The research on commercial streets in Hanoi: characteristics and challenges in urban management

Abstract

In many cities around the world, commercial streets are an important type of urban space, partly reflecting the urban face and vitality. In the development of Hanoi, commercial streets are an easily observable form. The study was carried out with the main goal of pointing out the role and characteristics of some typical commercial streets in Hanoi's development process, based on a set of indicators including 3 aspects and 10 criteria. The selected streets are Hang Bac, Kham Thien, Quan Nhan, and Van Quan, associated with the urban development process of Hanoi from the center to the periphery. The main research methods used include data collection and synthesis, investigation, field survey, Map Plus tool use and pre-designed description sheets, and sociological interviews with visitors to the above streets and residents about their perceptions of these streets. The research results show that commercial streets have their own characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. Based on the research results, the study contributes a basis to proposing some recommendations for the management of the researched commercial streets. In addition, the study also expands recommendations for urban development management policies of Hanoi in particular and of Vietnamese cities in general, towards more sustainable and quality urban development for people.