Extraordinary images have emerged showing the building works for what is set to become the world’s largest stadium. Construction of the 135,000-seater VinFast Trong Dong Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, began nine months ago.
The stadium, named after and modelled on a traditional Vietnamese bronze drum, will have the largest capacity out of any stadium in the world, capable of hosting more than twice the number of Liverpool’s home, Anfield. It is hoped that it will open its doors by July 2027.
It is being built at the centre of the broader Olympic Sports City development, which Reuters reports will cover around 22,200 acres on the outskirts of Hanoi. The total cost of the project is reportedly around $38billion (£28.8bn).
Construction teams are working non-stop shifts to meet a demanding schedule. The reinforced concrete structure must be completed by December 2026, after which the installation of the dome system, electrical systems and finishing work will begin.
The retractable roof is reportedly scheduled to be in place by May 2027, with the goal of opening the completed stadium in July 2027, one year ahead of the original target date of August 2028.
Recent images of the building site show the ambitious project taking shape, with several cranes visible as the eye-catching vision comes to life. The colossal stadium already features steel columns, understood to be hydraulic jacking towers weighing more than 15,000 tonnes and rising 80 metres.
Their function is to lift the steel arch modules, which will form the stadium’s retractable dome, from the ground. Once completed, it will be the largest roof of its kind in the world.
Designs suggest it will have a circular gold dome shaped like a trong dong drum, with a diameter of 408 metres. Its architecture reproduces the motifs of Dong Son bronze drums, considered a symbol of ancient Vietnamese culture.
They represent “the spirit of community, strength, and longevity,” according to the project’s architects. The stated intention is for the stadium to become “an architectural and cultural icon representing Vietnam in the new era.”
Vietnamese authorities are hoping that the facility will enable them to bid to host events on the scale of the World Cup or the Olympic Games.
The projected capacity of 135,000 will easily surpass other football stadiums. The biggest football ground in the world is currently the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, which can host around 114,000.
Morocco’s Hassan II Stadium (115,000), is second. The ground is currently under construction for the 2030 World Cup.