VietNamNet Bridge – The Hanoi People's Committee has approved a pilot project to organize walking streets around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake, from 7pm to midnight on weekends, starting from September 1.

The new pedestrian areas around the Hoan Kiem Lake include the following roads:

Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hang Khay, part of Le Thai To and Le Lai, Le Thach, part of Tran Nguyen Han, Dinh Le, Nguyen Xi, part of Trang Tien, Lo Su Street, Hang Dau, Ho Hoan Kiem, part of Luong Van Can, part of Hang Bai, and Bao Khanh.

According to the Hanoi Transport Department, traffic police officers will be arranged around the area to guide traffic.

Hanoi will set up 78 parking lots on a total area of 17,000m2, accommodating 87 tourist cars and passenger cars; 600 5-7 seat cars and more than 2,700 bicycles and motorcycles.

In addition, there are 15 parking lots for cars only.

This is part of Hanoi’s measures to develop tourism, besides the decision to allow bars in the Hanoi Old Quarter to open until 2am on weekend.

Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung has also decided to offer free wifi at some tourist sites, including the Old Quarter and the Temple of Literature, build 20,000 hotel rooms in the next five years and build about 1,000 public toilets.

Pha Le