Hanoi opens pedestrian zone around iconic Sword Lake

Hanoi opens pedestrian zone around iconic Sword Lake

Hanoians enjoy late night walks around the Sword Lake the night the vehicles ban took effect September 1. Photos: Viet Hung/Zing

Fences are raised to prevent vehicles from entering roads around the lake. The city has decided to save all streets around the iconic lake to pedestrians from 7 p.m. to midnight every Friday, Saturday and Sunday to make the area tourist-friendly.

Families and couples enjoy the entire Dinh Tien Hoang Street to themselves. Hanoi has opened eight walking streets in the Old Quarter in recent years and now adds ten more.

There’s now enough safe space for rollerblading.

A new venue for wedding photos

A photo exhibition to promote Vietnam’s destinations.

Young people play rope jumping, one of many traditional games brought back to celebrate the new public space.

Others play tug of war. Locals say they really enjoy the new place as there’s not so many such spacious public places in the city.

There’s a musical performance every around 100 meters.

A lion dance troupe joins the fanfare.

A 5-year-old girl has a lot of fun. “We have never felt so entertained and relaxed walking around Hanoi. Hopefully, this vehicle ban will be in effect for a long time.”

You can find the original Vietnamese story here on Zing.

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