Budapest belgrade high speed railway

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HCM City (VNA) – The southern coastal province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau has asked the Government to allocate capital from the central budget to speed up progress of national key projects in the province over the next five years.

Of the 16 major public-invested projects , three of the most important projects are the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau expressway , Phuoc An Bridge and 991B Road, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

Nguyen Van Tho, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the three national key projects would connect the southern key economic region with the Cai Mep – Thi Vai deep water port, a key port in the region.

“The port system can receive large container vessels of up to 200,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) and is capable of international goods transport, which allows direct export to the EU and the US without transshipment, reducing logistics costs and improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods,” he said.

The expressway, connecting Bien Hoa City in Dong Nai and Ba Ria City in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, is expected to be completed and opened to traffic by 2025.

The province said it had asked the PM to approve the pre-feasibility study for the first phase of the project, which will be implemented under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) investment model.

To build the expressway, around 34.2km of the road will be built in Dong Nai and 19.5km in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The project requires an estimated investment of 23.07 trillion VND (995.5 million USD), according to the provincial People’s Committee.

The province proposed that 9.95 trillion VND should be sourced from the State budget to fund site clearance and construction of the section in the province, and that 13.125 trillion VND should come from the private sector.

The developer of the project will mobilise the remainder from its own budget and bank loans. To recover capital, the investor will be allowed to collect toll fees from road users for about 25 years.

The expressway is expected to ease traffic congestion on National Highway 51, and facilitate travel between Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces and HCM City and the southern key economic zone.

Another national key project is the Phuoc An Bridge, which will connect the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex with the Ben Luc – Long Thanh expressway.

The 4.3-km bridge will be built in Phu My Town in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and Nhon Trach district in Dong Nai province.

The bridge is expected to cost 4.88 trillion VND. The province has asked for an allocation of 50 percent of the cost (2.4 trillion VND) from the central government budget over the next five years.

In addition, the 991B road is an important project with a total cost of 3.95 trillion VND, of which the central government has already allocated 920 billion VND. The province has asked the government to arrange an additional 2.22 trillion VND over the next five years.

Call for investment in 23 projects

In addition to 16 key public-invested projects, the province is calling for investment in 23 national key projects, according to a report from the provincial People’s Committee.

These projects include ports, cultural parks, airports, roads, inspection centres, tourism services, and urban area works.

Of the 23 projects, nine land plots will seek investment through auction of land-use rights and public property auctions, including one that has already been successfully auctioned.

In addition, the province has added the April 30th Park in Ba Ria City and a national grid system for Con Dao district to the list of key projects that need speeding up.

Pham Viet Thanh, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, said the province would choose qualified and reputable investors to carry out the projects.

“Relevant localities and agencies must follow the progress of each of the key projects and remove difficulties in a timely way and deal with arising problems,” he noted.

With a coastal line of over 30km, Ba Ria-Vung Tau serves as the country’s major trade gateway due to its proximity to industrial zones, port complex, major highways, and transshipment routes.

Located on the southeastern coast, the province is one of the leading foreign direct investment (FDI) sites in Vietnam./.

VNA

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a Government meeting on April 15 to launch tasks for the time ahead.

This is the first Government meeting since new Cabinet members were elected at the 11th session of the 14th National Assembly earlier this month.

During the day-long event, participants are discussing the Government’s action plan to implement the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, the Government’s working regulations, the disbursement of public investment, the COVID-19 prevention and control, and the COVID-19 vaccination.

The preparations for the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026, along with the organisation of the national high school examinations, are also under consideration./.

VNA

Hanoi’s iconic Hoan Kiem Lake is adored by tourists and locals alike, but many surrounding areas are simply too full

Located deep in an alley on Hang Buom street is house No.53, built over 100 years ago. Although severely degraded with many cracks appearing in the rotten walls and stairs, the 3-storey house with dozens of apartments has been the residence for nearly 200 people for many years.

Nguyen Trung Truc, a resident living in an apartment on the first floor said, “The house has signs of dilapidation and the entrance to the house lacks sunlight, so it is dirty and dark. When opening the door, the smell flies straight into the house. Every time it rains, the house and the yard are wet.”

Truc’s family and the households who live here all want to have a new spacious and cleaner place, but what they worry about most is how to earn a living after moving, when their current income mainly depends on street trading in the Old Quarter.

