A man and his children cycle on Phan Châu Trình street in Hội An. The ancient town has expanded its pedestrian area creating more 'green' space for tourists visiting the Old Quarter. — Photo courtesy of Khánh Chi

HỘI AN — The ancient town of Hội An has expanded its pedestrian area in Phan Chu Trinh Street.

The new vehicle-free sections will be at the junctions of Nguyễn Huệ and Cao Hồng Lãnh streets in an effort of reducing traffic congestion and overloading of infrastructure in the Old Quarter and offering ‘green’ space for visitors.

Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Sơn said the debut of the walking street was planned in 2019, but it was delayed due to COVID-19.

Sơn said the area would open on May 15 from 3pm to 9.30pm from 2024, the same times as previous designed walking areas in the Old Quarter including Trần Phú, Nguyễn Thái Học, Bạch Đằng, Nguyễn Huệ, Hội An market, Công Nữ Ngọc Hoa and the Hoài River Square.

Last year, the ancient town of Hội An limited access of taxis and buses to some streets in the Old Quarter between 11am and 1.30 pm, and 4pm to 9pm. 

Only electric-powered public transport is permitted transporting visitors from the public car park to 14 stops in the Old Quarter and other destinations, boosting ‘green’ traffic at the UNESCO-recognised world heritage site.

The chairman said the pedestrian area, which began in the city in 2004, has helped preserve the tranquil and clean air and make it safer for visitors when exploring the Old Quarter.

In relation to entrance tickets to the heritage, the city said only group visitors to Hội An's Old Quarter and relic sites will be required to purchase tickets.

Locals and tourists not part of officials groups do not need buy entrance ticket, according to the city’s chairman.

The one-time entrance fee will be VNĐ80,000 for domestic visitors and VNĐ120,000 for foreigners.

Tourists visit the Old Quarter of Hội An ancient town. Photo courtesy of Sơn Ca

Ticket collection for tourists visiting the Old Quarter began in 1995, and the city kept prices the same (VNĐ80,000 for Vietnamese and 120,000 for foreigners) since 2012.

Sơn said the old quarter was overloaded during the May Day vacation with about 30,000 tourists visiting at peak hours between 5pm to 10pm.

Hội An was the first city in Việt Nam to host a Car-Free Day and the first location in the central province to launch the 3-R (reduce, reuse and recycle) programme while promoting reusable bags and the operation of solar-powered lighting in the city’s square.

In preservation of relics and lifestyle of local people in the Old Quarter, the city urged Hội An born community to remain living in old houses.

The Old Quarter still preserves 1,273 ancient relics, temples, pagodas, and old houses, of which 932 relics (84 per cent) belong to individuals or collectives.

The city has called for a relic preservation fund to buy old houses as state treasures for better protection because many families could not cover cost of restoration. — VNS