Specialised machinery was brought to the site for the dismantling (Photo by Manh Quan)
At around 10pm on June 19, heavy equipment was deployed to the Shark Jaw Building site in Hoan Kiem District, where demolition work began under safety supervision. Barriers had been installed one week earlier to secure the surrounding area.
Situated next to Hoan Kiem Lake and bordering the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the building had long been a recognisable feature of the city's landscape. Authorities say the removal is being conducted with utmost care to minimise any impact on nearby heritage areas.
Hoan Kiem District authorities have not yet released a specific timeline for the completion of the site clearance.
According to the renovation plan, the space will be converted into a three-level underground complex. The first level will be dedicated to commercial and service functions, while the second and third levels will serve as parking facilities.
The upgrade is part of a broader effort to revitalise Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, which serves as a symbolic and geographical link between two major cultural areas: the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple complex to the south, and the Old Quarter to the north.