The Hanoi People's Committee has issued Decision No. 6396, approving the master plan for Soc Son Urban Subdivision Zone 3 at a scale of 1:2,000. The plan encompasses parts of Phu Linh, Tien Duoc, Tan Minh, Xuan Giang, Duc Hoa, Dong Xuan, Kim Lu communes, and Soc Son town in Soc Son district.

The planning area spans approximately 1,424 hectares, with a population forecast of 46,210 by 2030.

Boundaries of the Planned Area:

North: Adjacent to the planned route leading to Soc Temple.
South: Bordered by the new alignment of Route 18.
West: Neighboring the protective corridor and Hanoi–Thai Nguyen national railway.
East: Adjoining the 40-meter-wide urban arterial road.
The subdivision is divided into two planning zones (Zone III.1 and Zone III.2) with 16 development zones to manage growth and transportation.

Key Details of Zone III.1:

Covers 246.5 hectares.
Includes two development zones: 
Zone III.1-1: Designated as a regional sports and recreational hub, featuring the horse racing track.
Zone III.1-2: Allocated for new residential development with comprehensive social infrastructure, alongside commercial and service functions supporting the horse racing facility and the broader area.

Key Details of Zone III.2:

Spans nearly 1,170 hectares.
Comprises 14 development zones, focusing on: 
Integrated healthcare, cultural, and educational facilities.
Public urban services, including a multimodal transportation center.
Development of commercial, office, and hotel areas connected to Da Phuc Station.
Expansion of residential land around existing villages, forming self-contained housing clusters.
Background and Progress of the Horse Racing Project:

Earlier this year, Soc Son district held public consultations on the 1:500 detailed master plan for the Soc Son Multi-Purpose Entertainment Complex and Horse Racing Track in Tan Minh, Phu Linh communes, and Soc Son town.

The project, with an estimated investment of $420 million, is expected to create 5,000 direct jobs and attract around 25,000 workers for various service-related businesses.

September 2019: The Prime Minister approved the investment policy.

October 2019: Hanoi’s Department of Planning and Investment issued the initial investment registration certificate, which was revised for the third time in March 2020.

Post-2021: The project faced delays due to challenges in implementation.

Mid-2022: Hanoi proposed measures to the Prime Minister to resolve land acquisition issues involving 125 hectares for the project.

From 2023 to date, Hanoi has approved seven subdivision master plans for Soc Son. In August 2024, the city approved the Soc Son Urban Subdivision Zone 6 plan (scale 1:2,000), covering over 500 hectares with a projected population of 16,330. This project focuses on industrial clusters and mixed-use developments supporting a university urban area and airport-related services.

Soc Son district is part of the northern city plan for the capital. According to Hanoi's revised general planning framework to 2045, with a vision to 2065, the northern city will encompass Dong Anh, Me Linh, and Soc Son districts, spanning 633 square kilometers and housing approximately 3.25 million residents by 2045.

Hong Khanh