Hanoi will consider building a zero-milestone in Hoan Kiem area as a highlight of the capital city in a move to make the downtown more attractive to visitors.

The proposal was made at a meeting between Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue and Hoan Kiem district's Party Committee on May 9.

A festival on the street. Photo: Zing

At the meeting, Hanoi's Party chief asked the district to study ten projects to enhance the attraction of the walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake and surrounding areas, with the focus on the zero-milestone project in Hoan Kiem district.

This project is expected to be a highlight of the capital and the whole country, and a place to attract domestic and international tourists.

Hue also noted that the project needs to be highly aesthetic, unique and consistent with the thousand years of the capital’s civilization.

A series of other projects will also be considered, including renovating a number of prominent works around Hoan Kiem Lake; improving the King Le temple and surrounding landscape; approving the architecture plan of C9 underground station and the area around the place.

Another project is the renovation of the southern stone approach roadway of Long Bien bridge and the conservation project of Long Bien bridge with the aim of making it a pedestrian bridge.

The secretary of the municipal Party Committee also asked the district's authorities to continue focusing on the development of services, commerce and tourism, especially the development of the night economy for improving the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of the walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake area, Hang Dao, Hang Giay streets, Dong Xuan night market and the walking space in the Old Quarter.

The Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in the heart of Hoan Kiem district. Photo: Zing.

On May 7, at a meeting with Secretary Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the Nam Tu Liem District People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Hoat proposed building the “Youth Cultural and Sports Square” at the My Dinh stadium area and building a commercial street on Dong Bong route.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Le Hong Son said that the proposal will help exploit more effectively the cluster of sports facilities in the district. The construction of a new square is also essential for improving the profile of the capital.

According to Vice Chairman Son, of the current Hanoi's four squares, only Ba Dinh square was built after the liberation of the capital city in 1954, the remaining three squares were built during the French colonial period.

In an urban space, square is a common space where cultural exchange, sports, entertainment, and trade activities are carried out. However, Hanoi still lacks square space, Hue said.