The construction of Ba Vì Safari Park is scheduled to run from the fourth quarter of 2026 to the second quarter of 2030. Photo Sun Group

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội has broken ground on a 299ha safari park in Ba Vì Commune, about 60km west of the city centre, with plans to create a major wildlife tourism destination.

The park will be built entirely outside Ba Vì National Park, with no overlap with its protected forest areas. It will be 2.4 times the size of Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Reserve and nearly half the area of San Diego Zoo Safari Park in the US.

Hà Nội People’s Committee Chairman Vũ Đại Thắng said Ba Vì Safari Park and other cultural, tourism, commercial and service projects launched on the 72nd anniversary of Hà Nội’s Liberation Day would help unlock the capital’s potential, broaden its tourism offerings and open up new avenues for growth.

“The construction of Ba Vì Safari Park must comply with planning regulations and preserve cultural and historical assets," Thắng said. 

"It is responsible to protect the environment and balance the interests of the State, residents and investors."

US-based PGAV Destinations, which specialises in designing theme parks, zoos and tourism attractions, is advising on the park’s design.

The project will combine safari experiences with wildlife conservation, environmental education, sightseeing and recreation.

Animal enclosures will be a key attraction and are designed to provide suitable habitats for different species. Visitors will be able to observe animals and learn about their behaviour in settings modelled on their natural environments.

The park will also feature animal shows built to international standards, alongside an amusement zone with rides and interactive experiences for all ages. These attractions are expected to encourage visitors to stay longer.

Green spaces and water features will account for 81.8 per cent of the park’s area, linking animal enclosures and visitor facilities through ecological corridors intended to support wildlife and enhance the visitor experience, according to Sun Group, which is constructing the project. 

The Ba Vì Safari Park project puts into action the Politburo’s Resolution 26-NQ/TW, which identifies tourism as a key economic sector. It also aligns with central Government policies on managing and developing Ba Vì National Park, as well as Hà Nội’s 100-year master plan.

Ba Vì Safari Park aims to attract six million visitors annually and establish itself as a major wildlife tourism destination while promoting sustainable development.

Construction is scheduled to run from the fourth quarter of 2026 to the second quarter of 2030. The project has a preliminary estimated investment of VNĐ7.48 trillion (about US$290 million).

The park is one of 14 projects launched by the Hà Nội People’s Committee on October 9. Another is a multi-purpose entertainment complex featuring a horse-racing track in Sóc Sơn Commune.

The 125-hectare complex received in-principle investment approval in 2019 and is estimated to cost $420 million.

Its nearly 100-hectare horse-racing zone will include a racecourse with seating for about 30,000 spectators, stables, horse training and care facilities, supporting services, technical infrastructure and landscaped areas.

The complex will also feature an international standard hotel, a shopping and conference centre, resort villas and a 22.5-hectare lake designed to enhance the site’s landscape and ecological value.

The project is expected to expand Hà Nội’s leisure and tourism offerings, spur development in the city’s northern areas and boost commercial and service activity in Sóc Sơn. — OVN/VNS