VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of local residents and tourists have flocked to the newly opened pedestrian roads around Hoan Kiem Lake. 

The streets for pedestrians include 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 St. Joseph’s Cathedral to Le Thai To), Nha Tho and the Cathedral square. 

The streets, which run around Hoan Kiem Lake, are closed to traffic from 7pm - 2am in summer and 6pm to 2 am in winter from Friday to Sunday and on some holidays. 

The inauguration ceremony took place on September 1. The pilot period will run until the Lunar New Year (Tet) Holiday 2017. 

The first pedestrian streets in Hanoi – Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Duong and Dong Xuan in the Old Quarter - opened in 2004. Visitors could walk, shop and sample street foods. 

In 2014, six more walking streets were launched, also in the Old Quarter.

Some pictures taken on the new pedestrian streets on September 2:

Photo: kenh14, VNN, Zing, VOV

Le Ha