Development strategies for public space post-pandemic: A case study of Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City in the global context

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic imposes huge challenges on urban development with its impacts on reshaping cities. Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam is a typical mega-city with high population density coping with urban infrastructural issues. As social distancing and restrictions on the use of public space have been the key measures to deal with the pandemic, the communal areas in HCMC have been affected from both social and urban design aspects. The paper aims to explore the impacts during and after the COVID-19 epidemic on the public space in HCMC with the case study of four apartment residences in four different districts. It is carried on with 400 surveys and in-depth interviews with the apartment managers. Then, the case of public space in HCMC will be discussed to have a specific look into the issues in the global context. The article argues that despite the consequences of the pandemic to public areas, citizens’ need for these types of city elements persists. Finally, it provides suggestions for reshaping post-pandemic public spaces in both societies’ perception and urban planning strategy.