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| Smart City Project |
These monumental projects ignite new aspirations.
This historic August not only evokes memories of the day the nation seized control of its destiny, but also marks a new leap forward for Hanoi . In the sacred atmosphere of commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd, Hanoi, along with many other localities, simultaneously commenced and inaugurated a total of 250 key projects. These are not merely infrastructure projects in the physical sense, but milestones marking the beginning of a new era of development: an era of strong growth, integration, and affirmation of its position.
On August 19th, Hanoi focused on launching three major projects. In Dong Anh commune, the North Hanoi Smart City project, with a total investment of $4.2 billion and a scale of nearly 272 hectares, aims to create a modern, green, and smart city, featuring a 108-story financial tower as a highlight. In the South, the Ngoc Hoi Bridge – a new symbol of connectivity across the Red River – began construction, expected to alleviate congestion on existing bridges and expand development space. In Co Loa, the National Exhibition and Convention Center was inaugurated, adding to Hanoi a "gateway" for organizing events and trade that meets international standards. The picture of Hanoi emerges as a vibrant construction site, where each infrastructure component is being assembled into a long-term vision extending to 2045 and 2065.
What is most noteworthy about the North Hanoi Smart City project is not just the enormous capital investment or the height of the tower, but how this mega-project will shape a new urban power structure north of the Red River. When a smart city is built with a 108-story financial tower, it means Hanoi is betting on a new financial and commercial center, complementing its traditional historical and administrative core.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of BRG Group, shared briefly but with full commitment: “On this historic day of August 19th, we feel honored and responsible… with the highest determination to ensure the project develops on schedule and meets the expectations of the people and central and local authorities.” On a symbolic level, the 108-story tower is not just a height marker for a building; it is a point of aspiration, a visual landmark for the entire area north of the Red River to synchronize with the development pace.
More than just a material achievement, this is a testament to international cooperation. The North Hanoi Smart City is the result of a collaboration between Vietnamese and Japanese businesses, a testament to the spirit of proactive and innovative integration. When architecture, technology, and governance flow together seamlessly, a smart city is not just aesthetically pleasing on the surface, but operates intelligently from its digital infrastructure, energy model, green spaces, to citizen services.
The Sun Gate on the Red River
On the Red River, the Ngoc Hoi Bridge project commenced as a "morning greeting" for the southern part of the capital. With a total investment of nearly 12,000 billion VND, a construction period of 30 months, and an expected inauguration in early 2028, the technical milestones and progress have been clearly stated, but what is significant is the spatial function that the bridge will open up.
According to Mr. Dang Xuan Huan, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board: The Ngoc Hoi Bridge is located on the Ring Road 2.5, directly connecting to Hung Yen province, and coordinating with radial axes to alleviate congestion on Ring Road 3 and the Giai Phong road. Land clearance is being actively implemented. This is a "decentralization" infrastructure; instead of concentrating traffic through the urban core, the Ngoc Hoi Bridge will redirect traffic flow, expanding travel space towards the Southeast, reducing pressure on the inner city, and creating space for new growth poles.
In terms of design, the bridge is inspired by the "Gate of the Sun." Architect Nguyen Xuan Khoi, the project leader for the Ngoc Hoi bridge design, explains: "The gate for the sun represents 'heaven,' the arch for humanity represents 'humanity,' and the bridge connecting the two banks represents 'earth.' These three elements—heaven, earth, and humanity—converge, transforming the transportation structure into a philosophical symbol, a 'point of contact' where the mundane and the sacred, the practical and the poetic, intersect. From there, the connection is not just about travel, but about spreading—spreading resources, opportunities, culture, and even pride."
A city aspiring to reach a higher level cannot do without a professionally organized venue for major events. The National Exhibition and Convention Center in Co Loa fulfills this role perfectly: a modern, top-tier complex in the region, capable of hosting national and international cultural, political, and commercial events.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen affirmed: "The city is committed to accompanying investors to ensure progress and quality." This means that, instead of "building first and then figuring things out," Hanoi views the exhibition center as a strategic link in the chain of conference, seminar, and exhibition services, thereby attracting a whole ecosystem of hotels, event logistics, urban services, etc. This promises to be a world-class "grand stage" that will attract blockbusters, masterpieces, and large-scale events... This is also a simple logic that many cities around the world have followed and achieved great success with.
