Hanoi authorities plan to pedestrianise six more streets in the Old Quarter by the end of this year.
The proposed streets are Hang Buom, Hang Giay, Luong Ngoc Quyen, MaMay, Dao Duy Tu and Ta Hien. They will be closed to motorised transporton Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7pm to 12pm. At the moment just HangDao and Dong Xuan are pedestrianised on those days from 7pm to 12pm.
Do Xuan Thuy, director of the Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company and head ofthe project, said the scheme would benefit local businesses by bringingmore tourists to the area.
"As on Hang Dao and Dong Xuanstreets, there will be vendors and small restaurants selling food anddrink to pedestrians. The Old Quarter has great potential as a touristattraction. It will serve to promote Vietnamese cuisine."
Asurvey by the company found that about 50 of the 160 households on thesix streets currently sold food and drink, in addition to some 50 foodvendors.
However, Thuy added that city authorities wouldensure that restaurants and street vendors must meet hygiene standardsand properly dispose of their waste.
Thuy said that onLuong Ngoc Quyen and Ta Hien streets, which are popular with foreigners,the company would set up booths selling traditional food.
He also said his company would ensure there was enough street parking for vehicles outside the pedestrianised area.
"It's a good idea to build a centre of culinary art in Hanoi as myfriends and I can experience more and more traditional dishes in thiscountry at night without the annoyance of cars and motorbikes,"Australian tourist John Clark said.
John, who has been living in Vietnam for three years, said he loved the food here but sometimes worried about hygiene.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Hoai Nam , who lives in Dao Duy Tu street ,welcomed the pedestrianisation plan. "To have a few hours without thenoise and pollution caused by cars and motorbikes would be wonderful."/.
The proposed streets are Hang Buom, Hang Giay, Luong Ngoc Quyen, MaMay, Dao Duy Tu and Ta Hien. They will be closed to motorised transporton Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7pm to 12pm. At the moment just HangDao and Dong Xuan are pedestrianised on those days from 7pm to 12pm.
Do Xuan Thuy, director of the Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company and head ofthe project, said the scheme would benefit local businesses by bringingmore tourists to the area.
"As on Hang Dao and Dong Xuanstreets, there will be vendors and small restaurants selling food anddrink to pedestrians. The Old Quarter has great potential as a touristattraction. It will serve to promote Vietnamese cuisine."
Asurvey by the company found that about 50 of the 160 households on thesix streets currently sold food and drink, in addition to some 50 foodvendors.
However, Thuy added that city authorities wouldensure that restaurants and street vendors must meet hygiene standardsand properly dispose of their waste.
Thuy said that onLuong Ngoc Quyen and Ta Hien streets, which are popular with foreigners,the company would set up booths selling traditional food.
He also said his company would ensure there was enough street parking for vehicles outside the pedestrianised area.
"It's a good idea to build a centre of culinary art in Hanoi as myfriends and I can experience more and more traditional dishes in thiscountry at night without the annoyance of cars and motorbikes,"Australian tourist John Clark said.
John, who has been living in Vietnam for three years, said he loved the food here but sometimes worried about hygiene.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Hoai Nam , who lives in Dao Duy Tu street ,welcomed the pedestrianisation plan. "To have a few hours without thenoise and pollution caused by cars and motorbikes would be wonderful."/.
