Hanoi is 'desperate' for parking spaces.

Thousands of parking spaces have been planned on maps, but in reality, only a few dozen have been implemented. A paradox exists between planning and reality, causing Hanoi to become increasingly overwhelmed by a lack of parking, while traffic pressure and the needs of the people continue to rise.

The automated smart parking lot on Nguyen Cong Hoan Street ( Hanoi ) has a capacity of 221 cars with fewer than 7 seats.

According to calculations by the Hanoi Department of Construction, by 2030, the capital city will need nearly 1,700 public parking lots with a total area of ​​approximately 1,800 hectares of land allocated for static traffic. However, to date, only about 72 officially operational parking lots have been put into operation throughout the city, less than 10% of the planned target. The proportion of land allocated for static traffic currently accounts for less than 1% of the urban area, while international standards require a minimum of 3 to 4%.

The lack of parking spaces has led to widespread encroachment on roads and sidewalks for parking, causing urban blight, obstructing traffic, and posing potential safety risks. Many central areas, with high population and vehicle density, have almost no vacant land left for constructing new parking lots.

The main reasons for the delay in developing parking systems have been identified as land availability issues and investment mechanisms. Many planned locations are interspersed within residential areas, government offices, or public land, making land acquisition difficult. Underground or multi-story parking projects require very large capital investments, while the payback period is long and profits are low, making investors reluctant to participate.

Current incentive policies are limited and not strong enough to create sufficient appeal. Furthermore, detailed planning lacks feasibility, with many maps remaining merely "red dots" on paper. While Hanoi is struggling to find a solution, Ho Chi Minh City has temporarily addressed the issue by utilizing public land around parks, cultural centers, or some administrative offices as temporary parking lots.

Experience from Bangkok (Thailand) also shows that, in addition to expanding land resources, it is necessary to optimize and connect existing systems through technology. The Bangkok authorities have implemented a smart parking sharing platform, allowing people to find, reserve, and pay for parking spaces via a mobile application.

According to experts, Hanoi could learn from this model and simultaneously implement a comprehensive and synchronized package of solutions, including mechanisms, planning, and technology. One feasible approach is to adopt a public-private partnership (PPP) model, in which the State is responsible for land clearance, while businesses focus on investment, construction, and operation. Simultaneously, the city needs to apply specific preferential policies regarding taxes, land lease fees, and credit to attract businesses to participate in investment.

The application of smart technology is considered a crucial solution to improve the efficiency of land use in transportation. An online parking management and coordination system, connecting public and private parking lots and shopping centers, will help people easily find available spaces, facilitate cashless payments, and increase transparency while preventing waste and losses. A new approach is to integrate electric vehicle charging stations into newly constructed parking lots, anticipating the trend of green vehicles.

In the short term, Hanoi can temporarily utilize vacant spaces such as under bridges or public land as temporary parking lots, but must ensure compliance with fire safety, environmental, and structural safety regulations. In the long term, the city aims for a smart underground parking model, applying automated parking technology similar to that in Tokyo, Seoul, or Singapore.

If delays continue, parking plans will remain just beautiful drawings on paper, while on the streets, traffic congestion persists, and sidewalks and roads remain occupied. However, if the city of Hanoi boldly removes bureaucratic obstacles, promotes social participation, and applies smart technology, it can completely turn the situation around.

The parking lot on Nguyen Cong Hoan Street (Hanoi) was built using Korean technology, consisting of 17 blocks, each 4 stories high, with a security surveillance system and fire prevention and control measures.

Mr. Le Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Finance, shared that it is time for parking lots to no longer be considered a secondary item, but to be placed on par with key infrastructure projects such as the metro, BRT, or ring roads. Only then will the capital city move closer to its goal of becoming a civilized, orderly, smoothly-running, and livable city, worthy of its position as the political , economic, and cultural center of the country.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/ha-noi-khatbai-do-xe-20251110105958732.htm