Hanoi to gradually phase out large, visually unattractive traditional outdoor advertising

In the coming period, outdoor advertising in Hanoi will be oriented toward diversifying formats, modernizing media, and closely integrating with the organization of urban space. The city will gradually reduce traditional advertising forms that are large in size, simple in form, aesthetically unattractive, and difficult to monitor for safety.

Illustrative photo.

Hanoi approves outdoor advertising planning for 2026–2030, vision to 2050

The City of Hanoi has approved the task of developing the “Outdoor Advertising Planning for Hanoi City for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision to 2050.” The planning will be implemented across the entire city, covering all public spaces, roads, squares, buildings, and areas permitted for advertising media under the law. It will also consider the architectural and spatial organization characteristics of each area, with particular attention to the historic inner-city area; areas protected for cultural heritage and scenic spots; important spatial axes of the capital; national highways and beltways; urban main streets; new urban areas; industrial zones and clusters; and the city’s gateways.

The planning phase runs from 2026 to 2030, with a long-term vision to 2050.

Shift toward integrated design and safer, more controllable media

Outdoor advertising in the near future will focus on diversifying formats, modernizing media, and integrating advertising into urban space organization. The overall direction is to increase the share of advertising media with integrated design, reasonable scale, and suitability to the architectural landscape of each urban area, while reducing traditional forms that are difficult to control for safety.

Distribution aligned with Hanoi’s spatial structure

The outdoor advertising planning system will align with the capital’s spatial structure, shaped by nine development poles, nine major centers, and nine driving axes. These driving axes—including regional beltways and radial highways—are described as the “spine,” directly connecting growth poles with the central urban area and linking to the broader Hanoi metropolitan region. The advertising system is intended to be distributed along these driving axes and other important spatial axes already defined in the 100-year Hanoi Capital Master Plan.

Infrastructure-led planning and integration with urban development models

The plan applies an “infrastructure-led planning” approach rather than merely planning discrete signboard locations. Outdoor advertising will be integrated into urban design and modern development models, including TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) at metro stations and major interchanges, as well as along belt roads. The stated goal is to build a synchronized, scientifically designed outdoor advertising system, with clear identification of permitted, restricted, and prohibited advertising areas.

Key planning tasks and implementation roadmap

The planning tasks include:

• Necessity and basis for planning
• Analysis and evaluation of factors, natural conditions, resources, and the current distribution and use of space by the outdoor advertising system
• Determining requirements of socio-economic development for outdoor advertising
• Identifying opportunities and challenges in developing the outdoor advertising system
• Defining viewpoints and objectives for developing the local outdoor advertising system during the planning period
• Developing options for the outdoor advertising system
• Identifying locations for political propaganda and for social-benefit advertising
• Identifying locations for commercial advertising
• Guiding land-use planning for the development of the outdoor advertising system and related activities that protect the environment, ecology, landscape, and protected monuments
• Compiling a list of outdoor advertising types to prioritize investment, prioritized investment projects, and the sequence of implementation
• Providing solutions and a roadmap for implementing the plan