Urban Green Areas – their functions under a changing lifestyle of ...

leisure activities in UGAs is just one of the Hanoians’ many forms or ways of spending
leisure time.
Doing physical exercise has a very long tradition in Vietnamese society. The tradition will
not be the main reason that a growing number of people will continue in the same way but
it is a healthy activity. Due to this image it is to be expected that more and more people will
prefer to practise physical exercises. These can be done indoors as well as outdoors. But the
majority of people like to do their exercises with other people, often in organized groups. In
fitness studios, people mostly train on their own using fitness machines. Because of the
social aspect more people will prefer to practise outdoors.
Additionally, it is always cheaper to do exercises in parks than in fitness studios. “People
even have to pay no fee when they do exercise in parks” (EXPERT-B 2012). Therefore,
UGAs are still favourite places to do physical exercises.
However, there is one big change which counteracts the trend towards more outdoor
activities: The development of technology including computer games and video game
consoles provide many attractive indoor entertainments. Increasing numbers of people
prefer to stay – independent of weather and season – at home, using new media for social
contacts. “DVDs and satellite television may also contribute to the social withdrawal of
those with high levels of income, encouraging consumers to stay at home (with aircon on),
and providing access to global sources of culture which feed aspirations for modern
lifestyles and cosmopolitanism” (DRUMMOND 2012: 89). But it is predicted that only a
minority becomes hardcore computer freaks, most people need real social contacts and
physical activities. These needs can be realized and satisfied in UGAs. “Computer games
rooms and internet cafes, for example, proliferate in the city, and indicate not only the
increasingly widespread availability and popularity of this technology, but also the lack of
alternate real-world recreation space” (DRUMMOND 2000: 89).
5.3.2 New activities occur – social media as an example
As the world is permanently changing, new potential activities may become available
which were not offered before. New media are a good example for developments which
allow totally new opportunities touching many fields – economic as well as social spheres.
In the context of new media the so called “social media” (e.g. Facebook and blogs) have
been developed which enables interactions among people to create, share and exchange
information as quickly and conveniently as possible.
People now discuss their needs and hardships as well as many other “interests” on social
networks. In Vietnam, the popular or famous blogs attract much attention from society.
This rapid change of social and political behaviour led to the situation that the “traditional
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