasonably loose. The wind rose fig 2.4 illustrates the multidirectional nature of that in the city annually.

The World Health Organization state that 75000 particles per litre of air is the threshold of how polluted air can be whilst still remaining safely breathable. Since the start of 2014, the number of particles has been uniformly over this level with only one instance on January 30th which below, presumably owing to general closures of business during the Tet celebrations. This is illustrated in Fig 7.1 which shows the trend of micro-particle concentration for the month of January 2014.

The year has seen a peak of 828778 particles per litre of air on January 24th. This is over ten times the amount that is deemed safely breathable by the World Health Organization.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) across a typical day indicates that the local area has air that ranges from Unhealthy to Hazardous. A rating of Unhealthy indicates an AQI of 151 to 200, where the Hazardous value is from 301 to 500 and is the worst health rating currently available.

The read-out for the day of June 24th 2013 illustrates in the morning that the air quality is at its lowest point due to the magnitude of commuting that occurs to more profitable areas at this time.

In the evening, the AQI value appears to level out at 180. In the associated commentary, it is stated that the effects of the wind and rain can strongly temper and provide relief from the negative effects of the air. Precipitation has the ability, in this case, to reduce the AQI by as much as two-hundred points.

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Around 36% of the wind, by far the largest and most concentrated proportion, blows west to north-north-west. Notably, there is another clear key component in the southerly direction of approximately 20%. The intervening directions do not have frequencies of such magnitude but are significant in that they demonstrate the capacity for numerous potential wind paths to affect a given site in the district.

Althrow he wind speeds can get up to 49mph, the city is ushaly safe from major weather actives such earthquases and Typhoon, with the last major weather scair being Typhoon Haiyan, which deverstated the Philippines in Novenber 2013 but was consideral wecaned be the time it hit Vietman.

With the Red Cross said there wasn’t enough impact to warrant emergency funding. [2.3] Averange wind Speeds

Wind Speeds

Percentage wind direction

Fig 2.1

Fig 2.2 Wind Rose

Fig 2.4

Fig 2.5

Fig 2.3

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Green Spaces

FLORA Over the past decade, the Ho Chi Minh City Park and Greenery Office reports a 50% reduction of green space in the city, citing developers ignoring the necessity for break-out spaces for both the buildings and their occupants. The calculation includes parks, flower gardens and road-side planting.

The World Health Organization recommends 8m2 of green space per person, with the city targeting 4-5m2 per head. The population is over 7million, currently afforded a sparse 0.7m2 of greenery per person. This figure is competing directly with the effects of a rapid year-on-year influx of people to the city due to the strength of the urban development.

Vegetation in the district performs various functions including solar shading and offsetting carbon emissions of the vehicular traffic. The social impact is that green areas tend to be cooler and less oppressive, resulting in them being ideal zones of congregation and recreation.

On the canal-side, there has been a considered approach to maintaining the green spaces. The flowering plants are continually cycled out in two to three month spells once their bloom is over.

They are replaced by new plants grown offsite in order to ensure that there are always blooming flowers adorning the area all year round.

In evidence within the district are Phuong, trees that have strong connotations to the summer as this is when their red blossoms emerge. The colour is culturally significant and the blooming can essentially be seen as a milestone in the year .

Due to the density of the urban grain, there is very little opportunity for green park land and break-out spaces. Consequently, the distribution of vegetation tends to be restricted to the edge of the roads and principally exists in the capacity of solar shading on street level and offsetting the carbon emissions. Amongst the exceptions to this are the promenade by the side of the canal and the gardens in the museum grounds.

In order to promote green space in the city, there is an initiative running from 2013-2015 with the intention of planting one million trees on 600 hectares across the twenty-four districts with improvements being made to existing parkland. Additionally, another 250,000 trees will be planted along rivers and canals to prevent erosion in an attempt to safeguard the riverbanks against the effects of flooding.

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Micro Climate With the large bodies of waters present on the site, there is the encouragement of a cool breeze, particularly in elevated areas.

One notable example of this is the foot bridge which is a popular congregation area due to the afore-mentioned breeze that creates a pleasant climate in the locality.

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In the built environment, voids between buildings create cool and shaded zones. There is a degree of ownership over these spaces, integrating them into the environment by installing a communal area.

Those such alleys that are orientated in a manner through which the wind can pass can provide further relief from high temperatures and direct sunlight.

