Traditional boat racing on West Lake to celebrate Hà Nội Liberation Day on October 10 last year. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

HÀ NỘI — Officials in Hà Nội have proposed allowing several types of businesses to operate on West Lake, including tourist boats, canoes and swan-shaped pedalos.

Hà Nội People's Committee's proposal for the management of the West Lake, made public on Wednesday, mentions 12 types of activities, including the transportation of passengers by international and domestic travel agencies, kayaking, traditional boat rowing, and windsurfing.

The draft also aims to develop various cultural tourism services on the lake, including performing arts and sports, water musical performances, balloon flying, paragliding, and water golf.

In the past, eight different units were responsible for managing West Lake. However, the draft regulation stipulates that the Tây Hồ District will take on the primary responsibility and work closely with other departments.

Using the lake's surface for cultural, sports, tourism and entertainment activities must be licensed by the Tây Hồ District People's Committee.

In the urban management plan for West Lake and its vicinity, approved by the municipal people's committee, West Lake will have eight marinas and waterways tourist routes, which Tây Hồ District will manage.  

The draft regulation also set requirements for environmental management, including wastewater, water in the lake and sanitation of the lake surface.

It stipulates air, garbage, infrastructure, planning, construction and architecture management norms.

Hà Nội authorities asked those in Tây Hồ District to check and move old and unused waterway vehicles out of the West Lake area.

In early 2017, Hà Nội stopped all business activities on the West Lake.

Owners of tourist boats must dismantle their vehicles and move them to other places. However, this work had still yet to be completed by the beginning of this year and four of the 147 old and unused tourist ships are still on the lake.

The Tây Hồ District People's Committee said the ships were too large, weighing more than 400 tonnes and about 350sq.m in width. The district does not have enough specialised equipment to move them.

On the other hand, the transport infrastructure in the area does not meet the requirements to move these ships.

The Tây Hồ District proposed the city dismantle them into small parts and move to regulated places.

The West Lake is more than 527ha in width.

Technical infrastructure around the lake is completed with walkways, a drainage system, a lighting system and trees.

There are 22 historical and cultural relics and several famous traditional craft villages around the lake and its surrounding area. — VNS