Raising Quality of Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Zone

 

With firm actions from Hanoi City, the walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake has created a new nuance for Hanoi tourism. Traditional cultural traits together with the convergence and adaptation of contemporary culture and lifestyle have enlivened livelihoods and leisure of Hanoi citizens as well as domestic and foreign visitors.

At the weekend, tens of thousands of people walk into the heart of Hanoi to experience and participate in recreational activities and enjoy folklore repertoires. Pedestrian streets like Hai Ba Trung, Ngo Quyen, Hang Bai, Hang Bong and Trang Tien are packed with people. Everyone can sense the equanimity and leisure while they unhurriedly walk along the streets and feel the quietness of the night. They can photograph their memorable moments with each other.

 

More interestingly, the Department of Culture and Sports has increased cultural, artistic and entertaining performances in the walking space. Ramblers can enjoy contemporary music performances in the so-called Swiss Watch area and Dinh Tien Hoang Street or dragon dances at the Trang Tien - Hang Khay - Hang Bai - Dinh Tien Hoang intersection together with a variety of folk games here and there.

 

Many individuals and clubs also actively respond to the walking space. Many street violists, elderly dancers and portrait painters voluntarily show their talents before the crowd. Not only can walkers watch their performances, but they can join the fun. This creates a new appeal for the walking space.

 

However, there are not many activities in the daytime. Most activities are seen in picture galleries in areas surrounding Hoa Phong Tower, Le Thai To Statue and Dinh Tien Hoang Gallery.

 

To further attract visitors as well as enhance the quality of the walking space, Hoan Kiem District together with the Department of Culture and Sports and the Hanoi Arts College will increase cultural and artistic performances in the daytime to serve the people and tourists.

 

Mr Tran Quoc Chiem, Deputy General Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, said, the department will have different performances every week to add the colour and appeal for the walking space. Recently, the pedestrian space has seen Russian artists performing on stilts, blowing bubbles and showing magic arts.

 

The Hanoi Tourism Department will work with local travel companies to introduce the walking space to tourists. Hoan Kiem District will clear unauthorised street peddling, stop vehicle circulation on pedestrian streets, increase personnel, and add mobile garbage bins and public water closets to ensure environmental sanitation. Besides, the Hanoi Youth Union will increase volunteers to assist citizens and tourists in the walking space. The Hanoi Tourism Department will strengthen cooperation with VNPT and Vinaphone to ensure good wifi connections in the space, deal with incidents, install more wifi hubs to better serve visitors.