The map of the subdivision planning of four historic inner-city districts has been approved by the Hanoi People's Committee.

Nguyen Duc Hung, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Construction Planning Institute, said that under the planning Hoan Kiem district will include the old quarter, Hoan Kiem lake and vicinity, and the old streets with a total area of 347.65 hectares. The estimated population for the district will be 100,000. The current population of Hoan Kiem district is 91,219.

Ba Dinh district has a planned area of 703.93 hectares and estimated population of 160,000. Its current population stands at 199,586.

Dong Da district has a planned area of 994 hectares and estimated population of 255,000, compared to the current number of 371,000.

Hai Ba Trung district has a planned area of 664.37 hectares and estimated population of 157,000, compared to the current number of 255,000.

Mr. Hung said that the plan to reduce the number of people by 215,000 in the four urban districts in the next 10 years is feasible and realistic.

Specifically, 120,000 people will be relocated who are connected to site clearance projects for road construction and those who are connected to illegal use of public land. Meanwhile, 100,000 people will be relocated when head offices of state agencies are moved from the inner area.

"In the past six years, the population of Hoan Kiem district has also decreased by 20,000," Hung said.

He said that the planning aims to control the population, develop additional social and economic infrastructure systems, relocate industrial establishments, warehouses, universities, and offices of ministries and state agencies, renovate existing spaces, and rebuild old apartment buildings; develop public transport and urban railway; preserve relics and heritage sites, create green corridors and public spaces; develop main urban axes; and renovate architectural space...

The plan aims to develop a synchronous and complete system of urban roads and railways, and a parking system, including 38 high-rise and 51 underground parking lots, with an area of 44.4 hectares.

The relocation of head offices of ministries and state agencies out of the inner city will create an area of about 176 hectares, which will be allocated to building schools, kindergartens, parks, and new trees.

Mr. Hung said that control of architecture in the historic inner city will focus on preserving and promoting the value of regional heritage, and identifying appropriate values, in combination with management regulations of the old quarter, the old streets, Hoan Kiem lake and the surrounding area. High-rise buildings will be built around radial roads, ring roads, and urban railways.

At the same time, old apartment buildings will be renovated and reconstructed in the direction of increased height, lower construction density, and increase in greenery areas and public utilities on the motto of on-site resettlement.

Huong Quynh

Hanoi vows not to build high-rises in inner city

Hanoi has announced the urban planning of four inner districts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung and Dong Da. The total area of the districts is 2,709 hectares, with a current population of nearly 900,000 people.

215,000 people, multiple agencies to be moved from Hanoi’s inner area

According to planning for Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung districts, the total population in Hoan Kiem district’s old quarter, the area around Hoan Kiem lake and surrounding areas needs to be reduced by over 215,000 people.