Advanced technologies to be used at Vietnam’s largest stadium, inspired by AT&T and Singapore National Stadium

Vietnam’s new 60,000-seat PVF Stadium in the northern province of Hung Yen will introduce technologies never before used in the country, including a fully automated retractable dome and a hybrid modular grass pitch.

Construction of the stadium began on Oct. 19 inside a sports and service complex that has an area of 920,000 square meters. Once completed, this will be Vietnam’s largest sporting venue since the My Dinh National Sports Complex opened in 2002.

The new stadium, inspired by AT&T Stadium in the U.S. and Singapore National Stadium, will surpass My Dinh’s 40,192 seats, aiming to host top-tier sports and entertainment events.

The signature feature is the automated roof, which can fully open or close in 12 to 20 minutes to adapt to the weather. The design references AT&T Stadium’s 373 m steel arches–the world’s longest of their type–which are 10.7 m deep, 5 m wide, with an approximate load capacity of 8,618 tons. AT&T’s sliding system uses two translucent membranes that can open and close in roughly 12 minutes, paired with end-zone glass doors 36 m high and 55 m wide that open in about 18 minutes to create a flexible and airy space.

A retractable dome has the ability to protect spectators and the pitch from heavy rain, harsh sun, or strong winds, while allowing natural ventilation in good weather, which improves match quality, according to HowStuffWorks.

The dome’s operating system uses PTFE fiber membranes and steel panels that travel on precision rails powered by electric motors. PTFE is widely used in modern stadium domes for its light weight and high heat durability. Sensors monitor alignment and speed, and an emergency braking system ensures safety.

According Popular Mechanics, it requires engineering at a great level of precision to make a dome weighing thousands of tons move smoothly.

Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium currently holds the fastest known dome open and close time at about 4 minutes and 30 seconds. In Southeast Asia, only the Singapore National Stadium and Jakarta International Stadium use the same technology.

PVF Stadium will also employ a hybrid modular pitch that combines natural grass with synthetic fibers for greater stability and a flatter, more consistent surface. SIS Pitches notes this approach, commonly supplied by providers such as Desso GrassMaster or SISGrass and used across all 20 clubs in the Premier League, improves drainage, load-bearing, durability and maintenance.

In Vietnam’s tropical monsoon climate, that matters. After Vietnam’s 1-0 win over Nepal at Thong Nhat Stadium on Oct. 14, coach Kim Sang-sik said heavy rain before the game affected the pitch and limited the team’s scoring ability.

The new hybrid modular pitch can also reduce the risk of injury for players and even help them sprint faster. Most of the 11-a-side football fields in Vietnam use natural grass, which make the pitch rough and easy for players to get scratched. It is even easier to get injured on artificial grass pitches, as they don’t have high elasticity.

With this modular design, sections of the pitch can be removed or swapped, so the stadium can switch efficiently between football and big events without lengthy renovations. The new stadium is expected to host large-scale music events and can attract top global stars.

With 60,000 seats, PVF Stadium would rank fourth in Southeast Asia by capacity, after Malaysia’s Bukit Jalil (87,411), Indonesia’s Jakarta International (82,000) and Gelora Bung Karno (77,193). It would sit inside Asia’s top 40 stadiums by size. My Dinh Stadium currently ranks 130th in Asia.

Besides capacity, the new stadium also opens up the possibility of hosting regional qualifiers, finals, and entertainment events that attract large crowds. The key to revenue is the frequency of use for big events.

My Dinh Stadium’s decrease in quality has already cost Vietnam opportunities, such as the cancellation of last year’s South Korean concert K-Time, and even drew criticism from Australian football fans who compared the pitch condition to a « cow paddock. »

The project also targets urban development. Positioned within an emerging corridor, the stadium is more than just a sporting venue, as it can boost infrastructure, services and tourism for the area. In off-peak traffic, PVF Stadium is only 60 minutes from Noi Bai International Airport and about 90 minutes from Hai Phong’s Cat Bi Airport.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang said PVF Stadium sits within a sports and cultural complex and is designed as a multi-purpose entertainment hub. The stadium design integrates technical, security and media operations, along with VIP zones and food courts. LED screens, sound and light system reach international broadcast standards.

The PVF stadium will not feature a running track, like Da Nang’s Hoa Xuan or Gia Lai’s Pleiku, to bring the stands closer to the pitch and enhance experience for the fans. Parking spans about 180,000 sq.m to serve tens of thousands of spectators at the same time.

By Hoang An – VnExpress.net – October 21, 2025