VIETNAM has shared breathtaking renders of the world’s largest football stadium, which is set to dwarf iconic venues like Old Trafford and Wembley.
Construction has begun on the mega 135,000-seater as part of a vast Olympic Sports City project that will set the Hanoi Government back a whopping £28billion.
Plans to build the record-breaking Trong Dong Stadium were approved in December, with officials stating it will host large-scale sports, cultural and socio-political events.
The new arena, which will be in the southern part of Hanoi, is the standout feature in the ambitious urban development plan, which Vietnam hopes will boost its standing on the international stage.
The stadium’s design is based around the country’s iconic Dong Son brass drums.
The drum is a symbol of ancient Vietnamese civilisation, representing community spirit, strength, and longevity.
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Architects hope this will help blend the country’s rich traditional culture with a futuristic, cutting-edge facility that will boost Vietnam‘s prestige.
Wembley, the Bird’s Nest Stadium in China and Qatar‘s Lusail Stadium were cited as inspirations for the ambitious project.
Organisers say these venues helped boost the status of their countries.
The Trong Dong Stadium would overtake the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea for having the largest seated capacity, with that venue estimated to be able to seat 114,000 spectators.
It would also top Morocco‘s ambitious Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca, which is being built ahead of the 2030 World Cup and will host 115,000 fans.
The Trong Dong Stadium’s website states: “In Vietnam, the need for large-scale, integrated, and internationally standardised sports facilities is becoming increasingly urgent, especially as the country aims to participate more deeply in regional and global sporting events.
“Hanoi – the capital of the country – as the political, cultural, and diplomatic center, has the responsibility to take the lead in establishing national-level sports institutions that meet the requirements of sustainable development and international integration.
“In this context, the Trong Dong Stadium is being developed with the same strategic vision, focusing not only on its purely sporting function but also on becoming an architectural and cultural icon representing Vietnam in the new era.
“The construction of a stadium of comparable scale and quality to iconic global landmarks is seen as a significant step in the roadmap to improve national infrastructure capacity and Vietnam’s position on the world sports map.”
The organisers claim the arena would have the world’s largest retractable roof and would allow Vietnam to host major international events such as the World Cup and the Olympics.
It will be a strictly football-specific venue, setting it apart from many multi-purpose builds equipped with athletics tracks.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in December ahead of the project, with the stadium reportedly earmarked for completion by August 2028.
The Olympics Sports City, which is divided into four zones, will include a state-of-the-art transportation system, a new urban area, and additional sporting facilities.
The mega-project as a whole is expected to be completed by 2035.
Organisers say they have prioritised sustainable building practices and materials.
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