Hanoi eyes massive replanning of Red River corridor, relocation of riverside communities

Hanoi plans to gradually relocate and reorganize all residential areas outside the Red River dike system as part of an ambitious urban redevelopment strategy aimed at transforming both banks of the river into a new economic and cultural corridor for the capital.

The plan comes following a Wednesday meeting between Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Hanoi People’s Committee on flood control and hydraulic safety assessments tied to the proposed Red River Scenic Boulevard project, one of the city’s largest urban infrastructure plans.

Authorities said they had broadly agreed with a revised zoning proposal submitted by the project investors for the Red River urban subdivision plan. Under the proposal, construction land within the riverbank area would be expanded to accommodate a large-scale landscape boulevard stretching from Hong Ha bridge to Me So bridge.

The corridor is envisioned as a central green axis for Hanoi, integrating commercial districts, urban development, creative industries, and science and technology hubs along both sides of the river.

Officials said the revised plan remains aligned with Hanoi’s 100-year master plan and complies with national flood prevention and dike protection standards.

The ministry and municipal government also agreed on a flood management approach based on hydraulic and hydrological modelling, riverbed regulation and elevation controls designed to ensure flood discharge capacity during both rainy and dry seasons.

The broader proposal includes restoring interconnected river systems flowing through Hanoi, including the Tich, Nhue and Day rivers. Hanoi is also studying the construction of water-control dams on the Red River near Pho Hien and on the Duong River downstream of Long Tuu.

A key component of the redevelopment involves the gradual relocation and restructuring of all communities currently living outside the dike system.

“Relevant agencies agreed on gradually relocating, reorganizing, and replanning all riverside residential areas to meet the goal of comprehensive and synchronized redevelopment along both sides of the Red River,” the joint statement said.

Preliminary estimates suggest around 200,000 residents may be affected by the broader redevelopment program, although part of the population could be resettled on-site.

Traditional craft villages and cultural areas along the river, including Bat Trang ceramics village, Kim Lan, Van Duc, and the famous Nhat Tan peach blossom area, are expected to be preserved and integrated into tourism, cultural, and public park developments.

In late 2025, Hanoi’s People’s Council approved the investment policy for the Red River Scenic Boulevard project.

The project spans more than 11,000 hectares and carries a preliminary investment estimate of roughly VND855 trillion ($32.5 billion). It stretches from Hong Ha bridge to Me So bridge, crossing 19 wards and communes on both sides of the river.

The development is divided into four major components: a landscape boulevard and public park system; large-scale site clearance and urban reconstruction works; a 45-km underground metro line along the western riverbank; and resettlement zones. The project is set for completion by 2030.