Hanoi: The People’s Council of Hanoi on Monday approved investment for the ambitious Hồng (Red) River scenic boulevard project, spanning 16 wards and communes with a total estimated investment of nearly VNĐ737 trillion (approximately US$29.35 billion).
Covering more than 11,400 hectares, the project is regarded as one of the largest infrastructure and urban renovation initiatives ever undertaken in the Vietnamese capital and is expected to play a strategic role in shaping urban development along the Red River for decades.
Permanent Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dương Đức Tuấn said the project aims to complete and modernise transport infrastructure, encourage urban expansion along both banks of the Red River and support sustainable development goals while improving the quality of Hà Nội’s central urban areas.
He said the initiative also seeks to implement key orientations outlined in Politburo Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW dated May 5, 2022, concerning Hà Nội’s development to 2030 with a vision to 2045, Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW dated March 17, 2026, on building and developing Hà Nội in a new era, as well as the capital city’s 100-year master plan.
The large-scale project will extend through several riverside communes and wards, including Hồng Hà, Ô Diên, Thượng Cát, Đông Ngạc, Phú Thượng, Lĩnh Nam, Thanh Trì, Nam Phù, Hồng Vân, Mê Linh, Thiên Lộc, Vĩnh Thanh, Đông Anh, Bồ Đề, Long Biên and Bát Tràng.
Planned developments include scenic boulevards, ecological and entertainment parks, urban development zones, technical infrastructure systems and water-surface improvement projects.
The transport component will feature two scenic boulevard routes running along both banks of the Red River with a combined length of nearly 80 kilometres. The right-bank route will stretch approximately 45.35 kilometres, while the left-bank route will cover around 35 kilometres.
The project will also include embankment construction, riverbed and riverbank improvements, resettlement and urban redevelopment zones in Long Biên, Lĩnh Nam and Bát Tràng, alongside independent land-clearance projects.
Construction is scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2038. During the 2026–2030 phase, Hà Nội authorities will prioritise major components including the two riverside boulevard routes, embankment systems, public parks, “urban living room” areas, resettlement zones and independent site-clearance projects.
During discussions at the People’s Council session, delegates emphasised that the project would have a significant impact not only on infrastructure and urban renewal but also on cultural heritage, livelihoods and community spaces along the Red River.
Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports Phạm Tuấn Long noted that the project passes through many traditional craft villages, ancient settlements, historical-cultural relics and community spaces characteristic of northern delta residents.
According to Long, areas along the right bank such as Đông Ngạc, Phú Thượng, Lĩnh Nam, Thanh Trì and Hồng Vân possess strong cultural and tourism potential. Hồng Vân has particularly developed eco-agricultural tourism and bonsai production while preserving ancient village structures and traditional craft villages.
On the left bank, areas including Mê Linh, Đông Anh, Bát Tràng and Long Biên continue to preserve distinctive cultural values. Bát Tràng alone is home to nearly 1,000 ceramic production and business households and has become a prominent centre for craft village tourism and traditional cultural activities.
Long stressed that urban redevelopment efforts must carefully balance modernisation with the preservation of cultural heritage, traditional crafts and community identity.
“Resident relocation must go hand in hand with preserving cultural spaces and craft villages, minimising community fragmentation and ensuring land funds for maintaining local livelihoods,” he said.
He also proposed developing cultural tourism, community tourism and eco-tourism routes along the river, alongside centres promoting craft village products, digital tourism maps and waterway tourism initiatives, while prioritising the preservation of representative heritage clusters.
Other delegates called for broader participation by residents, experts, artisans and social organisations in planning, landscape design and the organisation of riverside cultural spaces.