Energy Structures elevating above ground level are routinely utilised as shelter from the sun. There is a willingness for people to occupy any space that ameliorates the thermal conditions to something that is comparatively more comfortable.

This is a recognised facet of culture and is accommodated to some extent in the attempt to beautify these spaces with plants that are resilient and that can grow in shade.

Energy Production

Energy Use

In terms of its sourcing of energy, Vietnam utilises numerous in order to subsidise its requirement.

It has been relatively recent that the country has began to increase its capacity not only in fossil fuels but through more sustainable sources, chiefly hydroelecticity which began its rise to prominence in 1991 and wind power which is a reasonably new sector that has been growing rapidly since 2008.

Electicity - total net installed capacity of electric power plants, thermal

Electicity - total net installed capacity of electric power plant, hydro

Correlating with the major upturn in energy requirements and production, there is a consequential trend of the carbon emissions.

Since 1990, in which the total carbon dioxide emitted was less than 25 million metric tons, twenty years of rapid urbanisation saw the figure grow by more than six times to approximately 150 million metric tons.

Electicity - total net installed capacity of electric power plants, wind

Carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) (CDIAC)

Though the energy requirement in Vietnam has steadily increased since 1970, it was at about 1990 when the rate became significantly greater indicating that the country’s economic growth had begun in earnest.

The amount produced energy has been uniformly greater than that used. The resultant surplus has allowed Vietnam to be one of the greatest energy exporters in southeast Asia, with as much as 25% of total exports being attributed to it

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Waste

More than half of the fuel usage is attributed to transport with the other half being subdivided relatively evenly between industry, electricity production and uncategorized others. The typical emissions are primarily carbon-based oxides, mono-nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compound which each pose threats to the health of people and the environment.

Given the popularity of motorcycles and scooters in Vietnam, the data specific to them is significant; despite a relatively low NOx emission, it is responsible for the vast majority of CO and VOC emissions with 70% and 90% respectively.

Since 1996, the proportion of the population

with access to clean water has increased significantly from 30% to 70% in 2010 at steady rate, thus increasing public hygiene and reducing the risk of disease and infection from water-born sources.

In terms of usage, the vast majority of 84% is attributed to agriculture with industry a distant second at 7%.

The generation of waste has almost tripled in the past decade with the growth of Vietnam.

Relating to the prominence of agriculture in the country the largest proportion of waste that eventually goes to landfill is organic materials, which makes up 55% of the total. In 2010, Ho Chi Minh City discarded approximately 10,120 tons of waste to four sanitary lanfills every day; of the waste materials, a relatively low proportion is recycled.

Summary

Temperatures across the year are reasonably consistent, falling in an average temperature band of 30°C-35°C.

The hours of daylight per day is consistent across the year and does not have the seasonal variation that is typical in the UK. Precipitation occurs inline with the country’s wet season in May to November.

The frequency of partial cloud cover is reasonably consistently falls in a band of 40% across the year.

Planting in the district is implemented for reasons of offsetting carbon emissions, providing solar shading and to improve the aesthetics of the area.

There is a government initiative to improve green spaces, however the site does not afford much space for such large scale plating.

The city has issues with flooding during the rainy season particularly at high tide.

Contaminants in the sediment at the Sai GonDong Nai confluence have a toxic component that may pose a threat to residents in the vicinity.

Wind is multidirectional with a large north-western and southern component.

Local air quality is routinely above the World Health Organisation’s threshold of suitable for breathing.

Incidental shading and elevated zones in the built environment is capitalised upon with these thermally comfortable zone being the centre of congregation and recreation.

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Routes & Movement 85

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Future development planning

Transportation Links Airport Railway / Services Bus Routest Taxis Tan Son Nhat

Waste Collection Point

In the future, there is one park that will be developed in south west dictrict 4.

The area which are located next to river bank is still a storage area for harbour.

Existing roads will be developed and connected with new road systems in the southern site of district 4.

BRT UMRT Existing road New road River and canal Proposed area

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Nodes and Boudries Landmarks & buildings of importance 3

Boundaries of the proposed site Primary nodes

1 5

2

4

2

6 8

7

1

3

7

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5 90

4

6 91

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Circulation The following is a representation of the circuation of vehicles and pedestrians in district 4. The flow of circulation varies throughout the day, influenced by the rush hours in the morning and in the late afternoon.

