New attractive destination in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi walking streets

"Hanoi walking streets" is a new idea which was piloted from the beginning of September last year and is now officially applied. This has created a brand new large space for cultural activities and entertainment involving huge number of both local people and international visitors.

Actually, these “walking streets” are normal streets around Hoan Kiem lake which allow vehicles on days of the week from Monday to Friday and become the whole pedestrian space from 7pm on Friday to 02am on Monday.

During the time of applying “walking streets”, all kinds of vehicles are banned in all streets surrounding Hoan Kiem lake: Dinh Tien Hoang street, Hang Khay street, Le Thai To street (the part from Hang Trong street to Hang Khay street), Le Lai street (the part from Dinh Tien Hoang street to Ly Thai To), Le Thach street, Tran Nguyen Han street (the part from Dinh Tien Hoang street to Ly Thai To), Dinh Le street, Nguyen Xi street, Trang Tien street (the part from Ngo Quyen street to Hang Bai), Lo Su street (the part from Dinh Tien Hoang street to Nguyen Huu Huan street), Hang Dau street (the part from Dinh Tien Hoang street to Cau Go), Ho Hoan Kiem street, Luong Van Can street (the part from Hang Hanh to Le Thai To), Hang Bai street (the part from Hai Ba Trung street to Hang Khay street), Bao Khanh street (the part from Ngo Bao Khanh street to Le Thai To street).

 

Singing old songs on walking streets  

 

In the pedestrian space, numerous and diverse kinds of activities are held with active attendance of a large number of people who want to experience or recall their old memories when they were young with old folk games, or refresh themselves after hard working days with entertainment activities. International visitors are also very excited to come there; and surely they will be immersed in the Vietnam cultural space, having the joy of discovering new things. The closeness and friendliness among people as well as the happy, relaxed, unique and festive atmosphere may be something unforgetable to foreign friends when coming there.      

Colorful space of arts

The aim of Hanoi’s authority is to turn the walking area into a special space introducing visitors to a thousand-year-old capital city which is full of arts and cultural forms, from traditional to modern styles. This will help to promote the city’s tourism. 

Many art and cultural activities are brought to the streets, for example traditional music performances at Ly Thai To Garden and traditional folk music performances such as Xam, Xoan and Ca Tru at Ngoc Son and Ba Kieu Temples.

 

A folk art performance

 

In addition, a range of activities and folk games are organized for children and teenagers in front of Cam Tu Monument; street circus performances take place around Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square; artwork and photo exhibitions are held in the areas adjacent to Trang Tien Trade Centre. Especially, on some major holidays, at no.16 and no.2 Le Thai To Street, contemporary cultural and arts performances will be organized. 

Moreover, over the three days every week, hotels of 3-stars and above, restaurants and bars around Hoan Kiem lake are allowed to open to services until 2am.

 

The young playing a folk game together on walking streets

 

Wi-Fi for free at walking streets

Hanoi has installed 31 free Wi-Fi transmitters in the walking space surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake in order to satisfy the demand of local people and tourists.

By connecting to “Freewifi_UBNDHANOI” via smart phones or portable devices and using mobile numbers, local people and visitors can have 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi before the system automatically logs out. They may repeat the steps to continue using the public Wi-Fi service. 

According to Nhan Dan

 

 

---