Final stages of demolition underway at Hanoi's iconic 'Shark Jaw' building

The Shark Jaw building, located on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, overlooked Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square beside Hoan Kiem Lake.

Known for its sharp-angled roof and long-time presence in the city center, the building began being dismantled on the evening of June 19.

As of Monday, nearly 90 percent of the building's structure had been removed.

Workers and machinery, including cranes and drills, continued dismantling the remaining parts of the building on Monday morning.

The People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem Ward said that the only components yet to be demolished were two transformer stations.

One belongs to Hoan Kiem Power Company, which has already coordinated with local authorities to approve compensation plans and begin relocation.

The other, managed by Hanoi Transport Corporation, will also be relocated.

After the demolition, the entire area is expected to be cleaned and cleared by Wednesday.

The demolition of the Shark Jaw building is part of the city’s urban renewal project to renovate and enhance Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, a central public space near Hoan Kiem Lake.

The project also includes the relocation of transformer stations, the revamp of nearby structures, including the Hapro building at 7-9 Dinh Tien Hoang Street and the Thuy Ta restaurant, and the reorganization of traffic on Dinh Tien Hoang Street.

Besides, the project will also focus on exploring the underground space beneath the square, including the comprehensive renovation of surrounding building façades and upgrades to technical infrastructure in alignment with Hoan Kiem Lake’s status as a special national relic.