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Primary Vehicular Movement This diagram indicates the primary roads used by motorists.

The main roads used are Ngugen Tat Thanh and Doan Van Bo as they are connected to district one. During rush hours motorists often look for the quickest routes possible while motorcycls use small alleyways as a solution.

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Secondry Vehicular Movement This represents the least used roads in the area by vehicles.

These roads are situated within the residential area which is why the roads are used less often.

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Primary Pedestrian Movment Distric 4 has a university, museum and shops which is located along the Nguyen Tat Thanh attracting many tourist. The following is an indication of how the locals and vistitors use the area, as shown in the diagram below.

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Secondary Pedestrian Movment This diagram shows the least commonly used routes within the streets and alleyways. These alleyways are located within the residential areas and are mostly used by locals.

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Traffic intensity & noise levels 07:00 am - 12:00

12:00 pm - 16:00

In the early stages of the day the traffic levels are higher due to the university opening, shops and the people using the bridges to get to District 1. With the opening of Xom Chieu Market the intensity of the traffic rises within the site.

Between the hours of 12:00pm – 16:00pm the traffic fluency and the noise level is at the lowest point of the day due to the high level of temperature. People tent to stay within their homes and offices to avoid the high temperature and this period is often used as a rest time by the people.

Very high 85-95dB High 75-85dB Medium 65-75dB Low 55-65dB Xom Chieu Market 99

Very high High Medium Low

85-95dB 75-85dB 65-75dB 55-65d 100

Traffic intensity & noise levels 16:00 pm - 20:00 pm

During the hours of 16:00pm – 20:00pm the traffic levels rises as the people are leaving offices from District 1. They use the bridges as a connection between two Districts resulting in higher level of traffic and also contributing to the noise pollution within the site.

Very high High Medium Low 101

85-95dB 75-85dB 65-75dB 55-65dB 102

Summary Through the study of circulation within the site there is a major problem with traffic fluency.

More public transportation is needed.

Central points of waste collection.

There is a need of additional primary roads in order to reduce the flow within the site By creating more primary roads will help to spread intensity of traffic and the pedestrian circulation became easier As there are no factories within the site the only noise pollution comes from the vehicles.

The future plans of monorail will make the area more accessible and also will become the central hub for transportation.

With the population rising, District 2 will became more populated . There will be a need of bridges to connect both districts together.

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Tectonics

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Regulations Building regulations:

5 sistuations could use pavement:

Size and height

- First, propaganda and policies of the Party and State law. Time using temporary pavement do not exceed 30 days.

In existing urban area: the standard site is 36m2 and the depth and width of building should be more than 3m.

For sites are not fit with above standards, if the site is less than 15m2 or the width or depth housing is less than 3m, the house can repair and renew as same as existing plan, it can not rebuild.

If the site is 15m2 – 36m2 (the wide and depth are more than 3m), the building could repair or renew with the maximum floor is 2 (it could have mazzanine in first floor), the maximum height is 13,4m.

When the site is located in alley and site is smaller than 15m2, the house just could repair as same as an existing plan. People can not renew their house when the width or depth of building is less than 3m. The house can rebuild with 1 floor and the maximum height is 8,8m when the width and depth are more than 3m If the site is between 15m2 to 36m2, people could repair and renew their house as same as an existing plan (if the width or depth is less than 2m); People could repair or rebuild their house with maximum 2 floors (if the width or depth is between 2m to 3m); People could repair, renew or rebuild their house with maximum 3 floors (if the width and depth are more than 3m) Almost of building in dictrict 4 which is locate in study site are fit with standard size.

Building regulations when the boundary fits the building setback line.

- Second, funerals and car care point serving funeral homes. Time using temporary pavement do not more than 48 hours, a spectial case is not too much than 72 hours.

- Third, weddings and catering point keeping the wedding vehical. time using temporary pavement do not more than 48 hours.

- Fourth, car park areas which are serving cultural activities , sports , parades , festivals. Time using do not much than time organizing cultural activities there.

- Finaly, material transfer stations , waste to build construction serving households. Time using is from 22 hours to 6 hours of the night before the next morning.

The Decree also note , street location is not allowed to use temporary traffic purposes must satisfy the following conditions: the remaining part pavements for pedestrians minimum width of 1.5 meters , street bearing structure suitable for cases of temporary use.

