Smart and Creative Cities in Vietnam: Revitalizing Heritage Place, the Future of the Past

BACKGROUND: The project draws from disciplines such as cultural studies, human geography, heritage studies. It is also informed by Vietnam’s manifesto to invest in the creative and cultural industries in Ho Chi Minh City. Our work combines academically rigorous work, drawing from the above-mentioned disciplines, with designs created by teams of students and lecturers during a three-week workshop. The work was supervised by members of S&A Architecture/SCE Project – Asia. Our research asks: how can we use humanities-based research as the catalyst for the preservation of cultural heritage and development of the creative/cultural industries in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam? CONTRIBUTION: The work presents four sections (Urban Regeneration, Ho Chi Minh Creative City, HCMC Smart and Creative District, & A Call for Action. We developed this research through a comprehensive site analysis of District 4, literature review, a three-week workshop with teams of lecturers and students, followed by a write-up period. We amalgamated concepts like formal/informal heritage with place and place-making practices, as well as collaborative designs, to show how cultural preservation must not only consider built environments, but also the local community and quotidian practices.This project provides a path for partners (government, private, and non-profit) consider during the forthcoming redevelopment for District 4 in HCMC. SIGNIFICANCE: This project was conducted in collaboration with UNESCO, Italian Consulate of Ho Chi Minh City, SCE Project – Asia, and S&A Architecture. It was presented to industry and government representatives at the Heritage Preservation and Economic Development Conference, held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 28 2022.