Posted on October 28, 2026
Hanoi generally agrees with the study on improving the riverbeds of the Red River and the Da River, combined with the recovery of materials for construction purposes. However, the plan needs clarification regarding its legal and technical aspects, as well as its impact on dikes, river flow, and water sources, before consideration for implementation.
The Hanoi People’s Committee Office has just announced the conclusions of the Chairman of the People’s Committee, Vu Dai Thang, regarding the proposal to dredge and improve the riverbeds of the Red River and Da River within the city’s jurisdiction, aiming to increase flood drainage capacity, support waterway transportation, and manage recovered materials.
This proposal was developed by Vingroup in collaboration with a consulting firm. At the meeting on October 13th, after hearing reports from various units and feedback from central government agencies, relevant departments, and localities, city leaders issued several requests to further refine the plan.
According to the stated guidelines, riverbed improvement can aim to clear the waterway, stabilize the channel, enhance drainage capacity, ensure dike safety, and support waterway transportation.
In addition, materials recovered from the dredging process can contribute to supplementing the supply for key construction projects in Hanoi.
Although there is a general consensus on the research approach, the city notes that this is a complex task, involving many areas of management and subject to various legal regulations.
This activity can also directly impact water flow, dike systems, transportation infrastructure, irrigation systems, and the environment.
Notably, the implementation of projects using socialized capital currently lacks specific guidelines and clear precedents, as assessed at the meeting.
Therefore, Hanoi requested clarification on the implementation mechanism, decision-making authority, and legal procedures before proceeding to the next steps.
Regarding Vingroup and its consulting firm, the city requested that they fully incorporate the opinions of central ministries and agencies, Phu Tho and Hung Yen provinces, Hanoi departments and agencies, and relevant local authorities to revise and supplement the proposal dossier.
One of the issues that needs clarification is the boundary between dredging and riverbed improvement activities and mineral exploitation activities.
The scope, scale, objectives, and nature of the project must be specifically defined, while ensuring compliance with the planning approved by competent authorities and regulations on water resources, minerals, disaster prevention, dikes, and the environment.
From a technical standpoint, the plan needs to update topographic, geological, and hydrological survey data; consider scenarios during the flood and dry seasons, as well as the operating conditions of the interconnected reservoirs.
From there, the research unit must assess the potential impact on flow velocity and direction, flood drainage capacity, water storage, erosion risk, sedimentation, and the stability of the riverbed and banks.
The city also requested consideration of the impact on dikes, embankments, road and railway bridges, pumping stations, irrigation works, water intake points, and infrastructure along the route.
Affected areas upstream, downstream, and in neighboring provinces must all be included in the assessment scope to avoid risks to flood control, water supply, production, and people’s livelihoods.
The proposed technical solutions must aim to maintain the stability of the riverbed, ensure the safety of the structure, and not impair flood drainage and water supply capacity.
These are crucial conditions that need to be scientifically proven before being considered for practical implementation.
Besides safety, Hanoi requires the plan to be reviewed to ensure consistency with the Hanoi Capital City Master Plan with a 100-year vision, as well as other plans related to flood control, dikes, water resources, and waterway transportation.
The research should also avoid overlapping or conflicting with the scope of research and investment already approved for other projects along the Red River and the Da River.
For the materials intended to be recovered, the proposing unit must clearly list the location, quantity, type, and intended use.
The plan for collecting, managing, transporting, exploiting, recovering, and utilizing the product needs to be presented in detail, along with a mechanism for controlling the volume and value.
As required by the city, all recovered minerals must be managed according to a plan approved by the Hanoi People’s Committee and in compliance with legal regulations. Management must ensure transparency, efficient resource utilization, and minimize the risk of state budget losses.
Hanoi also emphasized that dredging and riverbed improvement must not be exploited for illegal mineral extraction. Further research into the proposed solutions must simultaneously meet the requirements of efficient material use, resource protection, and the safety of the structures and the environment in the river area.
