Creative hubs in Hanoi, Vietnam: Transgressive spaces in a socialist state?

Abstract

Vietnam’s capital city has recently witnessed the emergence of a new type of cultural space akin to what have been labelled creative hubs in other contexts: that is, locales that foster creation, collaboration, community engagement and business development in the cultural sector. During the 2010s, Hanoi saw a proliferation of small-scale, art-oriented creative hubs, most of them community-led and developed without state funding. In a context marked by a government historically wary of contemporary and experimental arts, these spaces face various forms of state control ranging from the censorship of events, to stiff fines or even closure. Despite these barriers, creative hubs have become important sites for the gathering and formation of Hanoi’s contemporary arts scene and countercultures. Based on over 80 interviews conducted in 2019, this paper investigates the motives behind the rise of these spaces in Hanoi and the political engagement techniques their founders, operators and users employ to remain in operation. Drawing on the notion of ‘informal life politics’, we argue that creative hubs seek to provide spaces of (partial) autonomy from governmentality in Hanoi. We further find that artists, intellectuals and other creative individuals use these spaces to challenge state controls. They do so not by lobbying formal institutions for policy changes, but instead by enacting the more open and free socio-cultural milieu they seek, from the bottom up.

Exploratory Factor Analysis of Influences on Social Integration and Religious Practice Among Catholic Students: Evidence from Hanoi- Vietnam

“…In an age of rapidly changing socio-economic structures and growing complexities of identity formation, young adults' interest in social integration and religious adherence becomes particularly relevant (Hoang et al, 2023). This interest is further enhanced in the case of Hanoi, Vietnam, as the co-dependency between traditional value systems, religious beliefs, and modern influences play a significant role in the lives of Catholic students (Labbe et al, 2022;Nguyen & Duchère, 2023). Vietnam's capital, known for its culturally rich experience and urbanizing forces, could represent a unique background where researchers can analyze how young Catholics respond to the challenges and opportunities of maintaining their beliefs and socially integrating into the religious community in a broader socio-cultural context (Nguyen & Duchère, 2023).…”

Sustainable redevelopment of urban areas: Assessment of key barriers for the reconstruction of old residential buildings

“…This period of conflict was followed by a prolonged period of civil war and political instability that persisted until 1975. Despite the challenges faced during this time, Vietnam's economic development continued progressing, constructing numerous buildings to support living (Labbe et al, 2022). However, many of these structures were built without proper regulations and have failed to meet modern living standards, resulting in substandard conditions for occupants.…”