Vingroup proposes building a 135,000-seat stadium, the second largest in the world.
The People's Committee of Thuong Tin commune is seeking opinions on the 1/500 scale plan for the Olympic Sports Urban Area - Zone B, with the centerpiece being the 135,000-seat Trong Dong Stadium; if completed, its scale would be second only to Rungrado.
The People's Committee of Thuong Tin commune (Hanoi) is currently seeking feedback on the detailed planning project at a scale of 1/500 for the Olympic Sports Urban Area - Zone B, with a highlight being a stadium with an estimated 135,000 seats proposed by Vingroup. In the project, the main sports facility is presented as the Bronze Drum Stadium, inspired by the Dong Son bronze drums and the image of the Lac bird.
On December 8th, the People's Committee of Thuong Tin commune announced that it had received a document from Vingroup requesting cooperation in gathering opinions from relevant parties regarding the project. The consultation results are a procedural step before finalizing the planning documents.
Planning scale and main components
According to published information, the entire Olympic Sports Urban Area covers approximately 10,000 hectares, within a planning research area of over 16,100 hectares. Zone B alone spans over 3,118 hectares, encompassing the communes of Thuong Tin, Tam Hung, Thuong Phuc, and Dan Hoa, with an estimated population of approximately 186,760 people.
Zone B is planned to allocate over 1,700 hectares of residential land, developing townhouses and villas of 3-4 stories, along with a system of apartment buildings up to 21 stories high (providing accommodation for over 13,000 people). Accompanying urban functions include a plaza, commercial center, hotels, hospitals, and resorts ranging from mid-range to high-end to serve athletes and tourists.
The centerpiece: Bronze Drum Stadium, 135,000 seats.
If completed to the proposed scale, the Bronze Drum Stadium would be among the world's largest sports facilities, second only to the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea, which is said to have the capacity to be expanded to 150,000 seats. In Vietnam, the largest stadium currently is My Dinh with approximately 40,000 seats; last October, the Ministry of Public Security started construction of the PVF stadium in Hung Yen with a capacity of 60,000 seats on an area of 5.5 hectares, with Vinhomes as the main contractor.
Integrated sports facilities
Besides the stadium, Zone B is also planned to include the Global Aquatic Arena, the Vietnam Sports Tower, and the E-Sports Super Arena. Once operational, the complex is designed to meet the standards for hosting major sporting events such as the Olympics, World Cup, ASIAD, FINA World Aquatics Championship, PGA Golf, and World E-Sports, as well as international-scale cultural and artistic programs, concerts, and mega-concerts.
The numbers are noteworthy.
| Category | Scale/Data |
|---|---|
| Bronze Drum Stadium | 135,000 seats (proposed) |
| Rungrado 1st of May Stadium | Up to 150,000 seats (the world's largest capacity) |
| My Dinh Stadium | Approximately 40,000 seats |
| PVF Stadium in Hung Yen | 60,000 seats; 5.5 hectares; Vinhomes as the main contractor (construction starts in October) |
| The entire Olympic Sports City | Approximately 10,000 hectares (within the larger 16,100-hectare study area) |
| Zone B | Over 3,118 hectares; projected population of 186,760 people. |
| Land located in Zone B | Over 1,700 hectares; 3-4 story houses; apartment buildings up to 21 stories (over 13,000 people) |
Sports Perspective: The Significance of the Number 135,000
In terms of event capacity, a 135,000-seat stadium will significantly increase Vietnam's existing capacity compared to My Dinh Stadium, while also creating an "anchor point" for international sports tournaments and festivals as outlined in the plan. Within Zone B, the presence of a swimming complex, sports tower, and e-sports arena demonstrates an ecosystem-based approach, serving a diverse range of sports and event types.
From a planning perspective, the population figures, land allocation for housing, and accompanying infrastructure in the project demonstrate the goal of synchronizing competition spaces with accommodation, commercial, and medical services. This provides a foundation for serving athletes and visitors when hosting large-scale events, as described in the project's guidelines.
Project status and next steps
Public consultation is a mandatory procedure in the detailed planning process. After the consultation phase, the project will continue with the prescribed steps. As announced, the scope of public consultation currently applies to Zone B, which covers four communes: Thuong Tin, Tam Hung, Thuong Phuc, and Dan Hoa.
The project uses two names for the key stadium: Lac Viet Stadium with 135,000 seats (in the summary) and Trong Dong Stadium (in the detailed description). According to the published information, the project is inspired by the Dong Son bronze drum and the Lac bird.
If completed to the stated scale, the Bronze Drum Stadium will be second only to the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in capacity and will be a highlight of the planned International Sports Complex in the Olympic Sports Urban Area - Zone B.
