Ideas shaping Hanoi’s future vie for Bui Xuan Phai Awards 2026
Three proposals for a Thanh Thai pedestrian street, a low-emission zone inside Ring Road No. 1, and Hanoi’s 100-year master plan have been nominated in the Ideas category of the “Bui Xuan Phai: For the Love of Hanoi” Awards 2026.
A perspective view of Trang Tien street in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Three proposals for a Thanh Thai pedestrian street, a low-emission zone inside Ring Road No. 1, and Hanoi’s 100-year master plan have been nominated in the Ideas category of the “Bui Xuan Phai: For the Love of Hanoi” Awards 2026.

The Thanh Thai proposal seeks to create a distinctive pedestrian space by blending local heritage, traditional crafts, green areas, technology and a modern night-time economy.

The low-emission zone project, piloted in Hoan Kiem ward from July 1, aims to improve air quality by restricting high-emission vehicles and promoting electric transport, public transit, cycling and walking. It is set to expand across the area within Ring Road No. 1 in 2028-2029.

Meanwhile, Hanoi’s 100-year master plan sets development milestones in 2035, 2045, 2065, 2085 and beyond. Under the plan, Hanoi aims to maintain annual gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of 11% during 2026–2035 and 2036–2045, before easing to 5% during 2046–2065 and 4.5% during 2066–2085.

Beyond 2085, the city envisions becoming a prosperous, harmonious and globally connected metropolis that preserves its thousand-year cultural heritage while serving as a hub for trade, knowledge, and innovation. The plan also calls for the development of a multi-layered urban structure and a modern spatial economy.

The three proposals reflect different approaches to shaping Hanoi’s future while drawing on the capital’s cultural heritage, environmental priorities and long-term development needs.

The “Bui Xuan Phai: For the Love of Hanoi” Awards were launched in 2008 by "The thao va Van hoa" and the family of painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920 - 1988), who is renowned for his paintings of Hanoi.

It aims to honour authors, works, ideas, and initiatives with artistic and scientific values that reflect a deep love for Hanoi./.​

See Also

Mid-Autumn memories come to life in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

As the Mid-Autumn Festival draws near, traditional lanterns are lighting up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, bringing childhood memories back to life. From handmade prawn and crab lanterns to hands-on craft experiences, the “Preserving the Moonlight” exhibition offers a glimpse into Vietnam’s traditional Mid-Autumn culture – and explores how these cherished memories can be passed on to a new generation.

Ethnic Lao community in Dien Bien celebrates new rice festival

As the rice fields turn golden, ethnic Lao people in the border commune of Muong Nha, Dien Bien province, celebrate Khau Ho Tet, their traditional festival marking the new rice harvest. Through time-honoured rituals, meals fragrant with newly harvested sticky rice and the resonant sounds of traditional instruments, a distinctive cultural tradition continues to be passed down and preserved within the community.

Hue’s primeval mangrove forest in autumn

The Ru Cha primeval mangrove forest, located along the Tam Giang Lagoon in Hoa Chau ward, Hue city, is at its most beautiful in autumn, when the forest changes colour and bursts into bloom.

Ho Chi Minh City wins three top Asian tourism awards in 2026

The 2026 honours add to the city’s impressive streak at international tourism awards. In the 2025 WTA, the southern metropolis took home four titles, including business travel and festival and event destination awards, which it had won for four years from 2022 to 2025.

Ta Xua named Asia’s leading emerging tourism destination 2026

In recent years, Ta Xua, dubbed "the paradise of clouds", has emerged as one of the mountainous destinations attracting strong interest from young travellers, particularly for its spectacular sea of clouds stretching across the mountains in the northwestern region.