Recently, the Hanoi People's Committee approved a list of key construction and investment projects scheduled to break ground in celebration of the capital's 71st Liberation Day anniversary (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2025).

Among the eight highlighted projects is the proposed development of a riverside park on both sides of the To Lich River. This announcement follows the city's recent move on September 9 to channel water from West Lake into the river via a dedicated pipeline, marking a key step in the effort to restore the long-polluted waterway.

Now that treated wastewater has begun to be collected and filtered at the Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant before being discharged into the river, and with fresh water from West Lake flowing in, Hanoi has turned its focus to beautifying the riverbanks. The riverside park plan has attracted widespread public attention.

However, specific details about the project have yet to be announced. The Hanoi People’s Council is expected to meet in September to deliberate on the proposal.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Dr. Dao Ngoc Nghiem, architect and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, noted that proposals to improve the To Lich River’s surroundings have been under consideration for decades.

As far back as 2000–2001, Hanoi proposed a project to renovate the river, but administrative challenges related to the former Ha Tay Province delayed implementation.

Dr. Nghiem welcomed the city’s renewed commitment, calling it a positive step. However, he emphasized the need for careful urban design on both riverbanks and encouraged the city to revisit design ideas previously proposed by Japanese consultants, who had envisioned gardens reflecting the Nguyen and Le dynasties.

“Hanoi should develop new studies but must also inherit insights from past projects,” Nghiem said. “Any new approach must be rooted in historical lessons and cultural continuity. To Lich is only one river in a capital with over 1,000 years of history, so we cannot compress the entire city’s memory into just these riverbanks.”

He stressed that landscape improvements must aim to enhance the living standards of residents on both sides of the river. Public gardens should be developed in areas of true significance rather than treating the entire riverside as a container of Hanoi’s heritage.

Dr. Nghiem also urged that the implementation plan should be built with community consensus, not imposed unilaterally, given the cultural and symbolic importance of the river.

“Landscape renovation must go hand in hand with safety and improved quality of life,” he said. “To Lich is just one of many urban features in the capital, so we need a rational and balanced development path.”

Stretching more than 13 kilometers, the To Lich River has suffered from severe pollution for many years. The recent installation of a pipeline supplying water from West Lake and the wastewater treatment at Yen Xa have revived hopes of restoring the river’s long-lost beauty.

N. Huyen