Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has told the Ministry of Construction that planning for the new Hanoi capital region must be completed within two years.

Mr Hai said details must be ready for the National Assembly to discuss in 2010, the 1000th anniversary for the founding of Hanoi.

At a meeting last week with the project's steering committee, Hai said contracts signed with consultancy companies must come into force by August 2008.

The Deputy Prime Minister also set a clear time-line for the project.

“By January 2009, the first report must be available for the Government to consider; by September 2009, it must have been reviewed by the Party Politbureau: and by January 2010 it will be published for public comment.”

According to the Ministry of Construction, 12 foreign consultancy companies, including those from the Unites States, Germany, Australia, the Republic of Korea, China and Singapore have applied to bid for planning the vast project.

However, only three applications will be selected. The best will then be chosen using professionalism, finance and experience as criteria.

A website on the Hanoi capital region-and a physical model of how it will look-will be available for people in Vietnam who would like to comment.

A special public exhibition centre will be built to house the model. (VNA)