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On March 12, 2022, Post and Telecommunications Equipment Joint Stock Company (POSTEF) issued a report for its 2022 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. This report mentioned construction at 61 Tran Phu Street (Ba Dinh District, Hanoi). According to the report, the row of two-story buildings dating back to the French colonial era, running along Hung Vuong, Tran Phu, Le Truc, and Nguyen Thai Hoc streets, next to Ba Dinh Square, would be demolished to make way for an 11-story multi-functional building. This information immediately sparked mixed reactions from the public and Hanoi residents in particular.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Ky Anh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture, stated that this French factory is not included in the "List of other architectural works built before 1954 that require concentrated resources for preservation and promotion of cultural values" issued by the Hanoi City People's Council.
"The building at 61 Tran Phu is an industrial building constructed by the French, with no particularly special structure. The sawtooth-shaped roof architecture is also found in many other buildings with similar designs. The new building has been designated as an 11-story multi-functional building, and its placement in this area is appropriate for the city's development needs. In my opinion, the building's architecture is relatively beautiful," said Mr. Ky Anh. Accordingly, the aforementioned land is located in the central political area of Ba Dinh and needs to be planned, so the investor's construction of a hotel at 61 Tran Phu is appropriate.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Ky Anh speaks at the meeting on the afternoon of April 6th. Photo: Committee
However, Hanoi Party Secretary Dinh Tien Dung also requested that the collective and individual responsibilities of those involved (if any) be addressed; and simultaneously suspended the demolition and construction of the 11-story multi-functional building project to conduct a review and inspection of the project's implementation process and procedures.
Regarding the bas-relief "Hanoi's People and Soldiers Shoot Down American Planes" located on the wall facing the intersection of Nguyen Thai Hoc and Le Truc streets, the city will consider and assess its value for preservation if necessary. Accordingly, it may coordinate with the investor to place the bas-relief in a suitable location within the project's premises.
This building was formerly the Postal Equipment Factory, built by the French. Photo: Internet
The bas-relief is located on the wall at the intersection of Nguyen Thai Hoc and Le Truc streets. Photo: Van Hieu.
