Methodology

Withinthree chapters of this research, in chapter 01, for the objectives of this study, I will introduce shortly into the history of Saigon, which is already layered by colonization periods, besides, take preferences from certain periods of time from there as a premise to understand the sidewalk culture from the historical standpoint and describe the infiltration of marginal activities in the daily life of the working class by literature evidence and historical events. In relation to this chapter, I would seek to understand how the colonized and diverse ethnological history of Saigon has affected on the development of the sidewalk, and the difference from its counterpart, Cho Lon, which, until these days, remains to be the source of many controversial narratives by visually supporting with historical, contemporary images of different patterns of occupation of the street. Also in this chapter, I will introduce how the Doi Moi Policy in 1986 has affected the living conditions on the streets and how the trend of migration into the city has transformed the face of Ho Chi Minh City sidewalks. As well as taking references of the 20th century movies that included the evidence of how the dwellers occupied the arrangement of the city urban planning. Besides, introducing the type of street occupations which was mentioned in modern literatures and research papers. From there using that form of occupation to demonstrate and analyze the method of working in the lens of design and architecture.

In the second chapter of this research proposal, there will be a discussion where I will contribute my perspective on the close association of urban planning on the Vietnamese street culture. More clearly, I will put to use the existence of this culture appeared in cinema and theater in the 20th century before the Independence Day in 1975. Followed the introduction of the urbanization in the late 90s and its impact on the life of the pavement economy; and a recall of the unsuccessful efforts to reorganize the street order occurred since 2017 in HCMC. On the other hand, giving the example taken from Singapore signature hawker stalls and explain the differences in organization of the hawker, in short, discuss how this form or arrangement is incompatible to Ho Chi Minh City. In explanation, answer the question: How are these failed organizations of rebuilding and returning the sidewalk spaces still carry on? Why is it that implementing stringent and anti-sidewalk-activity policies is counterproductive to most sections of the street lives? How can the new arrangement of sidewalk vendors be obtained in Singapore? To answer all of these questions, I will use references of the commuter behavior from research papers, latest news and existing proposals from other countries to support my thesis.

In the last chapter of this paper, I choose to look at the tight bonding between local culture and sidewalk activities in HCMC and the possibilities from the point of view of social patterns of the vendors on the sidewalk by looking at the distinguished map of Ho Chi Minh City. Chapter 03 will use 2 case studies on two roads in different areas, the first is Ho Thi Ki Street where is mostly well known as Ho Thi Ki Flower Market, the second is Ton That Dam street, district 1, where Cu Market is formed (Old Market). Thus, I focus on stating my position as a designer to explain, and navigating the sidewalk advantages as well as the disadvantages. In particular, taking the starting point from 3 types of economy activities presented in economic studies from Annemarie M.F. Hiemstra, Koen

G. Van Der Kooy & Michael Frese, I will analyze from the design point of view how different types of economic activities (stationary, ambulatory and residential vendors) positioned in these streets. With the support of architectural diagram, Google Earth, the current master plan and visual sketches to portrait the patterns and their spatial appropriation and applying visual methods (drawings, sections, plans/layouts as analytic and comparative tools) to survey, map and illustrate these patterns of occupation and try to understand the differences and scales of occupation of the public space in a spatial context. How do vendors occupy the street? Is there a different spatial occupation/organization according to the location? Which activities occur on the sidewalk? What are their spatial practices? What kind of spaces they use? Which vendors are permanent and can be changed over each period of time?

Spaces of the sidewalk is made up of basic concepts, just as the space seemingly random and simple that are often overlooked by us every day,15 somehow forming a very unique culture of the sidewalk in Vietnam. Being a Saigonese (people of Saigon, HCMC), I utterly agree with putting forward a more reasonable planning and policies, in which provides solutions for the lower-class workers and preserves the history, culture, and their influence on the urban design. At the same time, being an interior architect, sidewalk encroachment and its influence on architectural design is something that should be considered and developed based on. Before any conception of interior architecture design, the vendors are originally the architects and designers of the own business and corners they establish. Therefore, the methodology of this research seek to find alternatives that can be acknowledged in similar cases, and make use of the aesthetic aspects of street vendors to create a more effective alternative. At the end of this paper, questions and possibilities are expected to be concluded as this matter of society is underrated and being sided in compared with other traditions. Accordingly, my position of the research and my final assessment can be one of the various viable practice which may trigger a propose for further case studies.