F1 chief executive Chase Carey travelled straight from China to Vietnam to check out the scene of the Hanoi street race for 2020.
Vietnam is the first new race put together from scratch by new F1 owner Liberty Media.
"We think this track will make for a very special race and a very exciting competition," Carey is quoted by France’s L’Equipe.
"It’s a combination of a street race - we are in the city centre - and a circuit," he added.
Earlier, Truong Anh Ngoc, the sports correspondent for the official Vietnam News Agency, said the race is costing "several hundred million dollars".