Rethinking waterfront infrastructure through strategic placemaking approach: The case of Vietnamese Mekong Delta city of Vinh Long = Nhận định lại cơ sở hạ tầng ven sông thông qua cách tiếp cận kiến tạo nơi chốn chiến lược: Trường hợp của thành phố Vĩnh Long thuộc ĐBSCL của Việt Nam

Abstract

Waterfront infrastructure is being prioritized for investment as an inevitable result of counteracting riverbank erosion throughout the Vietnamese Mekong Delta region. These projects are identified in urban areas as multifunctional infrastructure that operates as public spaces. Although the projects are expected to change the urban appearance and improve residents' quality of life, the top-down planning approach limits their potential and socio economic impact. This paper investigates the role of the strategic placemaking approach in rethinking the waterfront infrastructure in the context of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta through the case of Vinh Long City. The relationship between waterfront infrastructure and public spaces with the citizens will be presented based on the inheritance and evaluation of documents combined with empirical work and mapping methods. Then, research by design scenarios shows the reflection of strategic placemaking in rethinking city waterfront development. The result shows the importance of prioritizing the role of locality in the design and planning process to ensure the success of an urban space and urban infrastructure. The strategic placemaking approach contributes to the current urban planning process and the sustainable development strategy of the riverine urban areas in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta region.