creating a special "green lane" for the project.

Urgent, decisive, and highly focused

The Party Committee of the Hanoi People's Committee recently submitted Report No. 15/BC/DU dated March 17, 2025, to the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee regarding the direction for research, planning, investment, and renovation of several squares and public spaces in Hoan Kiem District.

According to the report on the implementation of the planning and renovation of the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake, regarding the current land management and use status, the total area planned for the study and implementation of the planning and investment project to build a square and park in the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake is approximately 2.14 hectares; the boundaries are: bordered to the west by Hoan Kiem Lake, to the north by a residential area, to the east by Ly Thai To Street, and to the south by Tran Nguyen Han Street.

According to the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, there are currently 47 land and property owners in the project area, including 12 organizations and agencies; 35 households; and several valuable architectural structures within the land area, including: a building belonging to the Institute of Literature (1 building), listed as a Group 2 villa; buildings belonging to Hanoi Electricity (2 buildings), listed as Group 3 villas; a building belonging to the Department of Culture and Sports, which is a valuable architectural structure currently under review; and the "Power Plant" and the statue of President Ho Chi Minh within the Hanoi Electricity land area.

To create a special "green lane" for the project (meaning ensuring it is not stalled by any difficulties or obstacles and is implemented in the shortest possible time), Hanoi is simultaneously carrying out the local adjustment of the H1-1B zoning plan (Hoan Kiem Lake area and its surroundings), at a scale of 1/2000, along with the preparation of the overall site plan at a scale of 1/500 (detailed planning using a simplified process), and the construction and approval of the architectural plan for the land area east of Hoan Kiem Lake.

In addition, the selection of consulting firms will be carried out according to specific mechanisms and policies as stipulated in Resolution No. 188/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025, of the National Assembly . The completion deadline for the three planning projects and architectural designs is set for before April 16, 2025.

Regarding architectural design, the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake should be studied with the aim of transforming it into a special square and park; this includes thorough investigation and surveying of valuable architectural structures to develop preservation plans and propose appropriate and harmonious functions within the area's architectural landscape.

The study focuses on planning and organizing the underground space (approximately 3 basement levels), connecting the underground space of station C9 - urban railway line 2 Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao (to be implemented later, in synchronization with the construction of underground station C9 on Dinh Tien Hoang street), with appropriate technical solutions for preserving structures during the basement construction; and proposing functional uses for the underground space to ensure efficient land use and meet the needs of the people.

After finalizing the architectural plan for the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee will organize a consultation process with organizations, individuals, and the local community in accordance with regulations.

Regarding the resettlement of households, the Hanoi People's Committee has assigned the Dong Anh District People's Committee to allocate approximately 100 hectares of land to serve the resettlement work for the planning and renovation project of the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake and other key projects of the city (Tu Lien Bridge project, Tran Hung Dao Bridge project, etc.).

The People's Committee of Hanoi City applies the highest compensation mechanisms and policies as stipulated for the people, arranges resettlement with land (in Dong Anh district) for those who meet the conditions for compensation for residential land; arranges temporary housing for households (while waiting for resettlement land) and sells resettlement houses to those who do not meet the conditions for resettlement with land to stabilize their lives during land clearance.

In line with practical requirements

Regarding the implementation of the design and renovation plan for Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square, research and proposals will be made to arrange three underground levels in the existing square area and the expanded space (after the demolition of the "shark's jaw" building) to accommodate cultural and commercial spaces on basement level 1, and parking areas on basement levels 2 and 3; if parking is not provided, the space can be used for dual-purpose purposes.

The research process for the spatial organization plan of Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square will specifically consider the spatial organization, access to and from the tunnel, traffic management solutions, landscape design for surrounding areas and buildings, the location of the plaza and grandstands, the location of the "light tower," the arrangement of greenery (including appropriate solutions for heritage trees), and lighting plans...

Regarding the implementation process and procedures, the report clearly states: the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee is tasked with organizing the preparation of the overall master plan in parallel with the preparation of a separate urban design as a basis for implementing the investment project to renovate, beautify, and reconstruct the Dong Kinh - Nghia Thuc Square space according to regulations (the preparation process requires consultation with the City Architecture Council and seeking opinions from relevant organizations, individuals, and the community).

The Department of Finance is tasked with guiding the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee in proposing investment policies, including adding the project to the medium-term public investment plan, with phased investment (Phase 1: land clearance and construction of the above-ground part of the square; Phase 2: implementation of construction of the underground part). The city also set a deadline for completing the demolition of the "shark jaw" building and clearing the site before April 30, 2025.

Architect Pham Hoang Phuong, M.Sc., Architectural Criticism Expert, National Institute of Architecture, Ministry of Construction, assessed that, in the context of the need for innovation in urban landscape architecture to bring Hanoi and the whole country into a new era, in which the preservation and promotion of the core architectural and landscape values ​​of the capital's heritage space are considered as a driving force to create a clearer identity and recognition of the city, and at the same time become one of the driving forces for sustainable socio-economic development, the Hanoi People's Committee's planning project to renovate the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake is a very bold research direction, but appropriate to the circumstances and practical requirements.

 

From a practical standpoint, when organizing cultural and artistic events, Hanoi often has to hold them in front of the Grand Opera House – which is essentially a traffic island. Therefore, considering expanding the public space around Hoan Kiem Lake is extremely necessary. Hanoi must create a community space for cultural activities so that when people come here, they will see the unique characteristics of Hanoi and fall in love with the city.

The renovation project not only boldly demolished the "shark's jaw" building but also several other buildings deemed unsuitable, restoring to Hoan Kiem Lake a friendly, welcoming, open space, a space that truly embodies solemnity, history, and culture.

Architect Pham Thanh Tung - Chief of Office of the Vietnam Association of Architects

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/cai-tao-khong-gian-ho-hoan-kiem-tao-lan-xanh-dac-biet-cho-du-an.html