Seen as a key solution for socio-economic development, Hanoi has been allocating a large chunk of state budget to upgrade transportation infrastructure, with the amount going up to VND7 trillion (US$302.02 million) annually.

Hoan Kiem Lake

So far, a number of major transportation projects has been completed and effectively contributed to easing traffic congestion, including Ring Road No.2, Vinh Tuy bridge, Ring Road No.3, National highway 1A (Van Dien - Ngoc Hoi section), the viaduct over the intersection of Nguyen Van Huyen - Hoang Quoc Viet.

Dong Tru Bridge helps connect Dong Anh and Long Bien districts.

All these works are proof of Hanoi’s strategy in putting transportation infrastructure as a key part for the city’s development.

Thang Long avenue.

In the next five years, Hanoi would focus on improving its connectivity with neighboring localities via radial routes, including National highways 1A, 3, 6, 21 and 21B; the road axes of West Thang Long, Ngoc Hoi - Phu Xuyen; Ring Roads No.3.5, 4 and 5.

Newly-built Ring Road No.3 (section Mai Dich – South Thang Long) was opened for traffic on October 11.

This is the only elevated highway in Hanoi that allows a maximum speed of 100km per hour with a total investment cost of VND5.34 trillion (US$230 million).

While the urban railway line No.2A (section Cat Linh – Ha Dong) and the pilot urban railway line 3 (section Nhon – Hanoi Railway Station) are set to become operational soon, Hanoi will kick off the construction of four more urban railway lines in the period of 2021-2025, including line 5 (section Van Cao - Hoa Lac), line 3 (Hanoi Railway Station - Hoang Mai), the line from Nam Thang Long to Tran Hung Dao street, line 1 (Yen Vien - Ngoc Hoi).

Cat Linh – Ha Dong railway route.

Vo Nguyen Giap street.

Hanoi will focus on the modernization and rapid development, especially improving socio-economic infrastructure to ensure greater connectivity among the metropolitan, suburban and satellite urban areas.

Hanoi’s West Lake.

View from the West of Hanoi.

Hanoi’s GRDP growth is estimated to reach 3.94% this year, 1.5 times higher than the national average (2.5–3%).

View of Ba Dinh district.

For next year, Hanoi expects its economic growth to increase by 7.5% as the city will continue to pursue the dual target of both containing the pandemic and boosting for economic recovery

Nam Tu Liem district.

Hanoi’s view from Dong Anh district.

Cau Giay district.

By 2030, Hanoi is targeted to become a modern, green and smart city with high competitiveness and achieve GRDP per capita of around US$12,000-13,000.

Pham Hung/Ngoc Thuy (Hanoitimes)

A different Hanoi in bird’s-eye view

Those who have lived long enough in Hanoi are probably familiar with every corner of the capital city. However, there may exist a surprisingly different Hanoi when viewed from above.