The park spans 1,650m2 and features various facilities for pets to exercise and play, set to open soon in the capital.
On the afternoon of August 1, 27-year-old Hân Lê from Cầu Giấy District took her beloved dog Bun on a journey of over 10km to Yên Sở Park in Hoàng Mai District after hearing that a dog park had just been built there.
At the park for the first time, Bun, weighing 4 kg, was guided to walk across a balance beam, crawl through tires, and play freely. All pets in the park are unleashed, allowed to run around freely but must remain within the park and not disturb others. The park is surrounded by rust-resistant barbed wire fencing, about 1.5 meters high, with a double-gated system that is securely locked.
Previously, Bun was often confined to a cage due to a cramped living space without access to a park. Hân noted that being indoors too much caused the animals to become irritable, often barking for no reason, and occasionally losing their appetite.
“It’s a long way, but it’s worth it for my dog to have space to enjoy. I plan to bring Bun here to play 2-3 times a week,” the 27-year-old said.
Hân and her dog Bun at the dog park in Yên Sở Park, Hoàng Mai District, on the afternoon of August 1. (Photo: Quỳnh Nguyễn)
For the past week, Vũ Thị Thanh Thủy, 18, has been bringing her one-year-old Poodle to the new play area every day. “On regular days, there are 2-3 families bringing their dogs, but on weekends, there are over 10 dogs of all types. Most are small dogs, while larger dogs are carefully muzzled and closely monitored by their owners. My dog has gotten used to it; every day at 4 PM, it asks to go out to play,” Thủy shared.
Since the pet park opened, the number of families bringing their dogs for a visit, like Hân and Thủy, has increased, mostly from households in Hoàng Mai District. Most believe that a dedicated dog park is essential to prevent conflicts between pets and people. In addition to play areas, there is also a separate area for dogs to relieve themselves, approximately 8m2, enclosed with fencing, equipped with trash bins and plastic bags for owners to clean up after their pets.
“This is what animal lovers like us have always wanted. A space that makes pets comfortable, active, and less aggressive, reducing the risk of illness from being confined and isolated from society,” Thủy added.
Thủy playing with her beloved dog in the park. (Photo: Quỳnh Nguyễn)
The Dog Park was funded by Gabe Hernandez, an American, in collaboration with Think Playgrounds, an organization specializing in building free playgrounds for children, and the management board of Yên Sở Park. The project started in June with a budget of nearly 500 million VND.
The entire area covers 1,650m2 and can accommodate 100-200 pets daily. The facility is divided into three main zones: a play area for pets equipped with four exercise devices, including a tire tunnel, slide, balance beam, and obstacles made from car tires and wood; a feeding area with stainless steel bowls; and a separate restroom area of about 8m2, equipped with trash bins and plastic bags. Additionally, the park features two sets of tables and chairs along with informational boards to raise awareness among users. Admission is completely free.
Nguyễn Tiêu Quốc Đạt, co-founder of Think Playgrounds and project manager for the Dog Park, stated that the facility was created to provide a safe, friendly space that allows pets to exercise and socialize. Dog owners also feel more secure letting their animals roam in a designated area, minimizing the impact on others and reducing the risk of theft, accidents, or attacks on passersby.
In Vietnam, the concept of a dog park is relatively new, but it has existed in the U.S. since the 1960s and has spread globally. In recent years, several Asian countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, and China, have also expanded and developed this model in urban parks or residential complexes.
Based on international standards, Đạt explained that the chosen location for the park must be spacious, near a water source, with flat ground and well-trimmed grass suitable for dogs to run and jump, and close to parking areas for easy access. Pet owners must adhere to regulations such as keeping their dogs close, focusing on their pets, keeping them leashed, and leaving the area immediately if their pet becomes aggressive.
After six months of procedures, site selection, and nearly two months of construction, the first Dog Park in Hanoi was completed and began trial operations in mid-July. “We haven’t yet counted the number of visitors each day, but preliminary estimates show an increasing trend in families bringing their pets for new visits and return visits. We hope the facility gains widespread recognition and is utilized to its fullest capacity,” Đạt said.
Mạnh Hà with his two nephews and their dog Nâu at the park on August 1. (Photo: Quỳnh Nguyễn)
After hearing about it from friends, 21-year-old Ngô Mạnh Hà from Hoàng Mai District brought his family and his one-year-old dog Nâu to experience the park. Previously, he often took his dog for rides on his motorbike around the neighborhood after work, as their living area lacked space for pets to play, and neighbors requested that dogs not be let outside.
“Nâu enjoys running around in the spacious area; the park is clean and well-equipped, and our family gets to breathe fresh air. We will definitely come back,” Hà shared.
Dog Park.
