On the afternoon of May 16, Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem District, confirmed to VietNamNet that demolition of the iconic "Shark Jaw" building is scheduled to begin at the end of May.

The dismantling of the Shark Jaw building and the renovation of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square will proceed in two phases, as planned by the Hoan Kiem District authorities.

In Phase 1, five key initiatives will be implemented. One of them is the demolition of the commercial center at 1-3-5 Dinh Tien Hoang Street – commonly known as the Shark Jaw building – which is set to commence at the end of May.

The project also includes relocating the existing power substation located on the first floor of the building at 1-3-5 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, managed by Hoan Kiem Electricity, and positioned on Cau Go Street.

Renovation efforts will extend to the Hapro building at 7-9 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, the canopies, eaves, signage, and facades of buildings surrounding the square on sections of Dinh Tien Hoang, Cau Go, and the beginning of Hang Dao Street. The Thuy Ta restaurant will also be refurbished.

Traffic along Dinh Tien Hoang Street will be reorganized to reduce motor vehicle congestion and to repurpose the area cleared by the demolished building into a public space that supports tourism and cultural activities in Hanoi.

According to the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, all tasks in this first phase are expected to be implemented in May and completed by August 2025. The district is currently working with various departments and agencies to complete legal procedures in accordance with national regulations.

Phase 2 will focus on the development of an underground space beneath the square. This includes continuing to renovate the first row of buildings surrounding the square, upgrading the overall technical infrastructure to align with the status of Hoan Kiem Lake as a national special relic, and adding urban equipment to support the area's functionality.

N. Huyen