The capital city of Hanoi will not open pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem (Sword) lake and the Old Quarter before, during and after the Lunar New Year (Tet) because many people in the city are going to the countryside.

According to Vice Chairman of the Hoan Kiem district’s People’s Committee Dinh Hong Phong, the walking zone around Hoan Kiem lake and proximities, including the Old Quarter, will be closed from February 16-18 (the first, second and third day of the lunar month).

From February 23 (the eighth day of the lunar month), the walking streets will be reopened.

The capital plans to host various culture programmes and fireworks displays to ring in the Lunar New Year.

To ensure traffic order and safety, local authorities will ban vehicles around the surrounding areas of Hoan Kiem lake from 7:30 pm on February 15 to 1:00 am on February 16.

The pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem lake and Hanoi Old Quarter are popular destinations for Hanoians and tourists.

The walking area around Hoan Kiem lake spreads over 11 streets, which are Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Lai, Le Thach, Dinh Le, Nguyen Xi, Trang Tien (from Ngo Quyen to Dinh Tien Hoang), Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Hang Trong (from street Joseph’s Cathedral to Le Thai To), Nha Tho and the Cathedral square. The streets are closed to traffic from Friday night through Sunday mid-night. 

It is linked to the pedestrian streets in the Old Quarter include Hang Buom, Ma May, Dao Duy Tu, Hang Giay, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ta Hien, Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Duong and Dong Xuan.-VNA