However, there are some streets could be use pavement for parking area in the city where have high dentisity population or shops, retail shop. The strest which could be use for parking areas should width than 3m and they should setback 1.5m for pedestrial. In those street, people should pay fee (12.000/m2/month) to use pavement.

If air conditioning units are put in main facade (near the boundaryof the site), it should be atleast 2.7m from the ground or higher and should ni discharge water to the street.

Colour Do not use hot colours (Red, Black), or dazzling colours (Yellow, Orange) for facade of building.

Do not use dark bricks as they are high reflection material for main facarde.

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Building Heights Lower than 9 meters 9 meters to 15 meters 16 meters to 30 meters Higher than 30 meters

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Building Types

111

Harbour

Schools

Shops

Temples

Museums

Government Offices

Hospital

Residential

Warehouses

Banks

Residentials &Cafe / Shops

Cafe /Restaurant

Hotels

Offices

112

Building Uses TEMPLES

COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

EDUCATION BUILDINGS RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

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The majority of the buildings included in this category .The ground floor of the building has a commercial use and the above of the building has a residential use.

The ground floor of the building used as a garage and the above of the buildind has a residential use.

The ground floor of the building has a commercial use and the above building used commercialy as well .

The ground floor of the building has a commercial use and the above building used commercialy as well .

There are a few public buildings in the area ,such as hospital , the harbor and goverment buildings.

There are educational buildings in the area such as museums, school, nursery and university

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Building Conditions Structural Consideration Buildings to be retained Buildings to be dismantled Buildings to be rehabilated As noted most of buildings in this area are very old.

However, some of these buildings have to be demoslished, and on the other hand some of them express the character of the area through the bright colours.

As well, the creation of a new building tries to harmonized with the oldest.

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Balconies Balconies come in many different shapes and sizes and are located everywhere within the site area.

The area of the balcony is reccessed into the building rather and and extention of the design.

They are indiviual to each buildings but there are some elements that are seen throught each one such as the above floor shading the below balcony area.

The style of the balcony allows a sence of individuality that flows into the colours and materials used in the facard, most of the building with balconies use concrete construction which is then painted with a small amout of tiles used under the railings of the balcony.

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Doors Many of the doors come in all shapes, sizes and colours ranging from white, green, red and brown.

Most doors are creating an expansion of space. Being used as an expressive wakway into the property boundary rather than the entrance to the building.

There are three main materials been used to create door, aluminum, timber and glass with aluminum been the most popular with it been used for shutter style doors which are used for shops and cafes, these doors also create space saving bi-folding aluminum doors.

There are also more decorative doors are more resudential doorways made from timber, showing them to be moregateways entrances which lead to the main house entrance.

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The above entrance ways show the imitation of area within the property, they are both showing two ways in which the entance can be defined.

The left image shows the ramp and steps intruding on to the street area making it an extension of the property, this is punishable by the government as there is alteration the the street which is not aloowed within Ho Chi Minh City. The right image shows how the stairs or ramp should be incorporated into the boundry of the property.

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Windows & Ventilation

There are many different styles of windows some with glass some without, some with shutter some not. Shutters on windows can be closed while the windows are open allowing natural ventilation into the building. Windows are motly made of a timber frame and can be covered with timber or metal shutters. Ventilation covers come in shapes and sizes some been made in a decorative fashion.

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Wall Surfaces Concrete & Tiles

The majority of exterior materials are concrete, stone / bricks and tiles. A lot of the stone and has been use in moderation around the area. Images 1 & 4 are both stone material that has been use but only in small proportion thesematerias were seen in a small walkway and only used to a meter in height.image 5 was seen used as an interior wall material rather than a exteral facarde. Image 6 is an external stone brick used as coloums around a doorway entrance where the rest of the building used a concrete facarde.

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Decay Within the district there are many conditions of building some lacking in the care that they need which has resulted in weathering and decay to start. The Image 1 is shows how weathering and age have resulted in the roof collapsing around the edge with tiles been missing. The tiles at the pitch of the have moved from there original position, leaning at other angles along with missing elements showing the timber construction underneath.While seeing how the roof has change there is also signs of how it has been repaired. Where there are tiles missing there are corrugated aluminum sheets in their place showing signs of changes been made to keep the buildng in a condition to still provide shelter. Image 2 and 3 show wall material crumbling from layer to layer, starting with the outter leaf of concrete down to the inner leaf of brick with that also showing signs of voids within the structure. Images 4 and 5 shows how natural and painted concrete has age and discolour over time. Image six shows the decay of a window with the frame been exposed rotting timber.

