Thong Nhat Park safe from project

The park’s pristine state has made it a city icon

Document 1506/VP-XDDT signed by Hanoi People’s Committee’s deputy head of administration, Nguyen Van Thinh, ensured that the park would be retained in its present form.
The announcement came after the committee initially gave permission for two investors, Vincom Joint Stock Company and Tan Hoang Minh Investment, Trade and Service Company Ltd, to undertake a study on remodelling the park into a $90 million entertainment complex.
News of the permit sparked public protests.
Many upset residents emphasised that the park should be kept as a public area. At present, hundreds visit every day to exercise and walk along the pond and tree-lined grounds.
Others maintained that the city centre was not a suitable location for a modern entertainment centre, particularly with the chaotic state of traffic.
Moreover, protestors said the park’s 50 hectares was not enough space for a modern entertainment centre project.
Despite having withdrawn the study permits, the committee has outlined three primary regulations that must be agreed upon by any investor interested in Thong Nhat Park. First, the park must be reserved as a cultural and relaxation park for the public with gardens, trees and lakes. Second, the park is accessible to the public without any fees [except for some charged services]. Last, all of the commemorative trees planted by domestic or foreign high ranking officers will be reserved carefully [it is a common practice that high ranking foreign officers paying a working visit to Vietnam are invited to plant a commemorative tree in this park as a milestone to remark their trip].
Thinh said investors would only be allowed to build on 10 per cent of the park. “The remaining 90 per cent of land will be kept as it is,” he said.
The 10 per cent will be used for the construction of public facilities, seating areas, toilets, playgrounds, souvenir kiosks, vendors and management offices.
Under the regulations, large supermarkets and entertainment complexes will now be banned from developing in the area.
Thinh emphasised, however, that the park was in decline and required funds for improvement.
“When the city’s budget is limited, we have to call for investment from non-state sectors to improve our public facilities,” he said.
Do Anh Dung, general director of Tan Hoang Minh, one of the two proposed investors, sent a letter to a local newspaper maintaining that no trees would be cut down if his firm were given permission to develop the area. However, he did state that his company may have moved them to make room for other facilities. Dung had also committed to building small French and Italian style cafes instead of large restaurants, and promised his company would not build any hotels or shopping malls in the park.
In addition, Dung proposed some underground facilities that cover part of the park plus an area outside on Tran Nhan Tong Street. The area is currently the parks’ main gate and entrance. It has been proposed for the site of an underground parking lot and a number of small supermarkets. Thong Nhat Park has significant historic importance and was built in its present form by thousands of workers in the 1960s.