Hanoi seeks to flout building height regulations near Hoan Kiem Lake

By Nguyen Ha   January 6, 2019 | 12:50 am PT
Hanoi seeks to flout building height regulations near Hoan Kiem Lake
The proposed location on Ly Thuong Kiet Street where Hanoi authorities seek to license a 14-story headquarter for the Saigon–Hanoi Commercial Bank (SHB). Photo courtesy of Dan Viet Newspaper
Hanoi is seeking to license two buildings near Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake whose height will exceed the maximum permitted height for buildings.

City authorities have sought permission from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for the buildings on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, about 500 meters from the lake, a major tourist attraction with a storied history.

They will be a 14-story headquarter of the Saigon – Hanoi commercial bank (SHB) and a 12-story structure housing the Hanoi School Books and Equipment Jsc. 

On Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Hoan Kiem District, the downtown of Hanoi, buildings are only allowed a maximum of six floors. 

But city authorities said in their petition that the regulations allow exceptions if they comply with rules related to parking space and have enough trees.

They also claimed the buildings are necessary since they would house banking and financial services.

The builders of both are willing to contribute financially to the upgrade of surrounding infrastructure, they added.

Turtle Tower (Thap Rua) standing on a small island near the center of Hoan Kiem Lake is one of Hanois tourist attractions. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Trang

Turtle Tower (Thap Rua) standing on a small island near the center of Hoan Kiem Lake is one of Hanoi's tourist attractions. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Trang

Last month city authorities had ordered the top stories of three buildings near Hoan Kiem to be knocked down since they exceeded the maximum permitted height.

 
 
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