Demolition reshapes central Hanoi neighborhood for $607mn bridge project

Heavy machinery, trucks, and construction crews have worked day and night in Hong Ha Ward, where about 300 households are affected by the project and hundreds of residents have already handed over their properties for site clearance.

By Tuesday, a continuous cleared corridor stretches from the Red River embankment to the capital’s Ring Road 1, while barges, cranes, and drilling equipment operated simultaneously on the river.

A combination picture shows Hong Ha Ward during site clearance for the Tran Hung Dao Bridge project in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 7, 2026 (L) and May 12, 2026. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre

Some homes were reduced to bare concrete frames, exposed staircases, and collapsed brick walls, leaving behind traces of a densely populated neighborhood once known for busy street commerce.

Nguyen Thi N., 59, one of the last residents to leave the area, said her family had lived there for decades and supported the relocation despite the disruption.

“Everything is for the city’s future and the public interest,” she said before moving to temporary housing.

Hong Ha Ward authorities said all compensation, support, and resettlement plans had been approved in line with regulations and project timelines.

Five excavators, about 20 trucks, and nearly 50 workers have been deployed in three daily shifts to accelerate demolition and site handover for the bridge construction.

Across the Red River, the first bridge pillars have already begun to take shape.