Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Vu Dai Thang, has instructed local wards and communes to audit available land resources in public parks and gardens, and to propose specific projects aimed at implementing solutions effectively and on schedule  -  particularly to resolve urban bottlenecks at the grassroots level.

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Supervision Group 01 of Hanoi Party Committee during a working session with ward-level Party leaders. Photo: Thanh Hai/HNM

On December 7, Vu Dai Thang  -  who also heads the City Party Committee’s Supervision Group 01  -  held working sessions with the Party Standing Committees of Ba Dinh Ward, Ngoc Ha Ward, and Thu Lam Commune, focusing on leadership, policy implementation, and urgent development tasks for the remainder of 2025.

At the meeting, Ba Dinh Ward Party Secretary Pham Quang Thanh noted that the area is a core political and administrative center, hosting many central government offices and frequently serving as a venue for major events. This gives sanitation, urban order, and traffic safety the highest priority.

According to Thanh, Ba Dinh has a dense population, high traffic volume, and bustling service activities, placing significant stress on existing infrastructure. He requested city approval to increase the frequency of street cleaning and sidewalk washing, especially in key downtown areas.

Regarding traffic management, Thanh highlighted that areas like Doi Can and Ngoc Ha regularly suffer from congestion, particularly on weekends. The narrow roads and outdated infrastructure are overwhelmed by the volume of vehicles  -  especially tour buses heading to heritage sites. On-street parking further reduces road capacity.

In response, Ba Dinh Ward proposed the development of centralized parking facilities in nearby zones to ease pressure on static traffic flow. Thanh called this a fundamental solution to mitigate congestion, promote urban civility, and meet the needs of residents and visitors alike.

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Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Vu Dai Thang. Photo: Thanh Hai/HNM

Ward leaders also urged the city to prioritize public investment in underground and elevated parking facilities. “The city should utilize underground space for parking. The planning has been there for years, but it’s a ‘tough nut’ that private investors avoid, so public capital is essential,” said Thanh.

Addressing this issue, Le Thanh Nam  -  Chief of Staff for the Hanoi People’s Committee and Deputy Head of Supervision Group 01  -  said the city had already ordered a review of all inner-city flower gardens that qualify for underground parking projects. Hanoi also aims to eliminate street-level public restrooms and gradually relocate these utilities underground, integrating them with parking structures.

Nam added that many investors have expressed interest in participating in underground parking projects under a public-private partnership model. The city will consolidate proposals, include them in the overall urban plan, and conduct reviews for implementation starting in 2026 and beyond.

Concluding the meeting, Vu Dai Thang emphasized the importance of this round of inspections. Nearly six months after launching the two-tier urban governance model, Thang said the administrative system had begun operating more smoothly and was clearly aiding local management efforts.

He also noted that the Hanoi People's Council has approved a bold target: a GRDP growth rate of 11% for 2026  -  an ambitious goal that will require unified commitment from the entire political apparatus, business community, and citizens. The city will continue refining special policies and organizational models to meet development demands.

Addressing local proposals, Thang endorsed the idea of developing shared-use spaces and infrastructure such as parking lots and electric charging stations. He encouraged grassroots authorities to proactively submit detailed project plans, saying, “No one understands the area better than local officials themselves.”

Dinh Hieu