The Hanoi People's Committee has approved the general planning of urban underground space until 2030, with a vision to 2050.

Underground space for walking at Nga Tu So intersection in Hanoi. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Underground works will be built according to the functional zoning. Particularly, construction of underground works will not be carried out in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, even banned in areas classified as national monuments, including ​​Thang Long Imperial Citadel, President Ho Chi Minh's relic site at the Presidential Palace, Temple of Literature, Co Loa ancient citadel, Temple of Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.

Especially, it is forbidden to build underground public works within the zone of defense and security. The construction of underground technical infrastructure needs the approval and supervision of the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security in accordance with military and public security regulations.

The city's major public transport hubs (urban railway station, national railway station) will be the nucleus of developing underground public space beside high-rise buildings, commercial centers, sports facilities, squares, stadiums, among others.

The underground space will include a public car park, technical infrastructure system, public works system, and tunnels connecting underground spaces.

In satellite urban areas of Soc Son, Son Tay, Hoa Lac, Xuan Mai and Phu Xuyen, underground public space will be built below the stations of urban railway lines linking with Hanoi downtown.

In Hoa Lac satellite town and areas where universities and research facilities are planned to be built, it is recommended to build underground works in hi-tech experimental zones, warehouses, storage facilities and experimental production areas.

The master plan on underground space in the central urban area to 2030, with a vision to 2050, was approved to meet the requirements of state management of construction, management and use of underground works in the central urban area, and synchronously connect underground spaces in the city.

According to the decision, the general planning covers the administrative boundaries of 20 districts, including Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Ha Dong, Nam Tu Liem, Bac Tu Liem, Long Bien, Me Linh, Dong Anh, Gia Lam, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc, Thanh Oai, Thanh Tri, Thuong Tin. In addition, it also governs the underground space development in five satellite urban areas in Hanoi’s outer districts of Soc Son, Son Tay, Hoa Lac, Xuan Mai, Phu Xuyen.