Decision No. 70/BXD/KT-QH Approving the Master Plan for the Conservation, Renovation, and Development of the Old Quarter in Hanoi

Pursuant to …;

Approving the planning for the protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi

(Hanoi City)

____________________________

THE MINISTER OF CONSTRUCTION

- Based on the Government Organization Law dated December 30, 1992 and Decree No. 15/CP dated March 2, 1993 of the Government regarding the tasks, powers, and responsibilities of State management of Ministries and agencies at the ministerial level;

- Based on Decree No. 15/CP dated April 3, 1994 of the Government regarding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction;

- Based on Decision No. 91/CP dated August 17, 1994 of the Government promulgating the Regulations on Urban Planning Management;

- Based on the Prime Minister's decision in Circular No. 37501/KTN dated July 5, 1994 entrusting the Minister of Construction to review and approve detailed planning for certain important areas of the capital city Hanoi;

At the proposal of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi City and the Chairman of the Architecture-Planning Council of the Ministry of Construction.

Pursuant to …;

ARTICLE 1-Approves the Orientation of the Planning for the Protection, Restoration, and Development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi submitted by the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi City (in the Report No. 51/UB dated December 8, 1994), accompanied by the dossier on the planning for the protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi prepared by the Institute of Urban and Rural Planning under the Ministry of Construction, with the main contents as follows:

1/ Scope of planning study:

1.1- The Old Quarter of Hanoi is located within the territory of eight wards of Hoan Kiem District, with boundaries defined by the overall urban construction planning of Hanoi City:

• Northern boundary is Hang Dao Street;

• Western boundary is Phung Hung Street;

• Southern boundary is Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go, and Hang Thung Streets;

• Eastern boundary is Tran Quang Khai and Tran Nhat Duat Streets.

1.2 Total area of the Old Quarter planning is approximately 100 hectares.

2/ Regarding the orientation of planning for the protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi

The protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi must ensure the principles stipulated in Article 11 of the Regulations on Urban Construction Management of Hanoi City, issued together with Decision No. 106/QD-ĐT dated June 20, 1992; Announcement No. 72/UB-TW dated May 26, 1994 of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam; Specifically, it is not necessary to preserve all existing structures intact, but rather to maintain the unique style and spirit of the entire large old quarter, while meeting modern urban living requirements.

3/ Regarding the zoning for the protection, restoration, and planning for the development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi

3.1. The scope of the planning study is divided into two distinctive preservation and restoration zones as follows:

a. Zone I for preservation and restoration, bounded by Hang Chieu, Hang Bac, Tran Nhat Duat, Hang Mam, and Hang Dao Streets, with an area of about 19 hectares;

b. Zone II for preservation and restoration, comprising the remaining part of the Old Quarter, with an area of about 81 hectares.

3.2. To serve the improvement and development of technical infrastructure and organization of social infrastructure networks serving daily and periodic needs of residents, the Old Quarter of Hanoi is divided into three residential clusters based on existing markets or commercial streets: Dong Xuan cluster, Hang Da and Hang Be market clusters, each with a population of about 20,000 people. Connecting these residential clusters is a central commercial-service axis including Hang Dao, Hang Lang, Hang Duong, Luong Van Can, Hang Can, and Hang Loc Streets, directly serving the Old Quarter and the entire city.

4. Regarding the orientation for the protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

4.1- Regarding the orientation for the protection and restoration of the Old Quarter

The protection and restoration of the Old Quarter must ensure:

- Maintaining the network of streets (no expansion, no narrowing) within the original building boundary;

- Preserving and restoring historical, cultural, and architectural value buildings or complexes such as communal houses, pagodas, churches, and ancient residences (with attached list);

- Continuing research and supplementing buildings that have not yet been evaluated and classified to be submitted to competent state authorities for decision;

- Protecting historical and cultural heritage sites according to legal provisions;

- Maintaining the unique architectural style of the Old Quarter, such as: the height of buildings along the street facade must be up to three floors; tiled roofs; house layouts shaped like tubes with courtyards; architectural facades and traditional materials and decorative patterns must be harmonious with the surrounding ancient landscape.

- Long-standing green spaces and flower gardens must be classified, ranked, and preserved.

4.2- Regarding the orientation for the renovation and development of the Old Quarter

- Renovation and development of blocks and streets must be carried out through investment projects, ensuring that new construction projects are consistent with the existing Old Quarter landscape; appropriate measures to reduce population density should be implemented so that the construction density of each block does not exceed 70%, and the population density does not exceed 800 people/hectare.

- The height of buildings behind the street facade must not exceed four floors or 16 meters.

- Consistent with modernization solutions for existing infrastructure such as transportation, electricity supply, lighting, water supply and drainage, waste disposal, parking lots, and the organization and construction of public housing systems such as commerce, services, education, healthcare, administrative and public service institutions, children's and adults' green space rest areas in the Old Quarter planning project.

- Increase the green space index from 0.5 m2/person to 1.5 m2/person.

5/ The planning for the protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter should pay attention to the following points:

- On the basis of the orientation of the planning for the protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the City shall issue regulations on the management, protection, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter.

- Prepare and implement projects for the protection, restoration, and development of each block and street, and the network of technical and social infrastructure facilities.

- For the protection and restoration of structures, blocks, and streets, pilot projects should first be established and implemented to draw lessons, followed by the implementation of other projects throughout the Old Quarter.

Article 2- Assign the People's Committee of Hanoi City to:

- Organize the publication of the Plan for the preservation, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter of Hanoi so that the people are aware and can implement it.

- Direct the implementation of specific projects and action programs based on the orientations of the Plan for the preservation, restoration, and development of the Old Quarter, in accordance with local conditions;

- Closely coordinate with relevant Ministries and Sectors, mobilize domestic capital sources, and at the same time strive to maximize foreign capital sources to carry out the renovation and development of the Old Quarter according to the approved planning.

Article 3- The Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi City, heads of relevant Ministries and Sectors, Chief Architect of the City, Directors of Construction Departments, Transportation and Public Works Departments, Land Departments, and other relevant Departments, and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.