Decay could be seen in walls, windows, doors of old factories, companies and poor old buildings in alley. It is because of the effect of people activities, climate, insects or poor material.

A window frame showing signs of age and weathering by the stage of decay that are seen in the above image.

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Posters & Advertising Poster are an important characteristic of the streets in Vietnam. Beside advertising, poster are used to source of information for local restidents. Therefore, when walking in street or alleyways, you can see differernt styles of advertising using many colours and materials.

Poster can be seen every where on billboards, on walls, inside electricity cabinets and on poles. Some posters are pulished by council of the city such as sign to show dangerous area and road repairs.

Some signs are made for companies or shops, such as advertisments, illegal construction company dvertising and drinks company adverts. Imformation is published on fylers for people to advertse the lost of items.

Wall are used as a source of advertising around HCMC: 1. Shows a hut of small shop in the day.

2. Illustrates the advertising note and phone number of cutting concrete company, a note that there are dangerous ahead and no parking in this street. This kind of advertising is illegal in Vietnam.

3. Shows a contemporary treatment for illegal advertising signs on the wall.

4. Shows news board in a residential area.

1

2

4 129

3 130

Ground Cover Concrete and Tiles

The left image show an underlayer of brick material which then has a layer of concrete allowingthe pebble/stones to set into creating the surfacewhich is more acceptableto move motorbikes in and out of the properties.

The use of concrete and pebbles mixture for surface cover on steps and ramps outside houses to allow the use of motorcycles to be less dangerous. This material mixture allows the motorcycle tyre to gripto the surface as it is rough.

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Cast concrete tiles have also been used to create textured tiles for partially sighted people. These allow them to know when they are near the edge of a road. Used the same as within the UK. Pavements are not always used to walk on they are mostly used as motocycle parking, with new pavement been made larger so there is more space to park motocycles resulting in pedestrian walking onto the road. As seen in the right image.

There is a range of tiles used some of the tiles are smooth surface type tiles while others are more rigid cement tiles which look to be more hard wearing when used outside where most of these surfaces are found.There is also several lines of symmertry that can be seen in the second type of tile. These symmertry lines range from two to four most shown are showingfour lines while one show two. This expresses a form of pattern and repetition when the tiles are seen outside shops and cafe assome building have different tiles showing you are entering a new space and leaving the old. Allowing each shop and cafe to keep its own identity right until the very end of the pavement not just to the facarde design.

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Additions & Alterations The additions and alteration that are shown in the images below are very simular to each other, showing how the natural ventilation areas have been blocked using brick material. While windows are no longer seen in their origanal style or at all in three of the images they have either been remove ir been replace in a different style.

The balcony veiw shows how additions have been added, in the form of a mess fence making an enclosed area.

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Shading Devices The additions and alteration that are shown in the images below are very simular to each other, showing how the natural ventilation areas have been blocked using brick material. While windows are no longer seen in their origanal style or at all in three of the images they have either been remove ir been replace in a different style.

The balcony veiw shows how additions have been added, in the form of a mess fence making an enclosed area.

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Colour Palette

The colours that are recieved when visting the site or Ho Chi Minh in general reflect a wide spectrum of colours. This table shows different thicknesses, the thicker the spectrum the more prominent the colours are. The Greys, Whites and Browns are not intentional in most circumstances as natural materials are the basis for most of them. Materials such as concrete and timber are painted however sometimes left natural.

To fully understand the colours used intentionaly such as red, yellow, blue and green is to first look at which buildings they are predominantly used on then to analyse if they have any specific significance.

The colours main area of use are homes and shops which almost immeditatly inform us they are of importance to the users. So any colour or decoration applied would not be used without thought.

To know why these colour palletes are important is to find a common area of significance, within the history and culture of Ho Chi Minh the colours in question as a complete relate back to the chinese culture. Colours are associated with chinese culture but do not have one specific meaning per colour rather an emotion such as red which means happeniness aswell as good fortune.

Red is associated with fire which in most parts of the world would relate to danger however in chinese culture relates to happiness and good fortune and is forbidden to be used at funerals.

Used on special occasions such as weddings and lunar new year, overall the essence of red is positive and used in facades and shops to bring luck and fortune to buisness and homes.

