Why a triumphal arch has been proposed near Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake

A new triumphal arch proposed for a plaza near Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake has drawn particular public attention as part of a wider adjustment to the area’s urban plan.

Architect Ho Thieu Tri, representing the consulting unit, said the main aim was to preserve and promote the lake area’s special values. The plan would also expand public and plaza space and strengthen connections between the lake and surrounding areas to the north, east, west and south.

The eastern direction has special importance because it could connect the lake area with the Red River and support the future development of a scenic riverside boulevard. The proposal also organizes a north-south axis running from the southern side, through Turtle Tower and Ngoc Son Temple, to the expanded Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.

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History is a continuation. It cannot stop, and it cannot stand still. Architecture is the same.

The triumphal arch would be a new structure within that plaza and would help complete the axis. Ho said it would mark a special period in Vietnam’s development and entry into a new era, making it a landmark along the route. Other new construction, including a city People’s Committee headquarters, is also envisioned.

The proposal would place modern structures alongside older buildings. Ho said the contrast should not be viewed as a concern because each building represents a different period. He argued that the task was to find an architectural form that could combine the elements, even where they remain contrasting or different.

“History is a continuation. It cannot stop, and it cannot stand still. Architecture is the same,” Ho said. He described a triumphal arch as a symbol of victory and celebration that could become a distinctive feature for Hanoi beside the lake. The plan also calls for research and assessment of valuable historic buildings, including older structures and French-built buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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A triumphal arch is a symbol of victory, a symbol of celebration like a song. It resonates in the heart of Hanoi, right at Hoan Kiem Lake, and I think that is something special for Hanoi.