Investments

Just 6 Days Left: Vietnam to Break Ground on 10,000-Hectare Urban Development in Hanoi, Featuring One of the World’s Largest Stadiums

This stadium is set to boast a staggering 135,000 seats, making it the second-largest in the world by capacity, surpassed only by a venue in North Korea.

Administrator

13 December, 2025

The new stadium is expected to accommodate 135,000 seats. Illustrative image.

On the upcoming December 19th, Vietnam will commence several large-scale infrastructure and urban projects. Among these, a notable project in Hanoi is set to break ground: the Olympic Urban Area project. With an estimated investment of 350 trillion VND, it is considered one of the most ambitious planning endeavors in Hanoi. The project spans approximately 16,000 hectares, with a development area of around 10,000 hectares, and is projected to house up to 800,000 residents.

Recently, the People’s Committee of Thuong Tin District publicly announced the detailed 1/500 scale planning for Zone B of the Olympic Urban Area project, inviting feedback from relevant organizations and individuals. Zone B covers over 3,118 hectares across Thuong Tin, Tam Hung, Thuong Phuc, and Dan Hoa communes, with an expected population of approximately 186,760. This zone includes over 1,700 hectares of residential land for developing townhouses, villas (3-4 stories), and apartment buildings up to 21 stories (housing over 13,000 residents).

Rendering of the Olympic Urban Area – Zone B project.

Zone B also features additional amenities such as a central square, commercial centers, hotels, hospitals, and mid- to high-end resorts catering to athletes and tourists. Additionally, the zone includes the Global Aquatic Arena, a state-of-the-art aquatic sports facility.

The centerpiece of Zone B is the “Lac Viet” Stadium, designed to seat up to 135,000 spectators, spanning over 48 hectares. Inspired by the Dong Son bronze drum and the Lac bird, the stadium symbolizes Vietnam’s aspirations for growth.

According to the planning blueprint, the Olympic Urban Area will become one of Hanoi’s and Vietnam’s largest urban developments. Hanoi aims to create a modern eco-city and a regional and international sports hub. The project’s facilities will meet the standards required to host events like the Asian Games and the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Urban Area project will establish a sports and service-oriented urban center linked to a sports complex. It aims to develop southern Hanoi in conjunction with the cultural axis of My Dinh – Ba Sao – Bai Dinh, connecting the heritage of Thang Long – Hoa Lu and the Huong Son – Tam Chuc relic sites.

Globally, notable sports city projects include Dubai Sports City (UAE) spanning 5,000 hectares, Qatar Sports City – Aspire Zone, and Melbourne & Olympic Park (Australia).

The World’s Second-Largest Stadium

Upon completion, Lac Viet Stadium is expected to host the Olympic Games. Illustrative image.

If completed, Lac Viet Stadium will be the world’s second-largest stadium by seating capacity. According to the International Olympic Committee, the largest stadium is currently the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, with 150,000 seats. It opened in 1989 and was renovated in 2014.

In Vietnam, the largest stadium remains My Dinh, with approximately 40,000 seats, previously surpassed by Can Tho Stadium. Before its 2019 renovation, Can Tho Stadium held over 50,000 seats but now accommodates around 30,000. Most recently, in October 2025, construction began on the PVF Stadium in Hung Yen, covering 5.5 hectares with a 60,000-seat capacity.