Hanoi set to earmark US$22 million to revitalize To Lich River

Hanoi’s authorities are seeking the Prime Minister's approval for an emergency project to transfer water from the Red River to the To Lich River.

To Lich River. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The city government has committed to completing the project by September 2025.

Details of the plan to transfer water from the Red River to the To Lich River have not been released. However, experts suggest that a feasible approach would be to build a pumping station on the Red River to send water through a pipeline system to the To Lich River.

Where the pipeline crosses the dike, reinforced concrete box culverts will be used to ensure safety under all conditions. The water pipe will then run along Vo Chi Cong Road to the headwaters of the To Lich River (near the Nghia Do Canal on Hoang Quoc Viet Street). At this point, a sedimentation tank may be built to reduce silt from the Red River before silt from the To Lich River.

According to Hanoi’s report, the To Lich River was historically a tributary of the Red River and served as a drainage outlet for the main river. Over time, with the city's urban development, the river has undergone significant changes, particularly in water quality, due to interruptions in water flow. At present, the river is mainly fed with water from West Lake, rainwater, and wastewater.

The river runs for 13.4 km, originating from the Nghia Do Canal. It has two discharge points: one flows into the Nhue River via the Thanh Liet sluice, and the other flows into the Red River via the lower reaches of the Kim Nguu River to the Yen So pumping station (90 m³/s capacity).

The Department of Construction reports that 119 outfalls along the river have mostly been connected to the interceptor sewer system under the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant project. However, 32 outfalls remain unconnected, as they fall under a separate project (from Hoang Quoc Viet Street to Lang Ha Street). The city is considering proposals for these outlets to be connected to the Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant or to the Nhue River.

The Yen Xa Wastewater Treatment Plant and collection system is under construction to prevent wastewater and stormwater from being discharged into the city's rivers, including the To Lich River.  Once operational, it will leave the To Lich River dry and without a water supply. Trial operations began in December and the entire system is expected to be completed by 2027.  

Meanwhile, related projects to address flooding and improve the To Lich River’s environment are in the pipeline. These include the Lien Mac Pumping Station project to prevent flooding and replenish water from the Red River to the Nhue and To Lich Rivers, and the S3 wastewater collection system (to the Phu Do Wastewater Treatment Plant).

Given these circumstances, Hanoi predicts the To Lich River will run dry during the upcoming dry season, causing pollution and affecting urban aesthetics. To address this issue quickly and thoroughly, the city has emphasized that the transfer of water from the Red River to the To Lich River "must be implemented as an emergency measure."