The Heart of Hanoi: Revitalizing Dong Da Lake’s Peninsula into a Lush Urban Oasis

According to Tien Phong PV’s investigation, the Dong Da Lake Renovation project was granted an investment certificate by the Hanoi People’s Committee on March 8, 2010, with the goal of renovating and upgrading the Dong Da Lake peninsula entertainment area as per the approved plan to meet the dining and entertainment needs of the people. The project’s investor was Ha Thuy Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, with a total project value of over VND 7.5 billion. The investor was leased the land for 50 years from the date of issuance of the investment certificate.

In 2021, the Dong Da District People’s Committee implemented a number of proposals by the Government Inspectorate and Hanoi People’s Committee on requesting the investor to use the first floor in accordance with the planning; Proceed with considering land retrieval to build a park for entertainment and recreation for the people as per the approved plan by the competent authority.

In 2023, the Hanoi People’s Committee agreed in principle to allow the Dong Da District People’s Committee to invest in the project “Technical Renovation and Urban Landscape Improvement of Dong Da Lake”, with the capital source from the district budget.

To implement the project, in March 2024, the Dong Da District People’s Committee issued two decisions: Local adjustment of the detailed planning at a scale of 1/500 in this area and the Decision approving the investment policy of the project “Synchronous renovation of technical infrastructure, urban landscape of the whole area of Dong Da Lake (including the peninsula area); Site clearance and investment in renovating the peninsula in accordance with the planning approved by the Hanoi People’s Committee.”

Following that, in March 2024, the Dong Da District People’s Committee issued a decision approving the project “Synchronous renovation of technical infrastructure, urban landscape of Dong Da Lake” according to the District People’s Council’s Resolution No. 20 issued earlier.

In early 2025, the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) issued guidance to the Dong Da District People’s Committee on implementing the above project. This department cited the provisions of the 2024 Land Law on cases of land retrieval for socio-economic development for the benefit of the nation and the public, allowing the Dong Da District People’s Committee to retrieve land in accordance with Articles 78 and 79 of the 2024 Land Law within the authority of the district and not having to rearrange or handle public assets in accordance with the law on management and use of public assets. The Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment agreed that the Dong Da District People’s Committee would carry out procedures for notifying land retrieval, compensating, supporting, and resettling, and deciding to retrieve land in accordance with regulations.

To implement the project, on June 13, 2025, the Dong Da District People’s Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 389/TB-UBND, on land retrieval for the implementation of the project “Technical Renovation and Urban Landscape Improvement of Dong Da Lake” to the enterprise leasing the land and relevant agencies to prepare for land handover in accordance with legal regulations. Talking to Tien Phong newspaper, a representative of the Dong Da District People’s Committee said that up to now, the enterprises leasing the land are unanimous and agree to hand over the land so that the district can soon implement the project and put it into serving the needs of the people.