Hanoi unveils 100‑year master plan to reshape urban space and preserve cultural identity

The Hanoi government has released a 100‑year master plan that will comprehensively restructure the city’s urban space. The plan focuses on redeveloping the central area, creating transit‑oriented districts around new metro lines, and exploiting multi‑level underground zones for public, commercial, and technical uses. By 2045, at least 20% of the central district’s surface is to be built underground, rising to about 40% by 2065.

Preservation of historic and cultural landmarks is a core principle: the Old Quarter, Hoàng Thành Thăng Long, Cổ Loa, Văn Miếu–Quốc Tử Giám and other heritage sites will be protected while new high‑density, mixed‑use neighborhoods are added. The plan also emphasizes improving livability, expanding green and water spaces, and enhancing climate resilience. Planners stress that the city’s future character depends not only on physical form but also on maintaining the “cốt cách” – the traditional elegance and civic virtues of Hanoi’s residents.

Overall, the strategy aims to balance modern infrastructure, such as multi‑tier underground facilities and eVTOL taxi services, with the city’s cultural heritage, positioning Hanoi as a model of sustainable, culturally‑rich urban development for the 21st century.