Walking street at Hoan Kiem – Artwork – Source: Internet
According to information from the People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem District, the scope of walking space will be expanded to include 8 streets of Hang Dau, Cau Go, Hang Be, Hang Bac, Dinh Liet, Gia Ngu, Dao Duy Tu (from Cho Gao to O Quan Chuong), O Quan Chuong (including O Quan Chuong street and Hang Chieu – Thanh Ha crossroads area) and 3 alleys of Cau Go, Trung Yen and Phat Loc.
The operation time of these expanded streets will be the same as that of the existing pedestrian street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Specifically, these walking streets will be open on three weekend nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), from 7 PM to 00 AM in summer and 6 PM to 00 AM in winter.
In order to create an open area for tourists’ sightseeing, the Hoan Kiem Walking space Steering Committee prohibits trade on the pavement and allow a few dedicated vehicles for selling fast food and drinking water… at some junctions and intersections to serve residents and tourists. At the same time, households on both sides of the street are encouraged to open stores to serve the shopping needs of residents and tourists. During the festivals, the management unit arranges stalls displaying and introducing traditional products (handicrafts, cuisine, regional specialties…) on the pavement.
To increase the attractiveness of the walking space, Hoan Kiem district opens historical and cultural sites in the area to serve visitors. Art performances are also organized accordingly. At O Quan Chuong, traditional music performances took place; at Dinh Liet – Gia Ngu crossroads, contemporary music performances took place; at Kim Ngan communal house, traditional music performances took place.
The Hoan Kiem Walking space Steering Committee also organized a plan to ensure traffic safety reasonably and convenience for traffic participants, not cause traffic jams and conflicts in days and time points of operation of walking space; prohibited vehicles to operate on 8 streets in the south of the Old Quarter with walking space; organized checkpoints to separate walking space and roads.
Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee and Hanoi Department of Transport have licensed 156 static traffic points (including 121 being maintained and 35 new on Tran Nhat Duat, Nguyen Huu Huan, Hang Tre, Tran Quang Khai, Hang Chieu, Cao Thang, Thanh Ha and the area outside Chuong Duong ward, Phuc Tan ward …), with the total area of 34,550 m2 to ensure the parking space of vehicles of the local people and tourists.
Walking space in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and walking space in Hoan Kiem lake area and surrounding areas has been organized to operate to form walking habits and establish a place of community activities and commerce, service, tourism and culture development to serve the people to become tourist destinations. However, there is no connection or support between the walking space of Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the walking space of Hoan Kiem Lake area and the surrounding areas.
Therefore, the expansion of the pedestrian space in the south of Hanoi’s Old Quarter will create a connection with the walking space of Hoan Kiem lake area and surrounding areas to form a single unit with the complete and resonate value, creating the connection between the two walking spaces to meet the sightseeing needs of the people and visitors, cultural tourism, shopping and food.
HNM