Football field and multi-purpose cultural space

VHO - Construction began on October 19th in Hung Yen, and the PVF stadium not only promises to become the largest sports facility in Vietnam but also a symbol of modern technology, a place where the most advanced architectural, engineering, and operational solutions in the region converge.

Rendering of the PVF stadium in Hung Yen , with a capacity of 60,000 seats. Photo: PVF

Weather-adaptive architecture

The PVF Stadium is being built within a sports and service complex spanning over 920,000 m², with an expected capacity of up to 60,000 seats. Beyond its scale, the structure is notable for its fully retractable dome roof system, considered the "technological heart" of the project.

According to the design, the dome can be fully opened or closed in about 12-20 minutes, operating on a modern mechanical control principle similar to large stadiums such as AT&T Stadium (USA) or Al-Bayt Stadium (Qatar). The giant roof panels slide on a steel rail system using high-powered electric motors, and are continuously monitored by a network of sensors measuring vibration, temperature, and load, ensuring safety under all operating conditions.

The chosen material is PTFE or ETFE fiber membrane, a super lightweight, heat-resistant, and UV-resistant material that allows for natural light transmission and reduces rain noise, while also saving on daytime lighting energy. In bad weather, the roof can be closed to protect the pitch and stands; in good weather, opening the roof allows for natural ventilation, recreating the feeling of an "outdoor stadium" and maintaining ideal conditions for the players.

Alongside the retractable roof system, the modular hybrid turf is one of the key features that helps PVF achieve international standards. This technology combines natural grass and artificial fibers "stitched" into a sandy soil base, creating a more uniform, stable, and resilient surface than traditional grass. This type of surface is currently used in most of the world's leading football stadiums, such as Wembley (England) and the Singapore National Stadium. Given Vietnam's tropical monsoon climate, this technology helps reduce flooding, ensures quick drainage, and withstands heavy loads during events. After intensive performances or matches, only damaged areas need modular replacement, eliminating the need for a complete stadium renovation – shortening recovery time and saving costs.

In addition, the smart irrigation and drainage system, supplementary lighting for the grass when there is insufficient sunlight, and temperature control of the root zone help maintain ideal growing conditions year-round. Hybrid turf also contributes to protecting the health of players, reducing injuries from slips and falls or excessive friction – issues that were once a major problem with many natural grass pitches in the country.

In particular, with its modular structure, the PVF stadium can quickly "transform" to accommodate non-sports events such as concerts, festivals, or exhibitions without affecting the quality of the turf. This is a crucial factor in ensuring the sustainable operation of the facility, aiming for long-term efficiency rather than just serving a few tournaments.

The "football theater" model

If the dome and turf are the "body" of the structure, then the technical and communication operating system is the "brain" that helps PVF Stadium meet international operating standards. The entire broadcasting, sound, lighting, security, and spectator control system is connected on a broadband IP network, allowing for centralized control and real-time monitoring.

The central broadcasting control center will house technical rooms, editing rooms, an international signal transmission area, a press area, and dedicated football camera locations. Television signals can meet UHD/HDR standards, fulfilling the requirements of major tournaments as well as global-scale live broadcast production.

The lighting system utilizes high-power LED technology, ensuring illumination, color temperature, and uniformity meet FIFA standards, while minimizing flickering during slow-motion filming. The line-array sound system, suspended under the dome, is designed to cover the entire grandstand, reducing reverberation and ensuring an immersive experience for the audience.

Notably, all operational data—from lighting, temperature, and humidity to power consumption and audience flow—will be collected and analyzed to support predictive maintenance and energy optimization. As a result, the building will not only be modern upon its inauguration but will also become "smarter" over time, through each software update and operational adjustment.

PVF is designed as a "football theater," without a surrounding athletics track, allowing spectators to get closer to the pitch, enhancing the experience and creating a characteristic European atmosphere. Below the stands is a layered system of spaces: the team's operations area, the VIP - hospitality area with private lounges, and the food and beverage and service areas for spectators. The parking lot, spanning over 180,000 m², can accommodate tens of thousands of vehicles simultaneously.

Thanks to its retractable dome and modular turf, the PVF stadium can quickly "transform its function," hosting concerts, exhibitions, or festivals without affecting its structural integrity. With its diverse range of uses, the facility is expected to become a "meeting point for events" in Northern Vietnam – a place where sports, culture, and tourism intersect.

The security and safety system is modeled after international standards, featuring dynamic emergency exits, voice alerts, and AI-powered CCTV surveillance capable of analyzing crowd density and detecting unusual behavior. Electronic tickets and automated access control shorten travel time and reduce congestion inside and outside the stadium. This is a significant step forward in the trend of "digitizing the audience experience" that modern stadiums around the world are adopting.

Upon completion, the PVF Stadium will not only surpass the scale of My Dinh Stadium to become the largest sports facility in Vietnam, but will also represent a transformation of the country's smart sports infrastructure. Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang affirmed: "The PVF Stadium will be a center connecting sports, culture, and tourism for the country and the region, built to international standards, aiming for Asian stature."

This means that a stadium not only serves football but also becomes a "technological launchpad"—a place where mechanical, material, electronic, and artificial intelligence solutions are applied to management, operation, entertainment, and communication. From the retractable roof system and hybrid turf to the IP broadcast system and data security, every detail reflects the vision of developing "sports connected with technology - culture connected with experience." With this "technological passport," PVF is not just an architectural masterpiece, but also a symbol of the aspiration to modernize Vietnamese sports in the digital age.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/san-bong-va-khong-gian-van-hoa-da-nang-177216.html