From strict socialism to social evils: Changing childhoods over three generations in urban Vietnam

Abstract

Over the span of three generations, Vietnam's capital Hanoi, has transformed from a modest city grappling with food scarcity during the socialist subsidy era to a sprawling metropolis marked by gated communities and a widening wealth divide. Employing a child‐centric, multi‐generational family methodology, with members of 13 families across three generations, we explore the diverse childhood experiences shaped by these rapid urban transformations. Grandparents shared stories of unrestricted outdoor play despite challenging conditions, while parents noted a lack of academic pressures in their youth. Contemporary children enjoy access to new technology and consumer goods, but face important mobility restrictions due to parental and societal concerns. Our findings reveal that the Vietnamese context engendered distinctive childhood reflections for the two older generations, contrasting with childhoods in non‐socialist contexts during the same periods. Meanwhile, the contemporary Vietnamese state has crafted a ‘social evils’ discourse that shapes current childhood opportunities in specific ways. By being centered on urban Vietnam—a context vastly different from Global North‐dominated narratives in childhood studies—our study acts as a counterpoint that enriches the field with perspectives from a politically‐socialist state. Focusing on the unique childhood experiences within Hanoi's evolving socio‐spatial landscape, we advocate for more diverse understandings of childhood that respect varied realities across contexts.