Making space for difference in Vietnamese public spaces: the case of the Tô 16 community playground

This paper examines the role of public spaces in fostering positive forms of togetherness in Hanoi, Vietnam, through the case of a multifunctional playground in a lower socio-economic area. Using questionnaires and interviews with users and stakeholders, we analyse how planning and design approaches facilitate interactions between socio-economic groups. The findings reveal that the project’s narrative and its participatory design approach created space for social difference in an exclusionary environment. While direct intergroup interactions remain limited, the convivial atmosphere, which developed in the playground, helped foster a sense of inclusivity. These insights contribute to debates about how social difference is negotiated in contexts where policies emphasize assimilation over diversity. They also inform efforts to understand how built environment professionals can design public spaces that encourage positive encounters across social divides.