With a history of more than 1,000 years, the area is both an administrative and commercial centre and a place with great historical value, architecture, and culture. The 36 traditional craft streets represent business activities, attracting not only people in Hanoi but also people in the surrounding areas to come here for settlement.

Over the years, the rapid population growth has narrowed the land fund in the Old Quarter, creating great pressure on infrastructure, causing cramped and messy conditions which, in turn, affects the urban appearance and affection of international tourists to Hanoi, and is also related to damage caused to many historical monuments.

Therefore, the relocation of the population in the Old Quarter area is considered a top priority of Hanoi’s administration in urban reconstruction and conservation of cultural heritage.

According to the urban planning, 215,000 residents in Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, and Hai Ba Trung will be relocated by the end of the decade. The land fund released from relocation will be used to restore monuments, build transport systems, reconstruct urban areas, and add additional public works such as parks, squares, and car parks.

Higher quality of life

According to data from the 2019 Population and Housing Census, the population density in Hoan Kiem district stood at around 39,800 people per kilometre, 137 times higher than the national population density. The Old Quarter alone now boasts about 4,300 houses. On average, about 3-4 families can live together in one house. There are some houses with dozens of families, for which the living area amounts to only 0.5-1.8 square metre per person.

Of the nearly 1,000 homes with a life expectancy of less than 100 years, 63 per cent are in degradation, 12 per cent are in danger, and 5 per cent are polluted.

Poor and unsafe living conditions are the reason for a number of accidents, ranging from daily inconveniences to house collapses. With such high population density in a cramped area, relocation is the first solution to reduce the pressure on the inner city.

“People here say they are very unhappy because their current accommodation is degraded and potentially dangerous so they cannot live there for long. If a new place can ensure essential services and solve the livelihood problem, we will be ready to move,” said Nguyen Manh Cuong, a resident in Cua Nam ward of Hoan Kiem district.

Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of Hoan Kiem People’s Committee said the plan to lower the population in the four districts from the current 887,000 to 672,000 by 2030 remains associated with similar projects the district has implemented over the years. In addition to regulations on the relocated people, the city also plans to prepare resettlement areas for residents.

“The zoning planning aims to offer the best conditions for people. I am also willing to move if I am in the clearance area. Moving to a new place, people will have better living conditions and leave land for the city to re-plan for a more beautiful capital,” Long said.

Preserving heritage

In addition to improving the urban living environment, one of the plan’s goals is to develop culture and preserve heritage sites and monuments of the Old Quarter. The most visible examples of the pressure created by the high population density are the many monuments, temples, and pagodas in the area that are spoiled by restaurants and parking lots. There are even relics being requisitioned to function as stands for goods.

For example, Vinh Tru Pagoda on Hang Luoc street is recognised as a famous cultural destination in the Old Quarter. For many years its facade has often been occupied by surrounding shops as a parking place, which not only affects tourists but also lessens the majesty of such ancient architecture.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Tu Quyen from the Faculty of Urban and Rural Planning of Hanoi Architectural University, the rapid and disturbing transformation of monuments on central streets will become increasingly difficult to control.

Regardless of the purpose, Quyen says, population relocation is required in inner-city planning to preserve and improve the quality of life, while promoting traditional values in the Old Quarter. However, population relocation also needs to ensure the preservation of long-term habits and livelihoods for people, he added.

These plans are nothing new. Over 20 years ago the city implemented a plan to rearrange the old town and had a policy of relocating universities, hospitals, head offices of ministries, and more from the historic inner-city area. Yet today it still has not found a solution to the problem of improving long-term livelihoods.

Meanwhile, thousands of households in the Old Quarter mainly depend on business and retail trading activities, leading to disagreements within the people living here. The people who are determined to stick around are mostly households close to the roads. Others that voluntarily relocate are residents living in old deteriorated houses, with an area of less than 5sq.m per person.

Economic and cultural experts all say that relocation on such scale would not be easy because it relates to thousands of households of many generations, especially families who have lived for many generations in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

The key to a successful relocation, they say, could be to solve the problem of interests between people and heritage conservation.

Q2 Thao Dien will be put into operation this April

Developed by Frasers Property Vietnam in partnership with An Duong Thao Dien Real Estate Trade JSC, Q2 Thao Dien is developed under the unique “Live – Work – Enjoy” concept with a variety of products including apartments, villas, townhouses, commercial shops, and office building, offering a diverse range of options for residents and investors.

