VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi’s People’s Committee has implemented measures to improve the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake. Also, a public drinking water system will be installed around the lake for the first time to serve locals and tourists.

Local people and visitors enjoy a lion dancing performance on Ha Noi’s pedestrian street.

Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the committee, said on Monday the city has been trying to complete all the decoration works by June 2017, including paving of the streets with natural stones, renovating the surface of 57 households and 14 agencies around the lake, planting more ornamental trees and installing a lighting system for the area.

After the lake is cleaned with the help of Germany technology, more water will be pumped in to increase the surface by 50cm compared with the current level, Chung said.

The city has received a public drinking water column from the Paris mayor. The city will expand the system around the city by designing more such columns, so people can directly drink water from the system, he added.

The city will create areas to house at least five souvenir shops selling flowers, fresh fruits, coffee and fast food during the weekend, he said.

Pedestrian zones around the Hoan Kiem Lake officially opened on September 1, which includes the 10 streets Hang Buom, Ma May, Dao Duy Tu, Hang Giay, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ta Hien, Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Duong and Dong Xuan.

These pedestrian streets open from Friday night to Sunday night, from 7pm to 12pm in summer and from 6pm to 12pm in winter. All shops and bars in this zone will be allowed to remain open until 2am.

VNS