HANOI, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese capital will award prizes worth a total of 300,000 U.S. dollars to design consultancy firms that come up with the best solutions to ease traffic congestion, according to Hanoi People's Committee on Friday.

The city just launched a competition on transportation planning and traffic congestion reduction in Hanoi until 2025, with a vision to 2030. The first prize will be worth 200,000 U.S. dollars while the second prize goes 100,000 U.S. dollars. There will be just one winner each.

Entries will be selected by a board of examiners based on their capabilities, experiences and credibility, reported local Vietnam News online newspaper.

National and international design consultancy firms can submit applications on Jan. 19-23 for the preliminary round.

The board will shortlist five best solutions from the preliminary round to develop traffic solutions, which will be sent to the city's transport department on April 27.

Between April 27 and May 10, the shortlisted participants will have to explain and defend their projects. The winners are expected to be announced latest on May 25.

Apart from the two prizes, each of the remaining three participants will get financial aid of 25,000 U.S. dollars.