On 12/6, the Hanoi People's Committee (UBND) submitted a proposal to approve the investment policy for a project to renovate and enhance the value of the West Lake area and its scenic ring road. This project will operate under a public-private partnership (PPP) with a build-transfer (BT) contract.

The preliminary total investment for the project is over 30 trillion VND, with Thanh Pho Mat Troi Co., Ltd. (Sun City Co., Ltd.) as the investor. The project is expected to be a PPP, build-transfer (BT) contract, with payment made through land funds.

The project aims to transform the West Lake area into a sustainable cultural, tourism, and creative economic hub for Hanoi. It seeks to effectively leverage West Lake's unique landscape, historical, cultural, and ecological values, integrating with the Old Quarter, former residential areas, and the Red River space.

The project's scope covers approximately 567 hectares. The city will maintain the current water surface area of West Lake at over 520 hectares, with land area exceeding 46 hectares, which includes other small lakes. Key project components include renovating and upgrading the West Lake ring road system. The 13,5 km ring road will be upgraded, with some sections studied for expansion to 21 meters. Other sections will be considered for expansion to a suitable scale, aligned with approved planning and actual conditions.

"The road expansion will not proceed towards existing residential areas," the proposal stated. "Design solutions will ensure technical requirements, urban landscape aesthetics, environmental protection, and include a waste collection and prevention system beneath the lake in expanded areas."

The current West Lake road has many narrow sections, causing traffic difficulties. *Photo: Hoang Phong*

Additionally, the city will construct squares, lakeside viewing platforms, scenic bridges, West Lake boat docks, parks, flower gardens, underground parking combined with services, and environmental protection facilities, all in accordance with planning.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2030. Phase I, from Quarter III/2026 to Quarter IV/2028, involves road upgrades and scenic platform construction, with the Quang An section specifically completing by Quarter III/2027. Phase II, from Quarter I/2027 to Quarter IV/2030, will see the city comprehensively invest in and construct facilities, landscapes, and parks according to the master plan.

West Lake is Hanoi's largest natural freshwater lake, spanning over 526 hectares with a circumference of approximately 15 km, and formed from an old section of the Red River. Its diverse ecosystem includes 72 species of phytoplankton, 47 species of benthic algae, 37 species of zooplankton, 29 species of benthic animals, 12 species of crustaceans, and 46 fish species.

Vo Hai