DEMINETEC in Hanoi

DEMINETEC operates in Hanoi

DEMINETEC, a French company headquartered in La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var), delivers civilian demining (pyrotechnic clearance) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk management services to public and private clients in Hanoi, Vietnam. We cover the full chain from historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT) to ordnance neutralisation and disposal, in line with French Decree 2005-1325 and international best practice.

Pyrotechnic historical context of Hanoi

Hanoi was the capital of North Vietnam and a primary target of U.S. air operations during the Vietnam War. Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-1968) and especially Operation Linebacker II — the 'Christmas bombings' of 18-29 December 1972 — saw B-52 strikes on Hanoi, Haiphong and surrounding industrial and transport infrastructure, leaving thousands of unexploded bombs (UXBs) in the Red River delta.

Vietnam is one of the most heavily UXO-contaminated countries in the world: an estimated 800,000 tonnes of ordnance remain in its soil. The Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) and provincial demining centres clear thousands of items every year, with strong partnerships from NPA, MAG, HALO Trust, the U.S. State Department (PM/WRA) and KOICA. Hotspots include Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế and the former DMZ.

Hanoi's expansion — metro lines 2A, 3 and 5, Noi Bai airport expansion, Red River ring roads, Hoa Lac high-tech park — increasingly relies on pyrotechnic historical studies and magnetometric surveys, while offshore oil and gas projects in the Tonkin Gulf and South China Sea (Vanguard Bank) follow the same logic, aligned with IMAS standards and French Decree 2005-1325.

Our services in Hanoi

Historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT)

Document research in national and foreign archives to qualify pyrotechnic risk on a site (bombings, combat, depots, ranges).

Pyrotechnic safety study (ESP)

Residual risk assessment, definition of effect zones, safety perimeters and collective protective measures.

Magnetometric geophysical survey

On-site detection of ferromagnetic anomalies, surface or deep, onshore or underwater.

UXO clearance

Extraction, identification and neutralisation / disposal of munitions by our NEDEX / EOD-qualified operators.

Underwater expertise

Survey and clearance in ports, rivers and offshore environments, in partnership with our group company SEMTEC.

Why choose DEMINETEC for Hanoi?

French licensed company, ISO 9001 and MASE certified, compliant with French Decree 2005-1325.
Teams of former French Navy and Army EOD operators (NEDEX / EOD qualifications).
Over 30 years of accumulated experience in France and on international projects.
Onshore and underwater intervention capacity through the DEMINETEC group (SEMTEC, GEODE, DEMINETEC ECG).
Quick response: quote within 48 hours, rapid mobilisation in France and abroad.

War history and explosive contamination in Hanoi

Operation Linebacker II was a United States strategic bombing campaign against military and industrial areas of North Vietnam from 18 to 29 December 1972 during the Vietnam War. The belligerents were the United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and North Vietnam’s Air Defence–Air Force Service and Naval Service. More than 20,000 tons of ordnance were dropped, primarily against Hanoi and Haiphong. The raids were conducted from 18 to 24 December and from 26 to 29 December by more than 200 B-52 bombers, supported by tactical aircraft. The stated locations included Hanoi, Haiphong, Thái Nguyên, Lạng Giang and Bắc Giang.

Targets and affected facilities included airfields at Kép, Phúc Yên and Hòa Lạc; the Yên Viên, Kinh No, Thái Nguyên, Lang Dang, Duc Noi, Trung Quang and Hanoi rail facilities; storage areas at Yên Viên, Văn Điển and Ai Mo; the Thái Nguyên thermal power plant; petroleum and fuel storage areas; Quang Te Airfield; and Radio Hanoi broadcasting facilities. Bạch Mai Hospital in Hanoi was struck on 22 December, and Kham Thien Street was attacked on 26 December. North Vietnamese ports had also been reseeded with air-dropped naval mines before the bombing campaign. The campaign caused reported damage to rail infrastructure, rolling stock, petroleum products and electrical-power production, while North Vietnamese air-defence units operated around the bombed areas.

Areas and structures concerned

Hanoi
Haiphong
Bạch Mai Hospital
Kham Thien Street
North Vietnamese ports
Kép, Phúc Yên and Hòa Lạc airfields
Yên Viên, Kinh No, Thái Nguyên, Lang Dang, Duc Noi and Trung Quang rail facilities

Expected ordnance and implications for survey

The operation involved more than 20,000 tons of ordnance, including bombs dropped by B-52s and fighter-bombers. North Vietnamese air-defence forces launched SA-2 missiles, with 266 missiles fired during the operation. Before the campaign, North Vietnamese ports were reseeded with air-dropped naval mines. The different ordnance categories and the recorded presence of bombed airfields, rail facilities, storage areas, ports and urban structures provide historical target information for desk studies and for planning survey, detection, clearance and explosive ordnance disposal activities.

FAQ: explosive risk in Hanoi

Which Hanoi locations were directly affected during Operation Linebacker II?

Bạch Mai Hospital was struck on 22 December 1972, and Kham Thien Street was attacked on 26 December. Hanoi also contained targeted rail facilities, petroleum-product storage areas, airfields, SAM sites and the Radio Hanoi broadcasting facilities.

What explosive hazards and military ordnance are recorded for the Hanoi-area operations?

The campaign used bombs dropped by B-52s and fighter-bombers. North Vietnamese forces launched SA-2 missiles, and North Vietnamese ports were reseeded with air-dropped naval mines. The operations also involved bombed airfields, rail facilities, storage areas, fuel installations and urban structures.

Reference : Wikipédia — Operation Linebacker II

Territorial coverage

DEMINETEC operates in Hanoi and across Vietnam from our French head office (285 avenue Marcel Paul, 83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, France). We mobilise teams and technical assets to fit each mission: documentary studies, short field surveys, or long-duration clearance operations.

Frequently asked questions about UXO clearance in Hanoi

Which munitions are typically found?

In Hanoi and across Vietnam, the most frequently recovered items include artillery shells, hand grenades, landmines, aerial bombs and — in coastal areas — naval mines. Exact typology depends on the site history and is the focus of the prior historical desk study (EHT).

Does French Decree 2005-1325 apply abroad?

French Decree 2005-1325 governs civilian pyrotechnic clearance on French soil. Internationally, DEMINETEC uses it as a best-practice benchmark alongside IMAS (International Mine Action Standards) and the contractual requirements specific to Vietnam.

How long does a mission in Hanoi typically last?

Duration varies with surface area, investigation depth and anomaly density. An EHT desk study takes 2-6 weeks, a magnetometric survey from a few days to several months, and active clearance from a few weeks up to multiple years for major projects.

Do you operate underwater?

Yes. Through our subsidiary SEMTEC and the DEMINETEC group, we provide commercial diving, underwater magnetometry and submerged-ordnance neutralisation for ports, rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

Contact DEMINETEC for Hanoi

For any historical study, diagnostic or pyrotechnic clearance request, contact our teams:

DEMINETEC SAS
285 avenue Marcel Paul
83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, FRANCE
Tél: +33 (0)9 52 51 00 63
Email: contact@deminetec.com