The Hanoi Capital City Master Plan with a 100-year vision – expected to be announced at the end of June 2026 – will present a strategic vision to realize the city's goal of "Culture - Civilization - Modernity - Happiness" in the new development era. The plan will address the concept of a "three-dimensional city," encompassing underground space, elevated space, and the integration of new transportation methods.
Relieving the pressures of urbanization.
Currently, Hanoi faces immense pressure from urbanization. The city's permanent population has reached 8.5-8.8 million, but the actual number could reach 10 million if students, migrant workers, and temporary residents are included. Meanwhile, the historical inner city area has been almost fully exploited, leaving little room for expansion.
The persistent traffic congestion on many key roads and intersections in Hanoi has become a serious problem. Every day, millions of vehicles travel on an already overloaded infrastructure. Expanding roads faces significant challenges due to the high cost of land acquisition and the need to preserve existing historical, cultural, and architectural landmarks.
Not only traffic, but Hanoi's technical infrastructure is also under considerable pressure. The electricity, water supply, telecommunications, and drainage networks were built in multiple phases, resulting in a lack of synchronization, overlapping systems, and difficulties in upgrading. During heavy rains, localized flooding still occurs in many areas because the drainage system no longer meets the demands of a modern city.
Hanoi Party Secretary Tran Duc Thang during a site inspection at Tunnel No. 1 of the Hanoi City Pilot Urban Railway Project, Nhon - Hanoi Station section. Photo: CTV
In this context, building underground spaces has become a strategic solution to create more development room for Hanoi without expanding its administrative area or increasing pressure on the urban surface. In fact, exploiting underground space is not a new idea. Many major cities around the world have developed underground urban areas for decades.
In cities like Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Paris (France), and Singapore, underground spaces house not only subway lines but also shopping malls, parking lots, pedestrian walkways, storage facilities, technical infrastructure networks, and numerous other public amenities, all interconnected. This significantly reduces traffic congestion on the surface, expands public spaces, and improves land use efficiency. These are valuable lessons for Hanoi to learn from in its development of a "three-dimensional city" model.
Complete structure
According to the Hanoi Capital City Master Plan with a 100-year vision, the city's underground space will not develop in a fragmented, isolated manner as it does now, but will become a complete urban structure.
Previously, underground parking garages were primarily located beneath individual buildings or shopping malls. In the future, they will be interconnected into a comprehensive system, linked to urban rail lines, TOD (transportation-oriented development) zones, and large service centers.
This development mindset marks a significant shift from "underground construction" to "underground urban development." This is not just a difference in scale, but also a change in planning approach. Underground space will become an integral part of the city, functioning in parallel with and supporting above-ground spaces.
According to the planning guidelines, Hanoi will utilize underground space at different depth levels to ensure efficient use and technical safety. Specifically, the level from 0 to 15 meters will serve public needs such as underground parking, pedestrian tunnels, technical systems, and facilities supporting public transportation. This will be the layer of space most frequently accessed by residents.
Levels 15-30 meters are reserved for deep-level urban railway lines, disaster prevention facilities, strategic storage depots, and specialized technical systems. This area plays a crucial role in ensuring the continuous operation of the city.
Levels 30-50 meters will concentrate core infrastructure such as large-scale water reservoirs, key technical axes, and facilities serving national defense and security. Deeper areas will be preserved as a strategic reserve for the future.
This tiered approach reflects Hanoi's long-term vision. The city is not only addressing immediate needs but also considering its potential for development over the next several decades, even centuries.
People shop in the basement of Royal City, Hanoi. Photo: THANH THẾ
According to experts, constructing an underground urban layer is no simple task. Hanoi has complex geological and hydrological conditions with a dense network of rivers and lakes, weak soil in many areas, and a high groundwater level. This requires extremely careful surveying, design, and construction.
Furthermore, the development of underground spaces needs to be considered in harmony with heritage preservation efforts. Hanoi is a city with a rich history spanning over a thousand years, boasting numerous cultural, architectural, and archaeological relics of exceptional value. All underground construction activities must ensure that these precious heritage sites are not affected.
Despite the many challenges, the development of an underground city remains a necessary step for Hanoi to address its current problems and prepare for the future.
A significant challenge is securing investment capital. Underground construction projects typically cost many times more than above-ground projects. Therefore, Hanoi needs mechanisms to mobilize social resources, attract private investment, and apply appropriate public-private partnership models to reduce the burden on the budget.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/ha-noi-phat-develop-underground-space-196260611153758089.htm