Looking at the three key projects—a smart city, a major bridge, and an exhibition center— one can discern three interwoven layers of meaning. First, there's the functional significance: they address traffic, space, and utility issues, redirect traffic flow, reduce inner-city density, and improve the quality of life. Next, there's the socio-economic significance: these projects activate resources, open growth poles, create jobs, raise service standards, and enrich the production and consumption network. And above all, there's the symbolic cultural significance, from the "Gate of the Sun" concept, imbued with the philosophy of heaven, earth, and humanity, to the 108-story tower as a landmark symbolizing the financial and commercial center across the Red River. Once this layer of meaning is awakened, infrastructure ceases to be just isolated roads, bridges, and buildings, becoming a collective narrative, a source of spiritual energy that nourishes subsequent projects.
Extending the spirit of August, continuing the aspiration for Thang Long.
These projects are not isolated. They align with the strategic development plan for the capital city until 2045, with a vision to 2065, focusing on infrastructure as a breakthrough: the "key" to unlocking resources, expanding urban space, and increasing overall productivity. When urban space is opened up and bottlenecks in the inner city are eased, new growth engines will emerge.
This is also how Hanoi maintains its traditional rhythm, ensuring that its cultural heritage is not in opposition to modernity, and its identity is not in conflict with integration. New bridges do not "break" the flow of the river, but bring the two banks closer together; a smart metropolis opens the way for the story of Thang Long in the digital age; and an exhibition center does not "overwhelm" cultural spaces, but creates a stage for culture, commerce, and technology to meet.
The Red River is a unique advantage for Hanoi. The construction of a new bridge system will not only solve traffic problems but also help to develop a balanced system on both the left and right banks. When the Tu Lien, Ngoc Hoi, and Tran Hung Dao bridges are completed, the capital city will usher in a new era of development: modern, dynamic, and sustainable. 
Dr. Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, Vice President of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association
Hanoi's urban history is intertwined with its bridges. Each bridge marks a milestone in a different era: from the sturdy steel spans of the past to the architectural curves of today. Ngoc Hoi, Tu Lien, and Tran Hung Dao – three bridges whose investment plans were approved by Hanoi (February 2025) with a total capital of nearly 48,000 billion VND – will continue this story. When they merge with the radial axes and ring roads, Hanoi will have a new circulatory arterial system: open, unobstructed, and balanced between the left and right banks.
Newly launched infrastructure projects also serve as a focal point for economic diplomacy. Ambassador Ito Naoki of Japan to Vietnam observed that these infrastructure projects further affirm the effective cooperation between Vietnam and Japan and the expectation of sustainable cooperation in the future. This is not just about capital, technology, or governance standards, but about mutual trust. When trust is built on concrete projects, the cooperation will be more enduring than mere joint declarations.
Hanoi, therefore, is not outside the regional "meeting point." The National Exhibition and Convention Center will welcome delegations and goods, serving as a meeting place for ideas, people, and products to forge new alliances. Meanwhile, the smart city will act as a hub for high-end financial, commercial, and technological services. A city that welcomes, retains, and treats well will attract talent and projects.
It is no coincidence that the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies are placed within the timeline of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd. This is a way of extending the tradition of construction through concrete actions today. The spirit of reclaiming sovereignty 80 years ago has been transformed into the spirit of the new era: mastering space, mastering technology, mastering the future.
If, in the past, a flag raised over Ba Dinh Square signaled the era of independence, today, a gateway spanning the river, a towering financial center, and an exhibition center embracing the winds from all directions are the signals of the times. They speak softly but resonate far and wide: Hanoi is ready to rise. And above all, they affirm the resilience of a nation after 80 years of independence: relentlessly striving towards the future.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/ha-noi-vuon-minh-voi-nhung-cong-trinh-moi-d374562.html
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