After 70 years of liberation, Hanoi has developed Noi Bai Airport, two urban railway lines, numerous ring roads, radial axes, and highways connecting to neighboring provinces.
Thang Long Avenue was opened in October 2010, coinciding with the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi. This is a radial route connecting the center of the capital with the western districts and counties. The road is 29 km long, comprising two expressway lanes and two access lanes. On the expressway, each direction has two lanes allowing a maximum speed of 100 km/h, one lane at 80 km/h, and an emergency lane. The access lanes have two mixed-use lanes in each direction with a maximum speed of 50 km/h. The photo was taken at the beginning of the avenue, passing through the National Convention Center in Nam Tu Liem District.
The Hanoi – Hai Phong Expressway is Vietnam’s first expressway built to international standards, connecting Hanoi with the coastal areas of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong. The road is 105 km long, with the Hanoi section being 6 km and the rest passing through Hung Yen, Hai Duong, and Hai Phong. The road width ranges from 32.5 m to 35 m with 6 traffic lanes, designed for a speed of 120 km/h. The photo was taken at the right turn into the expressway in Long Bien District.
Phap Van – Cau Gie is 29 km long, consisting of 6 traffic lanes, and is a vital expressway in the south of the capital, with a daily traffic volume of about 70,000 vehicles. According to the plan, the road will be expanded to 8 lanes before 2030.
Vo Nguyen Giap Road is one of the most modern routes in Hanoi, connecting the city center with Noi Bai Airport. In the future, along both sides of the road will be a new administrative center for Dong Anh District, highlighted by a 108-story tower. The road is 16 km long, designed with 6 traffic lanes and 2 emergency lanes, allowing vehicles to travel at a maximum speed of 90 km/h. The sides contain access roads for mixed-use vehicles. The photo was taken in Dong Anh District.
Ring Road 2, according to plans, is 38 km long, starting from Minh Khai Hill to Nga Tu Vong – Nga Tu So (photo) – Duong Lang – Cau Giay – Buoi – Lac Long Quan – Nhat Tan dyke, crossing the Red River from Phu Thuong Commune to Vinh Ngoc Commune, passing through Dong Hoi, Dong Tru, National Route 5, and continues to cross the Red River at Vinh Tuy, forming a closed ring with Minh Khai Hill. Currently, Ring Road 2 is about half completed in the southern section of the Red River, while the northern part has sections from the Chui Bridge intersection to Vinh Tuy Bridge. Since January 2023, over 5 km of elevated road from south of Vinh Tuy Bridge to Nga Tu So intersection has been opened, contributing to alleviating congestion in the urban area.
Ring Road 3 begins from the Bac Thang Long – Noi Bai Road to Mai Dich – Thanh Xuan – Phap Van – Sai Dong – Phu Dong Bridge – Ninh Hiep – overlapping with the Hanoi – Thai Nguyen Expressway, continuing south along the ring railway to connect back to Bac Thang Long – Noi Bai at Quang Minh area, forming a closed route. The photo was taken at the intersection of Ring Road 3 with Chu Van An Road. The road has many sections in old condition, with the newly constructed elevated part from Thang Long Bridge to Thanh Tri Bridge completed, allowing vehicles to travel in various directions without passing through the center. Ring Road 3 is always crowded, handling about 124,000 vehicles daily. Both Ring Roads 2 and 3 that traverse the urban area are designed as elevated expressways.
In addition to Thang Long Avenue, Hanoi also features the radial route Le Van Luong – To Huu and several other roads under construction such as Tay Thang Long, Ho Tay – Ba Vi, Ha Dong – Xuan Mai, Tu Lien – Hanoi – Thai Nguyen Expressway. Besides solving urban traffic, many new urban areas, offices, and commercial centers are emerging along these radial routes.
Noi Bai Airport is located in the north of the capital, about 40 km from the center, serving as the aviation gateway connecting to the country and internationally. The airport has two operational runways measuring 3,200×45 m, capable of accommodating large aircraft such as Boeing 747 and Airbus 380. Noi Bai has two terminals: T1 for domestic flights and T2 for international flights, with a capacity of 25 million passengers annually. However, in 2023, it welcomed nearly 30 million passengers, making it the second largest in Vietnam after Tan Son Nhat. Terminal T2 is currently being expanded to accommodate 40 million passengers per year. (Photo: Phan Cong).
The Cat Linh – Ha Dong Urban Railway is 13 km long and runs above ground through 12 stations. Each train has 4 carriages, capable of carrying 960 passengers, with a maximum speed of 80 km/h and an operational speed of 35 km/h. The total journey time for the train is 23 minutes. In November 2021, the Cat Linh – Ha Dong train line began operations after 10 years of investment and construction. After 3 years of operation, this line has attracted a large number of residents, transporting 35,000 passengers daily, of which 47% are commuters, 45% are students, and 8% travel for other purposes. The railway has contributed to reducing personal vehicles, alleviating congestion in the southwest of the capital, and decreasing environmental pollution.
The Nhon – Hanoi Station Urban Railway is 12.5 km long, with 8 elevated stations and 4 underground stations. The elevated section from Nhon to Cau Giay is 8.5 km long, and the underground section from Cau Giay to Hanoi Station is 4 km long. On August 8, the elevated section from Nhon to Cau Giay was commercially launched. In the first week of operation, this line welcomed over 100,000 passengers. The Nhon – Hanoi Station railway is expected to help alleviate congestion in the western part of the capital and transform the urban landscape.
Projects Changing the Transportation Landscape of the Capital. (Graphic: Dang Hieu).
