West Lake ecological space: coordinated planning to boost urban value and unlock economic development

Experts at a panel discussion on April 3, organized by Tiền Phong, said the renovation and upgrade of West Lake in Hanoi requires a coherent, multi-stakeholder approach to balance ecological preservation with urban and economic development. They highlighted two main pillars: preserving and leveraging West Lake’s distinctive ecological space, and reorganizing traffic infrastructure in a rational way to reduce urban pressure while unlocking the area’s landscape, cultural, and tourism value.

West Lake as a smart cultural ecosystem

According to Dr. Ngo Trung Hai, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Urban Planning and Development, West Lake has long been positioned as a special landscape space in Hanoi’s planning. He said that as the city expands, planners should stop compressing urban pressure into the area and instead treat West Lake as a distinctive ecological space.

Dr. Hai described West Lake as a “smart cultural ecosystem,” calling for layered management from the lakeside zone within 500 meters to a 2 kilometer buffering zone. He emphasized that the approach should enable corresponding planning rather than focusing only on regulating building height to manage the space.

Fourfold transparency to balance preservation and development

To address the tension between preservation and development, Dr. Hai proposed a fourfold transparency approach: transparency of visuals to avoid obstructing lake views; cultural transparency to ensure new elements do not crowd out existing heritage while honoring it; functional transparency to maximize public use of spaces around the lake; and ecological transparency.

He also cited a lesson from Hangzhou’s water treatment experience, suggesting that wetlands near spillways should naturally filter water before it flows into the lake. In that context, he said renovation should begin with maximizing conservation of natural space and approaching the buffer zone with care and reverence.

Protect ecological space and residents’ daily life

From an ecological and practical perspective, Mr. Bui Manh Hieu, director of West Lake Rose Valley, said West Lake is not only a scenic destination but also a treasure linked to Hanoi’s urban identity. He argued that current exploitation does not match the area’s potential and that cultural values, relics, and traditional crafts around the lake are not yet well connected.

Mr. Hieu said protecting ecological space and preserving the daily life of local residents is crucial to avoid eroding natural values.

Traffic planning first: an outer ring to protect the heritage core

Transportation expert Dr. Tran Danh Loi, former deputy director of Hanoi’s Department of Transport, said urban planning should start with traffic planning rather than space organization alone. He noted that failure to shift thinking from national highways to urban roads can hinder solutions to congestion, particularly in distinctive areas such as West Lake.

Dr. Loi pointed out that some roads have been widened but ended up functioning as parking lots and commercial spaces, wasting public funds. For West Lake—described as combining spiritual significance and biodiversity—he said maintaining the current edge-of-water infrastructure is the optimal approach.

He proposed establishing an outer ring road around the core area to separate motorized traffic from the heritage core. The ring would be defined by main axes including Vo Chi Cong, Nghi Tam, Thanh Nien, Hoang Hoa Tham, and Belt 2. Vehicles would be allowed to reach only up to the ring’s boundary.

To support the plan, Dr. Loi said the city should prioritize stationary infrastructure such as underground and high-rise parking at strategic transition points including Lac Long Quan, the Red River banks, Tu Liên bridgehead, and Tran Binh Trong garden. He added that electric public transit into the lake would help relieve private traffic and create a “soft boundary” to protect the natural ecosystem.

Need integrated, scalable master planning and eco-friendly access

Mr. Truong Quoc Hung, president of the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club, said West Lake has many advantages but lacks a comprehensive master plan at a scalable level. Drawing on examples from famous lakes worldwide—such as West Lake in Hangzhou and Dianchi in Kunming—he argued that these destinations succeed through integrated planning that prioritizes public space along the lakefront and accessible transport rather than dense urban development.

He said that while West Lake has favorable conditions—an urban lake in the city center, a large area, and scenic beauty—the current situation is fragmented and not coherent with its potential. Mr. Hung emphasized creating a broader landscape space and facilitating tourism traffic with eco-friendly water transport on the lake.

Grand renovation mindset and resolving illegal encroachment

During the discussion, Ngô Trung Hải said West Lake needs a mindset of grand renovation and strong resolve rather than reactive measures. He called for reviewing and resolving areas with illegal construction, disorder, and encroachment to enable rational spatial reconfiguration.

He stressed that leveraging the landscape’s existing advantages and organizing them properly can elevate urban space value and unlock economic development potential.

The discussion concluded that West Lake offers strong underlying attributes, but maximizing ecological preservation while advancing economic opportunities depends on coordinated planning and effective implementation.