Vietnam Exhibition Center: A Monument to Vietnamese Resilience and Innovation

On August 28, 2025, a remarkable exhibition celebrating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2025) was held at the Vietnam Exhibition Center in Dong Anh, Hanoi. This state-of-the-art facility, inaugurated on August 19, spans an impressive 90 hectares, earning its place among the top 10 largest exhibition centers in the world.

What makes the Vietnam Exhibition Center even more remarkable is the speed at which it was constructed. In just under 10 months (starting from August 30, 2024), a dedicated team of engineers and workers raced against time to erect this monumental structure, with one of the most challenging aspects being the 24,000-ton steel dome. Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice Chairman of Vingroup, underscored the precision required for this engineering feat, allowing for only a few millimeters of error with no room for redo’s.

The task of bringing this dome to life was entrusted to Dai Dung Group, a leading Vietnamese construction company. In just five months, they engineered and assembled this massive structure, designed to resemble a turtle shell. Using ASTM-standard steel, the dome is built to withstand Category 12 hurricanes and magnitude-8 earthquakes, with a maximum error tolerance of just 3 millimeters.

To accomplish this engineering marvel, Dai Dung Group mobilized over 1,000 workers and engineers, working around the clock in three shifts. The project site buzzed with activity as a 500-ton super crane operated non-stop, carefully assembling over 100,000 high-strength steel nodes and bolts under the watchful eye of 3D laser scanning technology. The result is a dome that not only meets stringent requirements but also sets a world record for the largest steel dome structure.

In an interview with Hanoi Television, Mr. Trinh Tien Dung, Chairman and CEO of Dai Dung Group, expressed his pride in completing the dome in time for the exhibition: “It was a challenging task, but our team worked tirelessly, even through the cold months and Tet holiday, to ensure we met the deadline. We are confident that this structure will stand the test of time and contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable development.”

Dai Dung Group: Forging a Legacy of Engineering Excellence

The story of Dai Dung Group is a testament to Vietnamese resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. Founded in 1995 with just 20 workers, the company has evolved into one of Vietnam’s foremost steel construction enterprises, offering turnkey solutions for critical national and international projects.

A pivotal moment in Dai Dung Group’s history came through collaborations with renowned companies like Hazama (Japan), leading to landmark projects such as Mabuchi Motor and Nissei Electric, as well as numerous ventures in Linh Trung and Tan Thuan export processing zones.

Today, Dai Dung Group boasts a portfolio of over 2,500 completed projects, with a presence in over 50 countries, including demanding markets like the US, Europe, Australia, and Japan. On average, they export 70,000 tons of steel annually. One of their most notable achievements was the rescue of the Lusail Stadium project in Qatar, where they supplied 6,000 tons of steel for Lusail and a total of 28,000 tons for the iconic Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, earning them a place in the FIFA and top global construction companies’ preferred vendor lists.

With a recent 30-year anniversary celebration, Dai Dung Group set its sights on surpassing the $1 billion revenue mark before 2030 while solidifying its financial foundation to sustain long-term growth and continue its legacy of engineering excellence.