Hanoi Party Secretary Tran Duc Thang speaks at the working session.

Also attending the meeting were Central Committee Member and Standing Deputy Party Secretary Nguyen Trong Dong; Member of the Hanoi Party Standing Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan; along with representatives of relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities.

The meeting took place immediately after Hanoi Party Chief Tran Duc Thang and the city's working delegation had carried out field inspections of seven key flood prevention, drainage, and transport projects across the capital beginning on the afternoon of April 18.

Hanoi Department of Construction Director Nguyen Phi Thuong reports at the meeting

By April 30, 2026, complete dredging of all retention lakes and install pumping stations to proactively lower water levels

Reporting at the conference, Director of the Department of Construction Nguyen Phi Thuong said the city's drainage system currently meets only about 20% of the approved master plan. Of the four main drainage basins, the left bank of the Day River, the right bank of the Day River, the To Lich River, and the area north of the Red River, only the To Lich River basin, covering 77 square kilometers, has been relatively fully invested in. The remaining basins are still in the early stage of development and lack synchronization in culverts, pumping stations, and retention lakes.

Across the city, there are 48 main pumping stations with a combined capacity of about 1,325 cubic meters per second. However, only nine major stations are in operation, six are under construction, and the rest are small-scale facilities. 

Under the plan, Hanoi needs 5,050 hectares of retention lakes, but only 1,010 hectares have been completed, equal to about 19%. When storms at the end of 2024 brought rainfall beyond design capacity, the city recorded 220 flooded locations, including 91 managed by the city and 119 under commune and ward authorities.

Following directives from the central government and the Hanoi Party Committee, the Hanoi People's Committee issued a list of 10 emergency flood prevention and drainage works. The Agricultural Technical Infrastructure Board serves as the investor for five pumping stations, retention lakes, and two systemwide projects. 

One notable project is the rehabilitation of the Phu Phuong canal, which will both drain flooding for Bac Tu Liem district and replenish water for the To Lich River, while also serving irrigation needs for about 300 hectares of agricultural land. The Yen Luu pumping station is being developed to improve drainage from the Nhue River to the To Lich River, then through the Yen So pumping station to the Red River.

At the same time, the City Technical Infrastructure Center is implementing eight more items to connect underground systems and pumping stations from the Phu Thuong area through Hoang Quoc Viet Street, supporting drainage in Ecopark, Ciputra, and Bac Tu Liem. The Phu Thuong pumping station, with a capacity of 9 cubic meters per second, is scheduled for completion in 2026 to increase drainage capacity in that area.

In the To Lich River basin, where 52 additional inner-city flooding points have emerged, the city is installing pumping stations for 12 retention lakes, adding about 800,000 cubic meters of storage capacity. Together with six publicly funded retention lakes, total added storage capacity will reach about 1.4 million cubic meters. 

By April 30, 2026, all retention lakes will be dredged and equipped with pumping stations to proactively lower water levels before rain. Many localized flooding points, such as the Tran Duy Hung underpass and Thang Long Boulevard, are also being equipped with additional regulating pumping stations.

The city has also issued three more emergency orders, including Chem Lake, covering 9 hectares, Lien Mac Lake, covering 22 hectares, and the installation of a citywide flood warning sensor system. Total additional water regulation capacity will reach about 4.8 million cubic meters, which is expected to raise drainage capacity by more than 20% and address more than 60% of flooding points if rainfall is similar to that of 2024.

One key item is the Dan Hoai canal. Since all drainage water ultimately flows into the Nhue River, maintaining the Nhue River water level at elevation +4.5 meters is a prerequisite. The Dan Hoai canal will channel water to the Yen Nghia pumping station, which has a capacity of 120 cubic meters per second, maximizing the effectiveness of the pumping station and the two Yen Nghia retention lakes.

Organize construction wherever land has been handed over

On transport, Thuong said the city currently has eight ring roads, 12 national highways, eight radial corridors, and seven radial expressways. However, the proportion of land devoted to transport has reached only 10.13%, compared with the 20% target, while static traffic infrastructure stands at 0.5%, against the 3% to 4% target. With about 6.7 million motorbikes and 1.3 million cars, congestion has become increasingly complex. 

The city has established a steering committee, maintained response teams at more than 200 congestion hot spots, and reviewed traffic organization, opened right-turn slip lanes, and adjusted intersection geometry.

Three emergency traffic orders have been implemented, including works at the Phap Van intersection, the National Highway 2 – Vo Nguyen Giap intersection, and the opening of the remaining three sections of Ring Road 2.5 through Thanh Xuan, Yen Hoa, and Cau Giay. Among them, Cau Giay Ward has achieved the best progress in site clearance. Thanh Xuan Ward still faces resettlement obstacles, while Yen Hoa Ward is actively moving forward. Wherever land is handed over, the Transport Project Management Board is organizing construction immediately, aiming for completion in 2026.

As for ring roads, Rings 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 have now been closed in principle. Only Ring Road 2 still has the Nga Tu So – Cau Giay section under study to identify a solution to complete the loop. Ring Road 3 is basically complete once the section north of the Red River is finished. Ring Road 4 is under construction and is expected to begin operation in 2027. The city is also prioritizing the 50-kilometer section of Ring Road 5 within Hanoi to bring its connectivity benefits into use as soon as possible.

