On March 14, a representative of the Hanoi People's Committee confirmed that the city leadership had ordered the demolition of the ‘Shark Jaw’ building to make way for the expansion of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.

Following this directive, Hoan Kiem District officials and relevant agencies convened a meeting the same day to outline the demolition process and redevelopment plans.

A historic building to be replaced by underground cultural space

The ‘Shark Jaw’ building, constructed in the early 1990s, sits on a 310m² plot at the former site of an old tramway depot. With six floors and a panoramic view of Hoan Kiem Lake, the building has been a notable landmark in central Hanoi.

Previously, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Duong Duc Tuan, approved a proposal to redevelop the site into an underground complex while expanding Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.

Future plans: Underground commercial and parking space

The city plans to construct a three-level underground complex at the site:

Level 1: Cultural and commercial space

Levels 2 & 3: Underground parking facility

Additionally, Hanoi is working on relocating 11 government offices and dozens of households on the eastern side of Hoan Kiem Lake to create a special park and public square.

Another key project includes a three-level underground space in the eastern part of Hoan Kiem Lake, designed to connect with C9 underground station on the Nam Thang Long - Tran Hung Dao metro line, located beneath Dinh Tien Hoang Street.

Quang Phong