Authorities in Hai Ba Trung District of Hanoi have set in motion a VND109 billion (US$4.4 million) project to renovate the landscape around Thien Quang Lake.

A bird's eye view of Thien Quang Lake in Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc Tan/The Hanoi Times

The main activities of the project include the undergrounding of electrical and communication cables, the paving of the sidewalks with natural stone, and the redesign of the flower gardens around the lake.

It also includes the construction of five squares: a central square and four others named after the four seasons.

When completed, the project will create a pedestrianized area linking the streets around Thien Quang Lake and Thong Nhat (Unification) Park.

The pedestrian-only area is expected to make full use of the lake's green space and provide an improved living environment for local people and travelers.

The local authorities have set a target of completing all the construction and renovation work by October, with the expectation that the project will be one of the main activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the capital’s Liberation Day (October 10).

In early February, local authorities proposed a 1:500 scale design project for the urban area around Thien Quang Lake, aimed at transforming the area into a central hub for community connectivity and cultural integration.

The pedestrian zone covers a total area of 11.7 hectares in two wards, Nguyen Du and Le Dai Hanh. The area is bounded by Nguyen Du Street to the North, Tran Binh Trong Street to the West, Quang Trung Street to the East, and Tran Nhan Tong Street to the South.

Specifically, the consultancy proposes an urban design with 13 functional zones, including the five squares mentioned above, to be used for street retail, cultural, recreational, and other physical activities.

According to Duong Minh Duc, Chairman of the Nguyen Du Ward People's Committee, the project will help develop comprehensive infrastructure around Thien Quang Lake.

It will create modern, open, and civilized landscapes for the area, correcting inadequate aspects of the previous urban design to make it more harmonious, beautiful, and convenient for residents' activities - the ultimate goal of urban planning.

Chairwoman of the Le Dai Hanh Ward People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, said the ward's residents had unanimously agreed to the project as it would create a beautiful area encompassing Thong Nhat Park, Tran Nhan Tong pedestrian street and surrounding areas.

The majority of local people surveyed by the local government are very interested in the project. They expect it to enhance the local landscape and attract more tourists to the area.