HÀ NỘI — The pedestrian space around Hoàn Kiếm (Returned Sword) Lake will not be expanded to the Old Quarter area.

City head Nguyễn Đức Chung rejected the expansion proposal of Hoàn Kiếm District authorities at a recent conference.

According to Chung, Hà Nội People’s Committee recognised the district’s efforts in improving the condition of pedestrian streets, but he said it was currently impossible to expand the space up to the Old Quarter area. Instead, the district authorities must invest to organise more attractive cultural activities and promote the Vietnamese tradition among tourists, he said, noting that trade violations and noise pollution required urgent attention.

“As soon as the district authorities take proper action to address the more pressing issues, the city People’s Committee will consider the expansion of pedestrian streets,” the conference report said.

At an earlier press conference on November 14, 2017, Đinh Hồng Phong, deputy head of Hoàn Kiếm District People’s Committee, said the pedestrian streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake connected with the Old Quarter area, creating a landmark for the capital city.

After one year of piloting, pedestrian streets now welcome up to 70,000 visitors a day.

“We are researching to open up the walking space to the streets of Đinh Liệt, Gia Ngư, Cầu Gỗ, Hàng Bè, etc.,” Phong told zing.vn.

Pedestrian zones around Hoàn Kiếm Lake officially opened on September 1, which include ten streets of Hàng Buồm, Mã Mây, Đào Duy Từ, Hàng Giấy, Lương Ngọc Quyến, Tạ Hiện, Hàng Ngang, Hàng Đào, Hàng Đường and Đồng Xuân.

These streets are open to the public from Friday night to Sunday night. The timings are 7pm to 12pm in summer and 6pm to 12pm in winter. All shops and bars in the zone remain open until 2am. — VNS