Property development in Hanoi is robbing the capital of scarce playgrounds for children as vacant lots are consumed by apartments and offices.
Trung Phung Ward, with a population of 17,000, has only 30 square metres of playground for children. Residential development is not allowing for open space for children to play.
Even footpaths are being taken over by shops and used for parking motorbikes and scooters. Restaurants and cafes crowd up next to playground equipment, such as slides and see-saws.
The chairman of the National Assembly, Nguyen Sinh Hung, said there needs to be clear and legislated children's rights, particularly how schools and families can protect spaces for children to play. The government must build regulations so investors will put playgrounds into their planning, he said.
"We keep saying that there will be playgrounds for children but can't realise it. In the old times, children could play on any street corners but now, every empty space is claimed by adults," Hung said.
Street beer on pavement by Dinh Cong Apartment Block
Children playing next to a street shop
Children's playground overwhelmed by restaurants
Any space can be used as parking lot
Garbage dump by the playground
