The dog park, in Yen So Park of Hanoi's Hoang Mai District, was built in June at a cost of nearly VND500 million (US$21,400) by Gabe Hernandez, an American sponsor; Think Playgrounds, which builds free playgrounds for children; and the Yen So Park management.

Dogs are free to roam and play in this open and spacious green area.

The park can handle 100-200 pets a day. It has walking planks and obstacles made of wood and car tires, a feeding area equipped with stainless steel bowls and a toilet area with trash cans and plastic bags. Admission is free.

Vu Thi Thanh Thuy has been taking her one-year-old poodle to the new playground every day for the past week.

"My dog has gotten used to being brought here to play at 4 p.m. every day," the 18-year-old said.

Visitors to the park must observe and focus on their pets. They are required to leave the park if a pet becomes aggressive; clean and dispose of waste in designated bins.

The dog park fills up every day after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

The park was created as a safe and friendly space to give pets the opportunity for exercise and social interaction, according to Nguyen Tieu Quoc Dat, co-founder of Think Playgrounds and project in-charge.

Dog owners also feel more secure to release their pets in a place where they are not in danger of being stolen or run over by vehicles and do not attack passers-by.

The park also boasts many picnic tables for owners and their pets to rest.

Only two or three people bring their dogs during weekdays, but on weekends there would be more than 10 dogs of various ages. Most are small, but there are some large ones though muzzled and closely watched by their owners.

Trash cans with plastic bags are hung around the wire mesh fence for owners to clean up after their pets.

Do Trong Duc from Nam Tu Liem District stated that despite living more than 11 kilometers from the park, he still brings his pets here to play.

"Normally, my dogs just hang out at home where there isn't much room to run and play. The park provides the opportunity for exercise and interaction between dogs and owners in a secure environment," he said.

Duc directs his dog Bailey up a walking plank.

Nguyen Thanh Thu uses food to entice her dog Na to navigate an A-shaped obstacle.

A dog named 'Gau' (Bear) is terrified as he walks up the steep steps.

A woman plays with her dog.

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Subsidiary of VnExpress License number: 71/GP-CBC, Ministry of Information and Communications, September 22, 2021

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