Quing is a word which refers to two colours Green and Blue which has a symbol é?’ deriving from idea of sprouting plant life.

There are many words needed grasp an understanding of the emotions felt by the symbol, for example nature, renewal, spring, vigor, vitality, health, prosperity and harmony.

Yellow is considered the most beautiful and prestigious colour. In a Chinese saying ‘Yellow generates Yin and Yang implies that yellow is the center of everything.

Yellow is still reserved for royalty. Clothing and objects that are yellow in colour still resemble a higher social status. Using it inbuildings and facades could symbolise importance.

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Hierachy of Space

Some activities of townhouse in main street

There are many kinds of space in street.

1. Building: the space depend on the location of housing: - Townhouse: this kind of house often have big main facade for shop or retail in the first floor.

Other floors are commodation of host or renting area.

- House on small road: this house could be a commodation for one famiy or house for rent like office, hostel...

- House on valley is often a small house for one family. There are two main spaces: the space is in font of housing which often is garden or drying area and the building.

Some activities in small road

2 Public space: - Pavement: often use for parking and footpath.

- Small road: often has many private shops and restaurant.

- Alleyways: this space is often very small. The width of alley is just enough for two lines of motobike.

Shop/ Retail

139

Accommodation

Garden and drying area

Pavement and parking

Mix retail and road

Road 140

Elevaton of Northern Boundary In contrast to the South West elevation, this part of the boundary does not have a rigid horizontal pattern although th school does have a sense of rhythm (this could be due to the structural grid r a a response to the local architcture.)

This area of the site seems largelt under development and seems to be a consequence of the sites history. The developmen of the highways has lead to the demolistion of parts of buildings which is evident by protuding nibs of walls which still remain.

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143

Elevaton of South West Boundary

144

When analysising the urban rhythm, pattern and scale or a site we should also bear in mind the immediate surrounding contet and how the proposed scheme will compliment the existing. This elevation shows the building parallel to the South West of the site bounary.

There is a clear pattern which can be observed from this which shows that the building are constructed at equal widths of around 4 - 5m (a). Where occupants own larger properties they would usually be twice the width (2a). There ar no restrictions or legislation which dictates what heights these buildings should be hence the lack of rhythm in the vertical aspect.

Each Property also seems to have its own character and language which indicates the owners’ agency of their own plot. Whenever there is an alleyway between the building block, the pattern is broken slightly by protruding elements (b) which are usually from the 1st floor up. This shows that althugh there is a eed for voids, the space is being used up by the occupiers of the building for its full potential.

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Dimensions & Proportion The proportion of the buildings around the site area and tall, narrow deep buildings. this tyle of building is seen all around the site and all around Ho Chi Minh City. The heights of the floor levels vary from each building many of them not been in line with the next some are higher or lower,

Horizontal Proportion 147

Vertical Proportion 148

Street Section & Elevation This elevation and section shows how the protuding upperfloors of the buildings together with the trees planted along the route provide shade in front of the buildings and along the road.

The elevation is very simular to the South West elevation where there is a rhythm to the widths of the buildings. The elevation also shows how the single storey buildigs along the street allow light to pass through to the residential properties behind, some of which have small openings which take advantage of the gaps between the buildings.

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Summary Regulations are a controlling factor for scale, usage and colour.

There are a range of climatic responses including deeper buildings which provide the buildings with more shading.

Main materials are concrete frame with brick infill Façade materials are generally stone, concrete and tiles Properties have their own character and language which indicates the owners’ agency of their plot.

Fenestration tends not to be consistent between buildings resulting in aesthetic diversity.

There’s evidence of much decay around the area with the burden of repair on the owner, meaning that buildings display various states of repair or are allowed to fall into dereliction.

It appears that with the establishment of the road on the river edge, the existing buildings have been partially demolished and enclosed with temporary and cheap materials Alley ways provide shaded spaces as well as good air flow between buildings The area exhibits many colours, some of which have significance from Chinese culture but do not use bright or reflective surfaces Ground floors are often multiple use such as shops and cafes many of which implement awnings and canopies to welcome potential clientele by providing thermal comfort

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Future Development

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154

Swot Analysis

Proposal

Threats

155

Retail

Hostels/ Offices

Hospital /Public Building

Education- University- High school

Residential

Transport Hub

Car Parking Lot

Ho Chi Minh museum

Predestrain Movement Views looking on to Destrict 4 Views looking onto other destrict and furture proposal 156

