Hanoi strives to revive To Lich River
The To Lich River Revival Project is expected to restore the river's ecological function and transform it into a green corridor.
THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi's authorities are running a large-scale environmental project to restore the historic waterway and enhance urban living.
The comprehensive environmental restoration project aims at revitalizing the decades-long polluted To Lich River, once a vital part of Hanoi’s natural and cultural landscape.
The To Lich River from above. Photos: Huy Pham/The Hanoi Times
The 14.6-kilometer river stretches through various wards in Hanoi and has long endured untreated wastewater discharged directly from surrounding residential and industrial areas.
The To Lich River Revival Project, a multi-phase initiative combining dredging, wastewater management, hydrological improvement, and urban landscaping, is expected to restore the river's ecological function and transform it into a green corridor.
According to Hoang Dinh Giap, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Planning Center under the National Institute for Urban and Rural Planning, one of the key solutions is to dredge the riverbed and replenish it with treated water from the Red River and West Lake.
By integrating ecological restoration with modern infrastructure and public amenities, Hanoi aims to reclaim the river as a central element of the city’s identity that supports sustainable development, mitigates urban heat, and improves residents' everyday lives.
The Phase 1 features seven-kilometer section of the river from Hoang Quoc Viet to Khuong Dinh Street
Phase 2 will be completed later in 2025 with another 13.4 kilometers of the river length.
A core component of the revival effort is collecting and treating wastewater.
In the past, 63 outfalls discharged untreated sewage directly into the river.
Currently, only 19 of these remain untreated.
A wastewater collection facility is nearing completion.
The system may help eliminating pollution at the source and improving water quality.
The new wastewater collection infrastructure includes a 21.6-kilometer main pipeline.
Advanced microtunneling technology is used that pipelines are laid underground.
The project is supported by ODA fund with an investment of over VND16 trillion (US$630 million).
This dam will help regulating water flow, improving circulation, and flushing contaminants from the riverbed.
Lotus Lakes by the West Lake will contribute to the project.
Treated water will be routed through this system before being discharged into the river.
Sidewalks, lighting systems, and stormwater drains along the river are being upgraded in tandem before August 30.
The transformation of the To Lich River can improve Hanoi environment in the near future.
