In recent days, as many residents have packed up and moved out, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi has gradually transformed into a construction site awaiting development. Several locations are now enclosed with metal fencing, concealing their facades.
Inside the houses, most personal belongings have been removed, leaving behind primarily old iron doors, aluminum frames, electrical wires, broken glass, brick debris, and other items of no further use.
At these sites, numerous groups of scrap collectors have appeared, salvaging any materials of value.
Motorcycles laden with scrap metal and tricycles piled high with door frames are a common sight. The sounds of cutting and dismantling metal echo through the narrow alleys. Everyone is racing against time, as once the sites are fully fenced off, scavenging will no longer be possible.
A woman frequently seen in the area shared that this is a rare opportunity for those in her line of work. “On a good day, I can collect several iron doors, aluminum frames, old air conditioners, and leftover wires, earning up to a million dong. But you have to be quick—if you’re slow, there’s nothing left. As soon as I see a place that hasn’t been fenced off, I rush in,” she said. She added that they don’t enter indiscriminately but often consult with neighborhood security and locals to avoid interfering with any remaining property.
After the salvageable materials are removed, only the bare “skeletons” of the houses remain. Peeling walls, exposed staircases, floors littered with broken glass and debris—spaces once filled with life now stand silent and abandoned.
For properties with prime frontage directly overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, land clearance is proceeding at an accelerated pace. At the former headquarters of Hanoi Electricity Corporation—one of the most strategically located plots with a direct view of Turtle Tower—the entire facade has been completely fenced off.
Signs have been removed, and banners announcing the relocation of offices have been hung to inform the public.
Inside the relocated structures, workers are dismantling components piece by piece, handing over the cleared sites.
On public notice boards outside the sites, decisions approving compensation plans, support measures, and resettlement options are prominently displayed, allowing residents to monitor and oversee the process.
However, the widespread fencing of these sites has caused significant inconvenience. Some sidewalks have narrowed, forcing pedestrians into cramped spaces or even onto the road.
Several eateries have also seen a decline in customers. According to the owner of Pho Thìn, most regular patrons have moved to their new location, and the current outlet operates minimally while awaiting relocation. Many items have been packed away, tables and chairs are neatly stacked against walls, and some areas are no longer in use. The establishment is finalizing preparations for its official move as scheduled.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, a resident of Hoan Kiem district, mentioned that he walks past the lakeside area almost daily. Recently, seeing the sites being fenced off for demolition, he paused to take photos, preserving memories of the familiar spaces he’s been attached to for years. “Though there’s a touch of nostalgia, I fully support the city’s plan to expand the square and look forward to a more modern, grand transformation of the Hoan Kiem Lake area in the near future,” Mr. Anh shared.
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