The 18th Hanoi Party Committee Executive Board for the 2025–2030 term on December 13 convened a thematic conference to consider and approve the investment policy for two major strategic projects of the capital: the Olympic Sports Urban Area project in southern Hanoi and the Red River Scenic Boulevard Axis project.

The conference took place as the entire city Party organization accelerated the implementation of the 18th Hanoi Party Congress Resolution, key strategic resolutions of the Politburo, and the directives of General Secretary To Lam.

These efforts align with institutional reform and completion of Hanoi's development planning with a 100-year vision.

Under the orientation, the Olympic Sports Urban Area will become a modern and integrated urban–sports complex capable of hosting major regional and international sporting events such as the Asian Games and the Olympic Games.

The project will also help connect technical and social infrastructure and create a modern architectural and landscape space in southern Hanoi.

It is expected to cover about 9,171 hectares across 11 communes in southern Hanoi and include four main functional zones labeled A, B, C and D.

These zones will focus on sports urban development and service-oriented urban areas linked to an international-standard sports complex and stadium, forming a large-scale sports and service hub for the capital.

The project's preliminary total investment is estimated at VND925.6 trillion (US$35.2 billion), with an expected population of about 751,000 people.

The plan targets completion of the sports complex and stadium by the second quarter of 2030 and completion of the entire project by 2035.

Meanwhile, the Red River Scenic Boulevard Axis stands as a large-scale project with special importance for Hanoi's urban space, infrastructure, and landscape development in the new period.

The project aims to complete the north–south transport corridor along the Red River while forming a modern and sustainable urban and landscape space along both riverbanks.

It will help improve the living environment, enhance the quality of the central urban area, and create new growth momentum for the capital.

The project is expected to create the "Red River miracle", strongly promoting urban, service, and riverside infrastructure development.

Under the proposal, the project will cover about 11,000 hectares, stretching from Hong Ha Bridge to Me So Bridge and passing through 19 communes and wards of Hanoi.

Key components include an approximately 80-kilometer traffic boulevard, a system of landscape parks and recreation areas covering about 3,300 hectares, and around 2,100 hectares designated for land clearance to support urban redevelopment.

The project will include multiple sub-projects on both riverbanks, an underground metro line, and resettlement urban areas. The preliminary total investment is about VND855 trillion ($32.5 million), with completion targeted for 2030.

Discussions at the conference showed strong consensus and high agreement with the investment policy for the two strategic projects, along with firm determination to lead and direct implementation once investment begins.

Nguyen Xuan Minh, Secretary of the Thuong Tin Commune Party Committee, said nearly 1,000 hectares of the commune fall within the Olympic Urban Area project.

Based on public consultation, voters and residents largely supported the project and recommended that detailed planning and related plans pay attention to auxiliary facilities and transport connections among existing residential areas to harmonize local interests.

Noting that the commune has 11 craft villages, Minh urged special attention to approved craft village industrial clusters and social welfare issues, as well as environmental protection, so the project can help create a new urban image and meet criteria for ward status in the future.

Nguyen Xuan Phong, Secretary of the Ngoc Hoi Commune Party Committee, said about 800 hectares of the commune fall within the project planning area, including three key projects: the Olympic City, the Ngoc Hoi Station Complex, and the North–South high-speed railway.

The commune has begun preparing personnel for land clearance work, he said.

With the Olympic City and other key projects, Ngoc Hoi will become an important hub, and the commune government and residents will closely coordinate while expecting strong support from city departments for early implementation.

Expressing strong support, Nguyen Van Quyen, Secretary of the Bat Trang Commune Party Committee, said two major components of the scenic boulevard project lie within the commune.

These include construction of a roughly one-kilometer road requiring clearance of about 60 hectares and development of a thematic park and a natural park requiring clearance of about 254 hectares.

The commune has completed surveys and reviews but faces difficulties due to a lack of resettlement land for relocating 300 to 400 craft village households and the absence of a planned cemetery to relocate about 2,000 graves in the thematic park area.

To ensure smooth land clearance, Quyen proposed planning land in Kim Lan and Van Duc areas for resettlement and grave relocation, ensuring progress in line with city and project timelines.

On that basis, the Hanoi Party Committee Executive Board voted unanimously to approve the conference resolution and endorse the investment policy for both strategic projects.

In closing remarks, Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc said recent progress in decentralization, public investment disbursement, and addressing five major bottlenecks reflects strong unity, responsibility, and decisive leadership innovation.

He highlighted the coordination and sacrifices of residents and officials in wards affected by Ring Road 1 construction.

Ngoc said the city is witnessing major transformation. After drawing lessons from Ring Road 1 land clearance, many local Party secretaries and sector leaders have actively advanced clearance for Ring Roads 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4, seven river-crossing bridge projects, and key radial routes such as National Highways 6 and 21.

Many localities have completed assigned clearance tasks, and the city Party Committee highly praised their working spirit, he added.

Ngoc noted that 20 supervision teams recently worked with 126 communes and wards to identify grassroots difficulties.

Early next week, the Party Standing Committee will review a consolidated report and provide guidance to ensure clear responsibilities under decentralization and a service-oriented administration for residents and businesses.

This approach will shape the city's 2025 review and 2026 task rollout, ensuring all levels clearly understand how to serve society and drive development.

He asked agencies to focus immediately on organizing safe and joyful celebrations for the 2026 New Year and Lunar New Year, especially by reviewing all tasks at public venues.

Ngoc also called on the Hanoi People’s Council Party Committee to closely coordinate with the Hanoi People’s Committee, the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi and relevant agencies after the conference to swiftly institutionalize key decisions.

He stressed that this would ensure the National Assembly’s resolution on special mechanisms is promptly applied to Hanoi’s strategic projects, providing a solid legal foundation for accelerated development.