Hanoi’s population has exploded over the past 30 years. Unfortunately, its green spaces have not kept pace with that growth.

In this episode, we take a closer look at some of the creative ways that grassroots organizers have pushed to create more inclusive green spaces, focusing on the Bo Vo Chuong Duong Forest park in the Red Riverine district. We will hear from Quốc Đạt, co-founder of Think Playgrounds which spearheaded the transformation of a former dumping ground, as well as Dr. Jonghak Kim who recently completed his PhD on urban development processes in Hanoi. Join us as we explore the creative ways civil society in contemporary Vietnam engage the government, how the new park is making a splash in the local community, and discuss whether green spaces like it can help shape Hanoi’s future.

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Bandung was originally a hillside getaway for Dutch colonial administrators in Indonesia. But in 1955 the Asia-Africa conference transformed it into a global symbol for decolonialization.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Ade Timanei, an urban designer who had lived most of her life in Bandung, to explore how that dual-heritage has shaped the city’s modern urban landscape. Today, Indonesia's reputed "style capital" remains a divided city in many ways: materially, culturally, and symbolically.

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In our inaugural episode, we take a close look at the history of Bangkok’s Victory Monument and its surrounding neighborhood.

Together with our guest, Dr. Saowapark Khanman, we investigate the area’s role as a transit hub and explore how urban livelihoods change in parallel with the built landscape of the city. We also examine how the symbolic meaning of Victory Monument has been continuously reinscribed over time, and some of the ways people continuously repurpose its surrounding spaces for social life.

Want to get in touch? Send us an email on invisiblecitiesasia (at) gmail dot com.