Vietnam’s first-ever Formula 1 circuit is nearing completion.
According to VnExpress, the track is 70% finished, and is expected to be completed by March, one month before the race takes place.
The design of the circuit’s pit stop area is inspired by Hanoi’s famous Khue Van Cac Pavilion at the Temple of Literature, while the track's grandstands honor nine famous Vietnamese landmarks and cities.
The Thang Long (a former name for Hanoi) grandstand will appear opposite the starting grid, while another beside twisting turns 2, 3 and 4 is said to represent a dragon, and thus refers to Ha Long Bay.
Hue, Da Nang and Saigon are among other cities which grandstands have been named after, with the locations appearing in a north-to-south order along the circuit.
The 5.6-kilometer-long track, which will feature 22 turns, is located near My Dinh National Stadium. The course will be a hybrid, featuring stretches on both existing roads and sections built specifically for the race.
The Hanoi race will be F1's fourth street competition, with the others taking place in Monaco, Singapore and Azerbaijan. One notable feature of the layout is a 1.5-kilometer-long straight, which could allow drivers to reach speeds of up to 335 km/h.
Tickets first went on sale in July last year. There are three types of tickets available, including VIP hospitality, grandstand seating, and general admission, which allows standing access. The latter is the cheapest ticket, costing just VND700,000.
There are currently 21 F1 races on the calendar, including six in Asia. Vietnam will be the third country in Southeast Asia to host a race, following Malaysia and Singapore, though the former is no longer on the schedule. The Vietnam Grand Prix will take place April 3–5.
