“Engine starting!” Picture yourself amidst the roar of engines at the Hanoi Street Circuit. This circuit sits in the Nam Từ Liêm district of Hanoi. It was designed to host the Vietnamese Grand Prix. Sadly, that race never happened.
The Hanoi Street Circuit is 5.613 km long. The talented Hermann Tilke designed it. It was intended to make its Formula One debut in 2020. However, the pandemic cancelled the race. A cancelled 2021 race followed due to corruption charges against a key official.
Going anticlockwise, the Hanoi Street Circuit is next to the Mỹ Đình National Stadium. It has both temporary street sections and a purpose-built layout. The design incorporates inspiration from other famous circuits. These include Monaco, Suzuka, Sepang, and the Nürburgring. The Circuit of the Americas also used this design approach before.
The original layout had 22 corners. An additional corner was added in December 2019. This was for safety. Construction wrapped up in February 2020.
One of the longest straights on the calendar is at the Hanoi Street Circuit. It measures 1.5 km. Imagine the F1 cars speeding along this stretch. Construction began in March 2019. It took less than a year to complete. The pit building’s design drew inspiration from Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
Since the cancellation, the circuit remained closed. However, there was a brief opening. On New Year’s Eve 2022 and New Year’s Day 2023, Honda held a promotional event here. Also, the main straight hosted a parade. It celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Mobile Police Command’s Traditional Day on April 14, 2024.
The full Hanoi Street Circuit exists in the F1 2020 video game. It retains the original 2020 season calendar. So, while the track hasn’t seen a real race, it lives on virtually.
The Hanoi Street Circuit stands as a modern marvel. Despite its unfulfilled destiny, it represents ambition and innovation. It is a reminder of what might have been. As you stand here, envision the speed and excitement that could have been.