VietNamNet Bridge – The plan to move ministries and central agencies out of Hanoi’s center was kicked off several years ago. So far, eight ministries have had new offices while 11 others are waiting for their turn.

The new head office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The requirement to remove headquarters of ministries and government agencies out of Hanoi’s hub (from the southern bank of the Red River to the belt road No. 2, in the four districts of Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung and part of Tay Ho District) was initiated many years ago.

According to the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture, to date, only eight out of 19 ministries and central agencies have been allocated land for the removal. Some have finished the construction of their new offices while others are building the offices. The total area of land for the removal is 20.21 hectares.

Eleven others have also asked to move out of Hanoi’s center, to have new offices because their current offices are outdated and narrowed, which do not meet their need of development. The removal has been approved.

According to the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture, the total area for these ministries is estimated at 77 hectares, including 27 hectares in the West Lake area for ministries, 30-50 hectares in Me Tri commune of Tu Liem district for central agencies.

The total land left by 19 ministries and agencies after their removal is about 50.8 hectares, which is considered as “golden land” because these plots of land are located in the city’s center, at very nice positions, which are favorable for business. How will the golden land be used after the removal of ministries, thus, is a big concern.

Many experts and people have proposed to use the golden land for building public works, not to build apartment buildings because if high-rise buildings are built on the golden land, the goal of relaxing population density in the capital city’s center will fail.

Compiled by Mai Lan