After three years of trial, the walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake and surrounding areas in downtown Hanoi has become a brand, a cultural avenue, and a highlight of the capital city, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said at a meeting on December 26 to review its performance.

The walking space has contributed to ensuring security and order, gradually curbing motorized vehicles and creating a new lifestyle for Hanoi’s people, and promoting the capital city’s image - the City for Peace, the mayor was quoted by the Government Portal as saying.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung speaks at the meeting on December 26. Photo: Thuy Linh

The closure of areas by the Hoan Kiem Lake for pedestrians on the weekends will become institutionalized from January 1, 2020, Chung added.

He requested the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem district to immediately handle the problems in the walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake and surrounding areas, urgently deploy projects of renovation for the area around the lake.

Besides, Chung asked the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports to further improve the quality of cultural and artistic performances.

The Department of Tourism needs to focus on enhancing tourism and business activities in association with socio-economic development, boosting the involvement of private sector in tourism promotion activities.

Attracting millions of tourists

Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem district Nguyen Chi Luc said that after three years of implementing the pilot plan, the walking street has become a magnet, a cultural attraction for both domestic and foreign visitors with some 3,000-5,000 arrivals during daytime, and 15,000-20,000 at nights.

The walking space attracts millions of tourists. Photo: Internet

The number of international tourists staying over in Hoan Kiem district has increased rapidly from around 1.36 million arrivals in 2016 to 1.95 million in 2017 and nearly 2.2 million in 2018. The number reached 1.24 million arrivals in the first three quarters of 2019, up 13% year-on-year, Luc added.

Over the past three years, 410 cultural events have been held in the walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake and surrounding areas, involving 20 provinces and cities in the country, 26 embassies and three international organizations.

Cultural and diplomatic exchanges organized on the walking street also contributed to promoting the friendly relationship of Hanoi city and Vietnam with other countries and foreign cities, including the Cherry Blossom Festival, Vietnam – South Korea Friendship Day, ASEAN + Children's Festival, events promoting the culture of France, Belgium, Ireland, Hungary, Pakistan, Russia, among others.

The pedestrian zone includes Hang Buom, Ma May, Dao Duy Tu, Hang Giay, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ta Hien, Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Duong, Dong Xuan, Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To, Hang Khay, Hang Bai, Trang Tien, Dinh Le, Nguyen Xi, Le Lai, Le Thach, Tran Nguyen Han, Lo Su, Luong Van Can, and Bao Khanh.

The Hanoi People’s Committee has assigned Hoan Kiem district to expand the pedestrian zone to the south of the Old Quarter. In the short-term, it will cover Dinh Liet, Gia Ngu, Cau Go, Hang Be, Hang Dau, and Trung Yen, in a bid to reduce overcrowding in the current pedestrian zone.

The streets are open from Friday night to Sunday night, from 7:00pm to 12:00pm in summer and from 6:00pm to 12:00pm in winter.