According to Truong An Duong, general manager of residential, Frasers Property Vietnam, Q2 Thao Dien meets the requirements for an ideal living space, forming a very distinctive highlight in comparison to other projects in the market.

“We are unified by the group’s shared purpose – ‘Inspiring Experiences, Creating Places for Good’, we wish to make Q2 Thao Dien to be an iconic project, a dynamic and trending new destination where residents can experience a convenient lifestyle – shopping, entertainment and work, all in one place,” Duong stressed.

Inspiring experiences in enjoying life and working space

With the dedication of an experienced international real estate developer, the project is built on schedule to the most rigorous standards.

Up to now, all apartments, office and commercial areas are completed and ready to welcome owners and businesses to move in.

In particularly, project amenities are developed with a focus on every single detail, granting future owners the opportunity to enjoy the best experiences for years to come.

At Q2 Thao Dien, the luxury apartments present open views of the Saigon River with classy amenities such as swimming pool, jacuzzi, a floating gym, hanging gardens, an outdoor barbecue area, and more.

Floating gym at Q2 Thao Dien

Adjacent to the apartment complex, just a few steps away is the premium and stylish [email protected] office tower.

The 32-storey building boasts a modern design with open space, high ceilings, and gorgeous river views. This architecture gives tenants to create a unique and inspiring duplex workspace design.

The special amenities area, Business Centre, is located on the 6th floor, designed with a sophisticated urban style that draws a visually impactful impression through a combination of neutral liberal colours with natural environmentally friendly materials.

Additionally, [email protected] is fully equipped in meeting and event rooms, training/education areas, coffee space, and professional management services. With numerous outstanding appeals, [email protected] meets the demands of an ideal working space for businesses, especially, a trend of workspace decentralisation to move from the central business districts to nearby dynamic areas.

[email protected], ideal office space in Ho Chi Minh City

The podium of the residential building is dedicated three floors of retail space forming the modern and trendy Q2Terrace.

In keeping class and standards to the overall project, a few selected tenants have been invited. Famous brands include Annam Gourmet Market, Dinh Phong – The Butcher & Seafood, Wayne’s Coffee, Peekaboo Café, and Beer Studio, which are all on board to serve residents as soon as they move in. The Q2Terrace will also be a place to dine, meet, and shop for professionals working at the [email protected]

Q2 Thao Dien, moreover, has the advantage of being located in a high-class residential area of Thao Dien ward, with three street frontages to Vo Truong Toan, Street No.9, and Street No.10 of District 2, a newly-developed district of Ho Chi Minh City.

The project is just 500m away from An Phu subway station and nearby to high-end amenities like luxury restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets, hospitals, international schools, and more.

International-standard developer

Frasers Property is a multi-national developer-owner-operator of real estate products and services across five asset classes, namely, residential, retail, commercial and business parks, industrial and logistics, as well as hospitality in over 70 cities and 20 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange and headquartered in Singapore, the group has total assets of approximately Singaporean $38.7 billion as of September 30, 2020.

The group is also the sponsor of two real estate investment trusts (REITs) and one stapled trust listed on the Singapore Exchange.

Frasers Property has been in Vietnam for over 20 years, its presence includes Melinh Point, a Grade A boutique office building in District 1; and Q2 Thao Dien, a luxury mixed-use development in District 2. Frasers Property’s hospitality business also has a presence in Vietnam, with Fraser Suites Hanoi and Capri by Fraser.

Hanoi (VNA) – The Traffic Police Department on April 15 deployed forces to ensure traffic safety and order during the April 30 and May 1 holiday, and the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure.

During the period from April 15-June 14, traffic safety and social order will be guaranteed on roads, waterway and railway. The police will strive to minimise traffic congestion and illegal motorbike racing.

Maj. Gen Le Xuan Duc, deputy head of the department, said the activity aims to reduce traffic accidents in the number of accident cases, death tolls and the injured, especially preventing extremely serious accident cases.

The traffic police will coordinate with relevant units to traffic safety and order and accompany leaders of the Party, State and the National Election Council to inspect election as well as protect the transportation of ballot boxes./.

VNA