"Good planning creating a riverside ecological urban area"

Prof. Dr. Dang Hung Vo

Former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment 

The Red River/ Photo: Trung Kien

Planning the two sides of the Red River in its section through Hanoi has been thought of for a long time, but its solution has not been found. It is important for a good urbanization of Hanoi and the restoration of order in the riparian area in the Red River.

The planning of the riparian areas of the Red River, once completed, would further facilitate the urbanization and tourism. . At the same time, it is expected to create many jobs for Hanoi people. In order to have a good planning on both sides of the Red River, Hanoi needs to mobilize and make the best of the experts who have good knowledge about the Red River and Hanoi. Thereby it is necessary to give the solution to this issue as soon as possible.

"Red River flood control plan should be approved soon"

Mr. Luu Quang Huy

Director of Hanoi Urban Construction Planning Institute 

Photo: Phuong Phuong

The urban zoning plan on both sides of  Red River  has been conducted  by Hanoi’s authorities in 2013, but it has not been approved due to some legal shortcomings. While this detailed planning was being carried out by the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, an amended law of the government was launched and came into effect from January 1, 2019 saying that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to approve planning of the flood control of the river dykes.

Therefore, in order to have a basis for the approval of the  zoning and related detailed plans, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development needs to soon approve the   flood control planning of the dyke system on the Red River. In the short term, while the plan is pending approval, the guidance on the construction in the flood drainage corridor.

"More land for urban green development"

Dr. Nguyen Viet Huy

Architect from Faculty of Architecture and Planning

Hanoi University of Civil Engineering

Photo: Nguyen Hieu

In urban planning,  rivers are an endowment of nature for cities. Many  world’s cities have taken good advantages of rivers for an optimum urban development   like Rome (Italy), Paris (France), among other cities, or even in Vietnam, Da Nang Central City has been successful in developing urban areas on both sides of the Han River.

It can be said that the Red River is a great opportunity for Hanoi to build a developing city. Obviously, during the process, there will be many difficulties but it can be solved with the  advances of science and technology today. Hanoi needs to quickly turn the Red River into the backbone as well as the vein of the city, not the boundary. It will create a very special landscape architecture for the city with its own character.

At the same time it will also provide a  land fund for urban development and a giant green lung that few world’s cities could have. If the planning keeps the slow speed, Hanoi will still sink in environmental pollution and construction disorder in the riverside area at the moment.

The planning on both sides of the Red River should not involve private businesses but only public entitie,before calling for investment. It helps avoid the influence of private interests. 

This large project should be considered as a special project that  the Government should request  Hanoi City to  organize an international contest for its design.

In order to get a good planning, the city needs to consult  leading local and international experts, so  that there will be a good solution to the problem of planning two banks of the Red River.