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Rivalling Ho Chi Minh City's Vincom Landmark 81 and its supporting towers, South Korean developer Daewoo is planning a huge mixed-use destination for a currently vacant property in Hanoi's Tay Ho district. The centrepiece of the residential, office, hospitality, and shopping hub would be the tallest broadcast tower in the world, planned to overtake the 634-metre Tokyo Skytree by just two metres.
According to Zing, the tower's exorbitant $900 million (USD) cost is calling some — including Chairman of the Vietnam Construction Association Dr. Pham Ngoc Dang — to question its true purpose. The public broadcaster Vietnam Television, who proposed the massive tower, cites its economic potential to draw tourists as a key reason for the adventurous scheme.
The massive television tower, the design of which has not yet been unveiled, would only form one part of the $2.5 billion (USD) Starlake development. Located five kiloemetres from the city centre and 14 kilometres from Noi Bai International Airport, the master planned development will span 138.3 hectares and eventually house nearly 25,000 people.
The first phase — which has been under construction for the past six years — covers a whopping 114.8 hectares. Comprised mostly of low-density villa units, it's expected to be finished in 2019, at which time the much denser second phase will begin. An array of skyscrapers at varying heights will be positioned around a central green space. Apartments, hotels, and government tenants will shape the interior spaces of these highrises. The resulting mix of commercial, residential, and cultural uses with administrative functions would make the spot an ideal site for international diplomatic meetings.
Despite mounting criticism, Daewoo is hopeful the broadcast tower could be complete by 2021. Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
