Following the demolition of the iconic "Shark Jaw" building, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Hanoi will undergo a comprehensive renovation. One of the most notable plans is to redesign Dinh Tien Hoang Street as "Dai lo Van Hien" (the Avenue of Heritage) - a symbolic axis connecting history, the present, and the future.

Authorities have recently released visual renderings of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and outlined updates to the buildings and streetscapes surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake.

Currently, Hoan Kiem Ward has completed the demolition of the Shark Jaw building. In its place, a large LED screen has been installed on the newly exposed wall, flanked by flags and floral decorations in celebration of the 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).

The next phase involves removing the median strip on Dinh Tien Hoang Street while preserving the existing trees. Traffic will be reorganized, and mobile planters will be added. These planters can be moved closer to the sidewalks during weekends. The square’s surface will be covered with concrete slabs and gently sloped toward the edge of Hoan Kiem Lake to create a flat and accessible space.

Most notably, the section of Dinh Tien Hoang Street from the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater to the existing fountain will be reimagined as a cultural-historical axis.

Future plans include repurposing Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square into a “waiting dock” - an open space for artistic performances.

The demolition of the Shark Jaw building and integration with surrounding pedestrian areas will open approximately 1.4 hectares of public space. Below this zone, a three-level underground complex is planned.

A new extended Hang Dao Street is also expected to take shape following the demolition.

Running along the Avenue of Heritage will be bronze historical markers embedded with QR codes, allowing visitors to access archives on the formation and development of Hanoi across different eras.

In the second phase of the project, Hoan Kiem Ward will continue implementing landscape and architectural enhancements as directed by the Hanoi People’s Committee. This includes installing light towers and underground infrastructure, redesigning the façades of adjacent streets, paving the square with stone, and adding new public amenities.

Additionally, Thuy Ta Restaurant, located within the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square renovation area, has had incompatible structures removed and will be appropriately redesigned.

Alongside this effort, Hoan Kiem Ward is also carrying out several projects related to the eastern section of Hoan Kiem Lake, as per the city's directives.

PV