Saturday night’s cold weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of many Hanoians who stepped out to enjoy the Old Quarter’s expanded pedestrian space.  

Starting December 25, Hanoi’s pedestrian zone was expanded to cover the streets of Dinh Liet, Gia Ngu, Cau Go, Hang Be, Hang Dau, Hang Bac, Dao Duy Tu and, O Quan Chuong, as also the Cau Go, Trung Yen and Phat Loc alleys in Hoan Kiem District.

The expanded pedestrian zone will function as a trial run this weekend before its official launch on January 1 next year. The expanded zone will function on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings every week.

The Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee has said that the new pedestrian streets are interconnected with the existing ones around Hoan Kiem Lake to better serve locals and tourists on the weekend.

The expanded pedestrian zone comes along with more food and beverage and shopping spaces, not to mention tourism services. Cultural and historical sites in the area will stay open during pedestrian hours, the committee has said.

At the intersection of Dinh Liet and Gia Ngu streets, a group of youngsters sing and dance to an audience of hundreds.

While many people donned masks, maintaining the Covid-19 safety protocol, others dropped their guard.

Since November, the police and medical staff in Hoan Kiem District have carried out public awareness campaigns about Covid-19 and fined people not wearing masks on the pedestrian streets. A lot of checkpoints have been set up to remind people of the safety protocols before they enter the pedestrian zone.

A South Korean tourist live-streams his experience in the expanded pedestrian zone.

Without motorbikes and cars, the bustle and hustle have left Hang Bac Street, and residents are able to play badminton at leisure.

"I am happy that the city has expanded the pedestrian zone. It keeps the street quiet with no honking and children get a playground on the weekend," said Tran Quang Ha (L), a resident.

Children enjoy playing on Dao Duy Tu Street, December 26.

Local authorities have set up barriers and signs for locals and tourists. Vehicles are banned from entering these streets from 6:30 p.m. to midnight from Friday to Sunday.

Residents living in the pedestrian zone can park their motorbikes at a parking lot under the Chuong Duong Bridge, or walk their vehicles home.

Many people unaware that the pedestrian zone has been expanded had to call their family members and tell them to bring documents proving they live inside the zone so that they could walk their motorbikes home from the checkpoints. Non-residents cannot enter the area with their vehicles.

The pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake attracts thousands every weekend.

The new walking streets, located in the north of the Hoan Kiem Lake, are linked to the pedestrian zone established earlier. Illustration by Viet Chung.