Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has ordered the People’s Committee of Hanoi to stop the demolition of ancient villas to build high-rise buildings in down-town districts.

The decision was included in the Conclusion of the Prime Minister for the Capital Construction Planning to 2025 with a vision to 2030.

The conclusion also said that the municipal authorities must carry out research into the restoration of the Old Quarter in order to preserve its typical architectural characteristics. The restoration needs to ensure that requirements on construction, green spaces and traffic are met.

The Prime Minister also required the plan to ensure a balanced development of urban and rural areas and maintain the traditional cultural characteristics of rural areas.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Construction has been assigned to cooperate with the municipal People’s Committee to instruct a consultant unit in research planning for Government offices in My Dinh area./.