People living around Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake are complaining about too many entertainment programmes being held there.

Thousands of people flock to Hoan Kiem Lake to watch the New Year 2018 Countdown show (photo: vietnamnet)

Ta Duy Khoa, a local in Hoan Kiem District, said there were three events welcoming the New Year held at Hoan Kiem Lake.

He said, "I was already afraid that my neighbourhood would become too noisy after knowing that major events would be held regularly near Hoan Kiem Lake. Then the music blasted all day and night, shaking our house. The peaceful environment that I knew for the past 70 years has gone."

Khoa said he filed complaints to the local authorities to no avail. Because of constant loud noises, many families had to send elderly people and children away before an event. He was also upset about the low awareness of many people.

"Many people left litter, knocked over rubbish bins or went onto balconies. The authorities should be more careful in issuing permits to events," he said.

People trampled grass and flowers during the New Year 2018 Countdown show held near the Hoan Kiem Lake

During the New Year Eve, thousands of people gathered at the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, trampling the flowers and grass in the area despite the warning signs or the guards. 60-year-old Le Thu Tra said she was shocked when waking up in the morning and realised that a vast area of grass and flowers had disappeared.

NA Deputy Bui Thi An said the authorities should also take responsibility as they obviously hadn’t made sufficient plans to deal with such a large number of people. Meanwhile, author Nguyen Ngoc Tien, who has written a lot about Hanoi, suggested organising events in other locations such as Hoa Binh Park or My Dinh Stadium.

Dtinews