Think Playgrounds!

was founded as a volunteer group in 2014 with the mission to promote children’s right to play by collaborating with multidisciplinary partners and communities.

Together, we build environmentally friendly playgrounds and sustainable public spaces.

History

Formalised as a social enterprise in 2017, by 2025 Think Playgrounds would have built over 270 public playgrounds, community gardens, Forest Parks along the Red River Bank, piloted the first adventure playground model in Vietnam, & organized over 30 public events such as eco-educational tours on urban biodiversity across Vietnam.


Public playgrounds
over 0

The commercial channel of Think Playgrounds! has designed and built over 100 playgrounds for schools, hospitals, or private clients, thus helping finance our community initiatives across the country.

Commercial playgrounds
over 0

Mission

Did you know that 90 percent of a child’s mental character is developed by the age of five?

Community development

The collaborative construction & design process is an opportunity for the community to work together and develop a sense of ownership.

Adventure play, free play, and nature play

The more adventurous the play children can access, the more physically & mentally strong they grow.

Area revitalisation and preservation

A public space is not only for kids but for all community members that can enjoy a safer, biodiversity and more beautiful neighborhood.

Child and family development

Playgrounds are a critical component in a child’s physical, intellectual, creative and social development. Playing is an opportunity for the family to develop bonds together.

Products & Services

Design

Think Playgrounds’ main activity is the design and construction of play equipment, play structures and playful zones that we call “playscapes”.

Community and Social Responsibility Programs

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a business model where companies integrate social and environmental concerns into their operations by dedicating funding and human resources to various activities.

Events

Play events bring fun to all parts of the City! As well as the United Nations International Day of Play, Think Playgrounds organises special play days with fun materials and equipment, prepared games, adventure mentality and creativity.

Trong phố có rừng
A Forest in the city

Written & directed by Trần Phương Thảo
Produced by Danielle Labbé, Chu Kim Đức

“Very pleased to share this short documentary on the extraordinary journey of the Bờ Vở-Chương Dương Forest-Park. This is an example of a new model of public space production in Hanoi pioneered by Think Playgrounds & embraced by other civil society organizations in Vietnam.

Departing from the conventional, top-down, state-led planning approach, this innovative model prioritizes the development of socially inclusive & environmentally sustainable public spaces through participatory & collaborative methods.

The Bờ Vở-Chương Dương Forest-Park is redefining what green & open spaces can be in Hanoi. It exemplifies the profound impact that neighborhood public spaces, produced through community-based & environmental planning & design approaches, can have on local social cohesion & well-being…”

Review from Prof. Danielle Labbé
Montreal University, who initiated & funded this short film.

Watch the Documentary now

What peoples say about us

Our Facebook page is full of delightful feedbacks and comments from our community

"Chơi gì hôm nay? Cá Heo tham gia hoạt động trải nghiệm thiên nhiên và bảo vệ môi trường, thực hành các hoạt động cải tạo không gian sinh thái tại công viên rừng Phúc Tân. Sự kiện nhằm mục đích phục hồi công viên sau cơn bão Yagi và lũ lụt tàn phá cũng như nâng cao nhận thức về sinh thái đô thị và bền vững Vừa đi rừng, tìm cây thuốc, nghe chim hót, vồ dế, tìm xén tóc mà vẫn ngắm được cầu Chương Dương quá là thú vị."
Kieu Oanh
10 November 2024
"Lần đầu tôi thấy 1 công viên do nhân dân sống lân cận làm chủ. Những ông bà 55-70 đóng đinh ghim thảm trên nền đất, người khác vác xẻng trồng cây. Tôi nể họ vì sự chung tay xây dựng khu vui chơi cộng đồng. Lần đầu tiên thấy ở phố, từ trẻ nhỏ đến cụ già (cụ cao tuổi nhất là 94) chơi trong 1 khuôn viên trong không khí thân mật như ở làng xã. Ở đó họ có doanh nghiệp ủng hộ hơn trăm củ làm 1 góc sân tập bóng rổ; ở đó có người nọ người kia ủng hộ dụng cụ tập thể thao ngoài trời, đèn chiếu sáng sử dụng năng lượng mặt trời. Nhưng đập vào mắt tôi, rất ý nghĩa là những tấm biển này đặt ở nơi công cộng."
Vu Xuan Loi
29 June 2023