Future plans There has been a future proposal for our site area in district 4 the original redevelopment starts from district 1 and carry’s on to our site With the introduction of the new monorail and having a stop on our developing site means the city can now spread wider as the city is better connected and a result of that there is more proposal of hotels and offices Currently 3D Model 2013

Future proposal district 4

Key

Complex Land - Hotels

A bridge has been proposed which will connect 2DM and District 4 together and as a result of this the port will be moved further down the district

Complex Land - Officet Complex Land Residentail Medical Educational Land Religious

There has been some introduction of green spaces but What looks like the large area of green spaces on our district is actually an Astro turf so still there is a lack of green spaces although one of the main development has been the improvement of the canal as a proper retaining wall has ben put in place along with railings

Furture Proposal Of 2DM With The Current City

2012 canal side veiw 157

Recent Development

2014 canal side development

From image you see the paving Largent along the canal side with some road side greenery you also see the road doubled in lanes as they prepare for the new master plan 158

References Front Cover Painting: Mr Viet - Chat Cafe, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City History Tl 1: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg2p19vWhR1qabvgio1_500.jpg Tl 2: http://quangyen.vn/UserFiles/RadEditor/News/Images/OtherSite/564Ngo-Quyen.jpg.jpg Tl 3: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/vietnam/images/dai-viet-map-ly.gif Tl 4: http://img.tintuc.vietgiaitri.com/2013/10/10/nhung-tran-chien-lay-lung-trong-lich-su-viet-nam-7d876b.jpeg Tl 5: http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/topicimages/m/mc/mc_dynasty.gif Tl 6: http://travelindochinaguidehelpdesk.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/76_qtrung.jpg Tl 7: http://freedomforvietnam.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/79_nguyenanh1.jpg Tl 8: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/110224-F-XN622-010.jpg Tl 9: http://nguoihanoi.com.vn/uploads/News/pic/1250827724.nv.jpg Tl10: http://coombs.anu.edu.au/~vern/van_kien/mau/2sep45.gif Tl11: http://politicalcrumbs.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/v101.png Tl12: http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/68/125868-004-4C572ECC.jpg Tl13: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Ngo-115x115.jpg Tl14: http://worldsfamousphotos.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/budist_monk_on_fire.jpg Tl 15: http://freepatriot.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/37_Lyndon_Johnson_3x4.jpg Tl 16: http://jamehand.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/saigon-tank.jpg Tl 17: http://ongvove.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/caitao1978.jpg%3Fw%3D872%26h%3D593 Tl 18: http://www.usvtc.org/httpdocs%202/People/Clinton/clinto16.jpg Md 1: http://cambo-zone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/224408_402396959831881_1506571968_n1.jpg Md 2: http://antgct.cand.com.vn/Uploaded_ANTGCT/18phudieu65.jpg Md 3: http://www.diendan.org/phe-binh-nghien-cuu/saigon-cholon-theky-17-19-phan-3/saigon-hinh-11.jpg Md4: http://www.hcmc-museum.edu.vn/data/news/2007/2/568/gioit2.jpg Md5: http://tinouaujourlejour.hautetfort.com/images/medium_vietnam3_851a.jpg Md6: http://en.academic.ru/pictures/enwiki/80/Pierre_Louis_-_Charles_Rigault_de_Genouilly.jpg Md7: Map from Vietnamese students, location unknown Md8: http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm2/articlefiles/161391-DD-baoDai-02042013_400.jpg Md9: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_cities/txu-pclmaps-saigon_sheet2-1961.jpg Md10: http://linhsinhvien.vnweblogs.com/gallery/33592/25295623.jpg Md11: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/vietnam/txu-pclmaps-oclc-21713238-6330-4.jpg Md12: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01626/April-30-1975-tank_1626599i.jpg Md13: Cad file Md14: Own Image Md15: http://www.sasaki.com/media/files/01internationalthu-thiem-5.jpg Md16: http://www.vcaps.org/assets/uploads/files/HCMC_ClimateAdaptationStrategy_webversie.pdf French influence cover: http://caribflyer.com/carib/wp-content/uploads/france-flag.jpg Fi1: own image Fi 2: own image Fi 3: own image Fi 4: http://e-info.vn/vn/images/nguyenhue10.JPG Fi 5: http://www.saigonxoay.com/upload/cong%20vien%20tao%20dan.jpg Fi 6: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/7372129354_ec64b6e786_o.jpg Fi 7 : http://assets.esquire.co.uk/images/uploads/fourbythree/_540_43/Keu-banh-mi-deli-2-43-fin.jpg Fi 8: http://s2.hubimg.com/u/47457_f520.jpg Fi 9: http://www.xuvn.com/foodofvietnam/dessert%20recipe/vietna2.jpg Fi 10 : http://cdn.ilovetypography.com/img/2009/01/2-latin-accents.png 159

