At 19:00 on September 18, a policeman installs barriers to make the streets closed to traffic so as to organize pedestrian streets, since the capital city has gone through 30 days without any community transmissions. To avoid large gatherings to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and follow directions of Hanoi city’s leaders, Hoan Kiem district decided to suspend the organisation of all activities on the district’s pedestrian streets from August 21. The pedestrian streets include those around Hoan Kiem Lake and neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter, such as Hang Dao, Hang Giay and Dong Xuan Night Market. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Right after the walking space reopens, many people take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake to enjoy fresh air. The COVID-19 pandemic returned in Vietnam on July 25, when the first domestically transmitted case was recorded in the central city of Da Nang after 99 days without any infections in the community. As of the end of August 21, the country had reported a total of 1,009 COVID-19 cases and 25 COVID-19-related fatalities with underlying health conditions. Hanoi decided to reopen the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake after the capital city has gone through four weeks without new local COVID-19 infections. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Children are joyfully playing on a walking street. The walking streets in Hanoi capital city’s Hoan Kiem district are open from Friday night to Sunday night, from 19:00 to 24:00 in summer and from 18:00 to 24:00 in winter. At normal weekends, the pedestrian streets, including those around Hoan Kiem Lake and neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter such as Hang Dao, Hang Giay and Dong Xuan Night Market, often attract a large number of people. The ‘walking street’ around Hoan Kiem Lake, for example, draws an average of around 3,000 - 5,000 visitors during the day and 15,000-20,000 at night. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Street artists begin drawing sketches again. The Hanoi Old Quarter is the most popular destination in the capital city. Hanoi has set itself a target of welcoming about 11 million domestic tourists by the end of 2020. Tourists come here to explore ancient streets, craft products, local food or experience lives there. In the evening, streets become more crowded and lively with Hang Dao–Dong Xuan night fair and outdoor music performances. Since 2016, Hanoi has allowed Hoan Kiem district to pilot the extension of opening hour of bars and restaurants to 2am. As a result, their revenues increased by about 30 percent. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The pedestrian streets include those around Hoan Kiem Lake and neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter, such as Hang Dao, Hang Giay and Dong Xuan Night Market. The walking streets in Hoan Kiem district are open from Friday night to Sunday night, from 19:00 to 24:00 in summer and from 18:00 to 24:00 in winter. Earlier this year, the local government decided to suspend the weekend walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake as well as public activities in the area from February 7 to avoid mass gatherings due to the threat of COVID-19. It was reopened on May 15 after social distancing measures were lifted. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The pedestrian streets in downtown Hanoi have become a brand name, a cultural venue, and a highlight of the capital city. The Hanoi Old Quarter is the most popular destination in the city. At weekends, many cultural, artistic and entertainment activities are organised on the streets, drawing a large number of visitors. The ‘walking street’ around Hoan Kiem Lake, for example, draws an average of around 3,000 - 5,000 visitors during the day and 15,000-20,000 at night. Earlier, all activities had been suspended from August 21, following city authorities’ request for the limitation of mass gatherings to support disease prevention and control efforts. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake attracts many young people. They often come here to enjoy fresh and clean air, and take part in cultural events and folk games. Hoan Kiem district currently has three walking spaces, including streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Dao – Dong Xuan night market, and Hanoi Old Quarter preservation zone. Hanoi ranks 15th in the list of 25 most popular destinations of the 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. According to the famous American travel website, the charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern development alongside. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Many people wear face masks to prevent COVID-19 when taking a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. The capital city’s authorities have recently issued an urgent dispatch, asking for stricter implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures following new cases of community transmission discovered in the capital city. The municipal People’s Committee ordered leaders of districts, communes and wards across the city to encourage people to strictly take prevention measures, particularly wearing face masks and not gathering in groups of more than 30 people in public areas. Those who have underlying diseases, the elderly and those at high risk of infection are encouraged to not go out unless really necessary. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
However, there remain some people walking without face masks. Local residents are advised not to gather in groups of more than 30 people, wear face masks in public places, and visit the health facilities if they have such symptoms as high fever and difficulty in breathing. The Hanoi People’s Committee also requests service providers, restaurants, bars and coffee shops to implement social distancing for customers by arranging seats at least one metre from each other from 00:00 on August 19. All staff of restaurants, bars and coffee shops are required to wear face masks and measure customers’ body temperatures. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Many people rush to Hang Ngang – Hang Dao (Dong Xuan) Night Market. If you have the opportunity to visit Hanoi capital city, please remember to take a walk around Dong Xuan night market – a very special market of the city. The night market officially came into operation in 2003 with the goal of becoming a cultural and tourist site combining traditional handicrafts and food shopping. The market is crowded with nearly 4,000 booths. Products at the market are quite diverse and rich, ranging from clothes for kids and adults, handbags, belts, ties, clasps to household items, souvenirs, decorations, and food. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Some people are seen not wearing face masks. Local residents are advised not to gather in groups of more than 30 people, wear face masks in public places, and visit the health facilities if they have such symptoms as high fever and difficulty in breathing. The Hanoi People’s Committee also requests service providers, restaurants, bars and coffee shops to implement social distancing for customers by arranging seats at least one metre from each other from 00:00 on August 19. The municipal Department of Health is required to strengthen preventive measures, enhance contact tracing and testing to prevent further spreading of the disease among the community. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Authorised forces often inspect and remind people of wearing face masks to ensure disease prevention and control requirements as regulated by the Government and the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee. The capital city’s authorities have recently issued an urgent dispatch, asking for stricter implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures. The municipal People’s Committee ordered leaders of districts, communes and wards across the city to encourage local people to strictly take prevention measures, particularly wearing face masks and not gathering in groups of more than 30 people in public areas. The municipal Department of Health is required to strengthen preventive measures, enhance contact tracing and testing to prevent further spreading of the disease among the community. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake has become an ideal place for many families with little children in every weekend. A wide range of attractive events, including folk games that many of today’s children do not know, are often organised at the walking space. Tourists come here to explore ancient streets, craft products, local food or experience lives there. In the evening, streets become more crowded and lively with Hang Dao–Dong Xuan night fair and outdoor music performances. The capital city of Hanoi has set itself a target of welcoming about 11 million domestic tourists by the end of 2020. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Earlier, following directions of Hanoi municipal authorities, the Hoan Kiem district People’s Committee decided to suspend the organisation of all cultural and entertainment activities on the district’s pedestrian streets from August 21 so as to avoid large gatherings as an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second time Hoan Kiem district has decided to close these pedestrian streets since the COVID-19 pandemic started to hit the country in early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic returned in Vietnam on July 25, when a domestically transmitted case was recorded in the central city of Da Nang after 99 days without any infections in the community. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Nguyen Minh Trang, who is currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “More than one month, I have a chance to return to Hanoi, on the occasion of the walking streets reopening to visitors, so I call for my friends to go downtown”. The pedestrian streets in downtown Hanoi have become a brand name, a cultural venue, and a highlight of the capital city. The Hanoi Old Quarter is the most popular destination in the city. At weekends, many cultural, artistic and entertainment activities are organised on the streets, drawing a large number of visitors. The ‘walking street’ around Hoan Kiem Lake, for example, draws an average of around 3,000 - 5,000 visitors during the day and 15,000-20,000 at night. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake attracts many young people. They often come here to enjoy fresh and clean air, and take part in cultural events and folk games. Hoan Kiem district currently has three walking spaces, including streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Dao – Dong Xuan night market, and Hanoi Old Quarter preservation zone. Hanoi ranks 15th in the list of 25 most popular destinations of the 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. According to the famous American travel website, the charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern development alongside. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
