Hanoi urged to prioritize its old apartment renovation

Hanoi should identify priority areas to set a precedent and accelerate the renovation of old apartments, Deputies of the Hanoi People’s Council shared this view during a group discussion on December 10, highlighting certain shortcomings and limitations in the urban management process.

Overview of the group discussion. Photo: Viet Thanh

Deputy Nguyen Lan Huong (from Tay Ho District), Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi, noted that while the city has achieved impressive results in economic and social development in 2024, there are still several issues that concern the residents of Hanoi and its surrounding areas. These include environmental pollution, waste management, wastewater treatment, cleaning the city’s iconic rivers and lakes, and traffic congestion.

Highlighting the rehabilitation and rebuilding project for old apartment buildings in the city, Deputy Huong pointed out that although the project has passed several milestones, tangible outcomes are still minimal.

"In urban redevelopment and the renovation of old apartments, we need more fundamental solutions and concrete results. The implementation does not need to be simultaneous but rather focused on certain areas as an experiment for the entire city. In monitoring the implementation of the project, the Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee has observed several unresolved issues in terms of mechanisms and policies," she said.

Sharing similar concerns about the limited progress in the renovation and rebuilding of old apartment buildings in Hanoi, Deputy Nguyen Van Luyen (Dan Phuong District) said that although the shortcomings and their causes have been identified, the city has yet to provide concrete and feasible solutions to attract businesses and accelerate the implementation process.

Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen (deputy of Ha Dong District) highlighted the significant challenges facing the capital, including traffic congestion, flooding, and environmental pollution.

According to the deputy, the development of satellite urban areas and population dispersal are essential to alleviate traffic congestion and flooding. In terms of environmental management, adequate investments are needed to develop the city in a way that is "bright, green, clean, and beautiful."

Going forward, Hanoi needs to accelerate the development of infrastructure and attract investors to industrial parks, and high-tech biological zones in Bac Tu Liem. Furthermore, Hanoi, with its large number of craft villages, has great potential that should be harnessed to create production spaces, which will contribute to the goal of increasing the average income of Hanoi’s residents to $36,000 per capita by 2045, he added.

An old apartment building in Ba Dinh District. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

Inflated land prices remain an issue

The issue of price manipulation and land speculation in land auctions has been raised by several deputies. Deputy Phung Tan Nhi (Ba Vi District) pointed out that in some localities, the objectives and requirements for land auctions have not been met. Specifically, there have been instances of land speculation where prices were manipulated to be too high during the auction process and then bidders did not fulfill their bids.

Deputy Nhi explained that the ask prices, which are determined based on the government’s land price table, are still relatively low. This results in small deposit amounts, making it easier for speculators to withdraw from bids without being penalized, which undermines the integrity of the auction process. The deputy recommended that the city issue further guidelines to ensure that the ask prices are aligned with market values, thereby increasing the deposit amounts to guarantee the seriousness of the bidding process.

Echoing concerns about price manipulation in land auctions, Deputy Nguyen Minh Duc (Hoang Mai District) suggested that the city clarify the motives behind unreasonably high property prices that prevent ordinary citizens from buying a home. He also expressed concerns about the increasing prevalence of online crimes, including financial scams, consumer traps, and even AI-generated extortion videos targeting individuals and organizations. Deputy Duc urged the city’s police to take strong action against the rampant online criminal activities.

In order to improve real estate management, Deputy Trinh Xuan Quang (Thanh Xuan District) emphasized the need to expedite the approval of two major urban planning projects for the capital: the Capital Planning for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, and the adjustment of the General Capital Plan to 2045, with a vision to 2065. He warned that delays in approving these plans could impact the city’s zoning and urban development projects. Additionally, the city should focus on removing to obstacles for investment and housing development projects and accelerate the process of land price determination to facilitate the speedier implementation of these projects.