Vietnam's capital is undergoing an unprecedented urban transformation. Authorities have launched a massive development program aimed at transforming the capital into an international megacity by 2045, with the construction of new bridges, metro lines, residential districts, and a complete redesign of the Red River banks. This 100-year development plan also includes widening roads and modernizing infrastructure to address the risks of flooding linked to climate change.
The project could lead to the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents in this city of eight million people, whose population is expected to double in the coming decades. According to several estimates circulating locally, up to 860.000 residents could be affected by expropriations or relocations. However, Vietnamese authorities have not officially confirmed this figure.
Gigantic construction projects inspired by the Chinese model
The program notably includes the construction of seven new bridges and over 1.200 kilometers of railway and metro lines, at an estimated cost of over $2.500 trillion over twenty years. The Vietnamese government aims to bolster its economic growth through massive infrastructure investments, a strategy often compared to the large-scale urban projects undertaken in China.
However, some voices are being raised against the rapid pace of this colossal construction project. Several residents are denouncing what they consider inadequate compensation and eviction proceedings carried out with very short notice. In some of the capital's historic districts, demolitions have already begun, forcing families who have lived there for generations to leave their homes. Urban planning specialists are also criticizing the lack of public consultation surrounding this vast transformation of the Vietnamese capital.
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