Eighteen years after a major expansion, Vietnam's capital faces a new test: easing congestion, renewing aging neighborhoods and building a more livable city without sacrificing the heritage that defines it.

A project to renovate and upgrade two sites in Hanoi's Old Quarter was launched on October 8, marking the first step towards establishing the Dong Xuan-Bac Qua cultural industry centre.

From a river serving flood prevention and forming a natural boundary between urban areas, the Red River is being repositioned by Hanoi as a strategic axis in the capital’s master plan with a 100-year vision.

Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem ward launched a pilot smart street model on October 9 along the Hang Dao–Hang Ngang–Hang Duong–Dong Xuan–Hang Giay route, integrating digital services with heritage preservation, tourism and commerce.

Hanoi must accelerate growth while improving governance, quality of life and its contribution to national development. 

Vietnam's capital is marking the 72nd anniversary of its liberation on October 10 by opening road sections and launching projects spanning wastewater treatment, industry, healthcare, education and tourism.

Hanoi's total state budget revenue in the first nine months of 2026 was estimated at nearly 567.6 trillion VND (21.8 billion USD), or 87.3% of the full-year target and up 5.9% from a year earlier.

Seventy-two years after troops marched into Hanoi to take over the capital, the city has gone from a capital emerging from war to one of Vietnam's main economic hubs.

The Hanoi Beverage Festival 2026 is scheduled to take place from October 9 to 11 under the theme “Hanoi – The essence of Vietnamese beverages”.

Ensuring a safe, stable, and continuous power supply for Hanoi in its new development phase requires more than investment in power lines, substations, and system capacity.

The Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco) on October 6 put 25 VinFast EB8 electric buses into service on routes No. 30 (My Dinh Bus Station–Gamuda City) and No. 50 (Long Bien–An Lac Urban Area), replacing diesel vehicles.

The proposal to organize three traffic lanes on Ring Road 3 in Hanoi stems from the fact that the route has been overloaded for years.

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino Quintero and his wife explored Vietnamese heritage at Hanoi's Temple of Literature, sounding a ceremonial drum and viewing a rare 80kg piece of agarwood.

Hanoi plans to submit master plans for 44 communes for appraisal by Oct. 31, complete reviews in November and secure approvals in December 2026 as part of its 100-year vision for the Vietnamese capital.

Hanoi will stage 15-minute fireworks displays over West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake on Oct. 10, with music, concerts and cultural events across the capital marking the 72nd anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day.

Hanoi is reviewing an investment proposal for a roughly 300-hectare safari and ecotourism complex in Ba Vi, with city authorities requiring careful assessment of existing land use and potential impacts on local residents and their livelihoods.

Hanoi plans to put 15 transport projects into service by the end of 2026, including the Kim Dong underpass and key sections of Ring Roads 1, 2.5, 3.5 and 4, as the capital works to improve connectivity and ease congestion.

Hanoi plans to simultaneously develop five urban railway lines - Nos. 1, 2, 8, 10 and 14 - with funding prioritized to bring them into operation by 2030, a goal the city considers both urgent and strategically important.

Hanoi on October 3 launched activities marking the first Vietnam Culture Day in the capital, under the theme “Thang Long-Hanoi, a thousand years of civilisation - A kaleidoscope of Vietnamese colours.”