Vietnam starts construction of Hanoi F1 race circuit

Hanoi circuit

Vietnam on Wednesday started construction of a 5.565-km (3.4 miles) race circuit in the capital Hanoi where the Southeast Asian city will host its first Formula One race next year.

The Vietnamese Grand Prix scheduled for April 2020 is the latest street race on the F1 calendar along with Monaco, Singapore and Azerbaijan.

"This major event will give to Vietnam – and particularly its capital – an international exposure," FIA President Jean Todt said at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the circuit.

"I look forward to seeing you in a year's time on the starting grid of the first Formula 1 Vietnamese Grand Prix in Hanoi."