Fi 11: http://shilohlogan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Cross-at-Sunset3.jpg Fi 12: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/media/photos/justice_scoreboard_main_news.jpg Ec1: http://chucsuckhoe.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/vietnam-ba-be-paysans-dans-les-rizieres.jpgS p1: http://asiasociety.org/files/imagecache/medium/josh.png Sp2: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4138/4881223326_b29cc10213_o.jpg Sp3: http://kurtzjack.photoshelter.com/img/pixel.gif Sp4: http://www1.bongda.com.vn/data/Image/2009/Thang10/18/vb.jpg Sp5: http://www.nhatrang-vietnam.com/images/Tintuc/Martial_Arts_in_Hue.jpg_3311752008_2_S_1.jpg Sp6 : Own image Cultural Festivals Tet festival: http://www.vietnamonline.com/tet/tet-in-ho-chi-minh-city.html Mid Autumn Festival: http://goseasia.about.com/od/eventsfes6/tp/vn_festivals.htm Images: Hoa Mai flower: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/18371628.jpg Nguyen Hue Flower Street: http://hnvu.public.iastate.edu/img/Flower%20street.JPG Cakes: http://image.wallpaper777.com/Cate%20Wallpapers/8305_1280x800.jpg Lanterns: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/HK_SYP_Queen’s_Road_West_Mid-Autumn_Festival_Lanterns_01_Shop.JPG Lion dance: http://www.arlingtonvoice.com/sites/default/files/IMG_8877.JPG Weather Profile: http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=984&refer=&cityname=Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam Temperature Profile: http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c00309.htm Geographical Profile: http://nusvietnam.wordpress.com/category/part-1-geog/ Flooding Projection Data :http://icem.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/hcmc-climate-change-summary.pdf Subsidence Data: http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/14926/land-subsidence-to-blame-for-flooding-in-saigon Energy Profile:UN Data http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=EDATA&f=cmID:EC;trID:133 Worldbank Data: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EG.ELC.PROD.KH/countries/VN?display=graph Green Space Strategy: http://tokyogreenspace.com/2010/01/03/ho-chi-minh-city-loses-50-of-green-space-in-11-years/ Images Weather Profiles Fig 1.1: Source 1 http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=984&refer=&cityname=Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam

Source 2 http://worldweather.wmo.int/082/c00309.htm

Source 3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City General Climate Graph: Fig 1.2 http://www.saigon.climatemps.com/graph.php Average Climate Data: Fig 2.2 http://weatherspark.com/averages/33994/Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam Wind Data: Fig 2.3 http://www.windfinder.comwindstatswindstatistic_ho-chi-minh-city-tan-son-nhat.htm&fspot=ho_chi_minh_city Precipitation Data: Fig 3.1 http://weatherspark.com/averages/33994/Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam Fig 3.2 http://weatherspark.com/averages/33994/Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam Solar Study: Fig 4.1 http://weatherspark.com/averages/33994/Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam Fig 4.2 http://weatherspark.com/averages/33994/Ho-Chi-Minh-City-Ho-Chi-Minh-Vietnam Energy Data: Fig 6.1 http://www.reegle.info/countries/vietnam-energy-profile/VN Fig 6.2 http://www.reegle.info/countries/vietnam-energy-profile/VN 160

References Air Quality Data: Fig 7.1 – http://www.air-purifier-vietnam.comair-quality-in-vietnamqt-air_quality_in_vietnam_tabs=0#qt-air_quality_in_vietnam_tabs Fig 7.2 – http://www.air-purifier-vietnam.comair-quality-in-vietnamqt-air_quality_in_vietnam_tabs=0#qt-air_quality_in_vietnam_tabs River Contamination: Fig 8.1 - http://www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20131128-saigon-river-poisoned-to-death.aspx Fig 8.2 - http://www.sach.ch/doc/chimia/sept03/anh.pdf

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