<p>Vietnam on Wednesday launched construction of a race circuit in the capital Hanoi where the Southeast Asian city will host its first Formula One race next year.</p>.<p>The Vietnamese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 2020, is the latest street race on the F1 calendar along with Monaco, Singapore and Azerbaijan.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>The 5.565-Km (3.4 miles) circuit in the west of Hanoi is scheduled to be completed by March next year, Grand Prix parent Vingroup said in a statement.</p>.<p>While the country does not have much of a motorsport tradition, sporting events or competitions in which the national team does even marginally well are widely watched and passionately celebrated.</p>.<p>"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," Todt said.</p>
<p>Vietnam on Wednesday launched construction of a race circuit in the capital Hanoi where the Southeast Asian city will host its first Formula One race next year.</p>.<p>The Vietnamese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 2020, is the latest street race on the F1 calendar along with Monaco, Singapore and Azerbaijan.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>The 5.565-Km (3.4 miles) circuit in the west of Hanoi is scheduled to be completed by March next year, Grand Prix parent Vingroup said in a statement.</p>.<p>While the country does not have much of a motorsport tradition, sporting events or competitions in which the national team does even marginally well are widely watched and passionately celebrated.</p>.<p>"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," Todt said.</p>