At the Ring Road 4 – Capital Region project, Nguyen Phi Thuong said several design adjustments for the interchange with the Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway and the connection to the heritage axis are being appraised by the Department of Construction. Because one section lies outside the dike and includes a proposal for a low viaduct, the file must obtain opinions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment before procedures can be completed. An official response is expected in April 2026 so the investor can proceed with the next steps and maintain the overall project schedule.

Prioritize opening routes to traffic and completing the core infrastructure framework

Speaking at the meeting, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan stressed that the consistent requirement is to ensure progress on key infrastructure projects and fully resolve bottlenecks in transport and drainage in the spirit of public investment and emergency construction.

Tuan asked departments, agencies, project management boards, and local authorities to reach a high degree of consensus on technical solutions, clearly define responsibilities among investors at complicated construction locations, prioritize opening routes to traffic and completing the core infrastructure framework first, and at the same time prepare technical conditions for later items.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan speaks at the meeting.

For projects still facing site clearance obstacles, Tuan required specific timelines to be set and strictly completed as committed, while resettlement planning must be synchronized to ensure enough housing stock for relocation. Wherever land is handed over, construction must begin immediately. There must be no interruptions that affect the overall schedule. For interprovincial projects, the city should proactively establish coordination mechanisms and remain flexible in mobilizing financial resources to help neighboring localities remove difficulties and maintain overall progress.

For PPP projects, Tuan requested a thorough review of recommendations related to technical matters, material prices, and contract mechanisms, with solutions handled in the spirit of supporting businesses while tightly controlling costs and ensuring the committed schedule.

In the areas of drainage and environment, Tuan required all emergency construction orders to be completed on time, while missing items must be reviewed and added to ensure systemwide effectiveness and all problems obstructing progress must be fully resolved.

The city always stands with projects to ensure progress

Speaking at the meeting, Standing Deputy Party Secretary Nguyen Trong Dong asked departments and agencies to absorb the recommendations made by BOT enterprises to strengthen technical designs first, after which the adjusted project's basic design can be completed.

On progress, deadlines must be made clear and every available resource must be concentrated on implementation. For other recommendations related to input prices for ordinary construction materials, land prices, and similar issues, units were asked to report in detail to the Hanoi People's Committee and project investors. The city always stands with projects to ensure progress.

Actual inspections showed that all units are working with a high sense of responsibility and a proactive spirit. In particular, investors, management units, departments, agencies, wards, and communes have acted very decisively. Many projects have seen positive progress and are basically on track to meet schedule requirements.

Dong also required that work be completed neatly as construction advances, so that drainage bottlenecks do not turn into environmental pollution bottlenecks that obstruct traffic and affect residents' travel. In particular, contract packages must not be split into smaller parts in ways that harm project quality and progress.

If progress has been committed, it must be delivered

Delivering concluding remarks at the meeting, Hanoi Party Secretary Tran Duc Thang praised departments, agencies, local authorities, and related units for their efforts to ensure progress on key transport and flood prevention projects across the capital.

Thang said that the two field inspection sessions clearly showed the sense of responsibility and public-minded spirit of departments, agencies, local authorities, project management boards, investors, and contractors. Relevant units have focused on removing bottlenecks in each project and each task to maintain construction progress and meet the set objectives and requirements, thereby contributing to urban restructuring, regional connectivity, and the city's competitiveness.

Thang said he believes that the seven works and projects inspected this time, together with other projects underway across the city, will make a real difference when completed, helping reshape the capital and create new development space for Hanoi.

According to Thang, field inspections also revealed several shortcomings and limitations that agencies, units, and local authorities must urgently address, especially in coordination and site clearance. In particular, in site clearance work, the responsibility of the person in charge plays an especially important role. Practice shows that wherever the local leader steps in and takes responsibility, the work is handled well and the schedule is maintained.

Regarding specific tasks in the coming period, for the Ring Road 4 – Capital Region project, Thang instructed relevant departments and agencies to remove obstacles immediately in strict compliance with the law.

Regarding the Ring Road 4 project, Thang said he had already discussed the matter with leaders of Hung Yen province and would hold a meeting next week to immediately resolve land clearance for the Ngoc Hoi Bridge section. For the Ring Road 1 project, relevant departments, agencies, and local authorities must coordinate closely to fully resolve remaining obstacles and ensure project progress.

For the Ring Road 2.5 project, in the section from Dich Vong New Urban Area to Duong Dinh Nghe Street, Thang required Cau Giay Ward to complete site clearance for the remaining area no later than May 15, 2026 and speed up construction progress. 

For the Vu Pham Ham – Tran Duy Hung and Nguy Nhu Kon Tum – Nguyen Trai sections, Thang instructed relevant departments and agencies and Yen Hoa and Thanh Xuan wards to urgently remove obstacles and complete site clearance. As an immediate requirement, local authorities must ensure that by April 30, 2026, site clearance is completed and the land is handed over to contractors for construction.

Thang also asked the Department of Construction to keep close track of every task, every project, and every work item under its management so it can better fulfill its role as the city leadership's overall strategic adviser. 

Relevant units and project management boards must accelerate construction while ensuring schedule, quality, and construction safety. Leaders of agencies, units, and local authorities that have committed to project timelines must carry them through so that the city can achieve its goals and tasks and firmly avoid any waste of resources.

Thang expressed confidence that with determination, decisiveness, and a strong sense of responsibility from agencies, units, local authorities, and the city's cadre, civil servants, and public employees, Hanoi's work will be carried out more effectively and bring an even better life to the capital's residents