Local people and foreign tourists at the pedestrian zone. —VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A night-time food and pedestrian zone officially opened on Đảo Ngọc - Ngũ Xã, an islet on Trúc Bạch Lake in Hà Nội’s Ba Đình District on the evening of December 23.

The zone covers two streets, Ngũ Xá and Nguyễn Khắc Hiếu, traversing the centre of Đảo Ngọc - Ngũ Xã, the folk name for a 4.5ha islet on Trúc Bạch Lake.

It focuses on developing existing restaurant and market activities, selling goods recognised under the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme, introducing the traditional Ngũ Xã bronze casting at the bronze casting museum, and holding street cultural events on the weekend.

In spring festivals, local authorities will also organise traditional activities at historical and cultural relic sites such as Thần Quang Pagoda and Ngũ Xã Communal House.

The food zone is open all days and closed to vehicles from 6 pm on Fridays to midnight on Sundays to serve pedestrians.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the chairman of the Ba Đình People’s Committee, Tạ Nam Chiến, expressed his hope that the Đảo Ngọc - Ngũ Xã food and pedestrian zone will become a new culinary destination in the district while helping introduce local OCOP products and tourism gifts and honour the traditional bronze casting to contribute to Hà Nội’s tourism development. — VNS