Construction of the world's largest stadium, the 135,000-seater VinFast Trong Dong Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, is underway and is expected to open by July 2027. The venue will have the largest capacity of any stadium globally, more than double that of Liverpool's Anfield.
Project details and scale
The stadium is named after and modelled on a traditional Vietnamese bronze drum, and sits at the centre of the Olympic Sports City development, which Reuters reports will cover around 22,200 acres on the outskirts of Hanoi. The total project cost is reportedly around $38 billion (£28.8bn).
Construction began nine months ago, with teams working non-stop shifts to meet a demanding schedule. The reinforced concrete structure must be completed by December 2026, followed by installation of the dome system, electrical systems, and finishing work.
Retractable roof and design
The retractable roof is 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 of August 2028. Recent images show several cranes on site, with steel columns understood to be hydraulic jacking towers weighing more than 15,000 tonnes and rising 80 metres.
These towers lift the steel arch modules that will form the stadium's retractable dome, which will be the largest roof of its kind in the world. The design features a circular gold dome shaped like a trong dong drum, with a diameter of 408 metres, reproducing motifs of Dong Son bronze drums, a symbol of ancient Vietnamese culture.
Cultural significance and future events
The architecture represents "the spirit of community, strength, and longevity," according to the project's architects, with the intention for the stadium to become "an architectural and cultural icon representing Vietnam in the new era." Vietnamese authorities hope the facility will enable bids to host events on the scale of the World Cup or Olympic Games.
The projected capacity of 135,000 will surpass current football stadiums, including the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, which hosts around 114,000, and Morocco's Hassan II Stadium (115,000), currently under construction for the 2030 World Cup.
