Located in Phuc Xa Ward, Ba Dinh District, Long Bien Market spans 2.75 hectares and was initially designed as a three-storey facility. Built-in 1991 and officially opened in 1992, it has become Hanoi's most significant wholesale hub for fruits, agricultural produce, and food items.
To tackle the issue, Ba Dinh District has co-operated with Hanoi University of Civil Engineering to explore renovation solutions for Long Bien Market. The 2025 AIAC International Architecture Competition has also included the project to seek the most effective design.
The market accommodates around 400 traders and is divided into various sections, including areas for fruits, agricultural produce, food services, kiosks, dried goods, votive offerings, hair and shampoo services, seafood, and more.
Narrow pathways, limited parking, and a lack of supporting facilities have caused frequent traffic congestion and adversely impacted environmental sanitation in and around the market.
The outdoor trading area is densely packed with a wide range of goods, while significant volumes of waste are produced without timely collection.
On average, each sanitation worker pushes over 10 cartloads of waste gathered from the market daily, underscoring the substantial volume of garbage generated by business activities at the site.
At the rear section of the market where food is sold, livestock, poultry, and seafood are slaughtered directly on the pavement, with wastewater spilling onto the streets. This results in unsanitary conditions and poses significant food safety risks.
As night deepens and dawn approaches, the market grows ever more bustling, crowded with trucks, motorised carts, and throngs of buyers and sellers weaving through its narrow passageways.
Outstanding design ideas from the AIAC 2025 competition will be considered by Ba Dinh District for future renovation plans at Long Bien Market. The district aims to harmoniously integrate the traditional market space with cultural zones, street art, and vibrant night-time dining while adding green spaces and upgrading infrastructure to enhance commerce and community life.
