Hoan Kiem walking area is a cultural siteAt the meeting, eight rounds of opinions were raised by voters to the Hanoi People’s Council. One of the most concerned issue was the Hoan Kiem walking streets and the surroundings which was launched last year as the city’s initiative to lure more tourists and add another recreational space for its dwellers. While the voters agreed with the initiative, voter Dang Van Huong from Hang Ma ward said closing the streets over the weekend to make it a walking space is only suitable in winter; with scorching heat in summer, few people visit the pedestrian streets at midday. Voter Huong asks the City to consider a more suitable time frame to close streets to motorized vehicles for walking.
Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung at the meeting
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Voter Nguyen Van Hoa (Hang Bo ward) suggests the Hanoi People’s Committee to evaluate the strengths and setbacks of the walking streets initiative seriously and rationally. According to Hoa, many cultural, sport and tourist activities are rather boring. The typical and promotional activities for Hanoi have not been effective. Voters also blamed the attitude of walking street visitors. “Trash bins are available around the pedestrian area. However, few people throw trash into the bins. I propose the City to fine 50 to 100 thousand dong for every act of throwing trash on the streets.”
Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung said it is the city’s determination to transform the walking area into a cultural site to serve not only citizens of Hanoi but also nationwide. The site is certainly not for commercial purpose. Since the beginning of the year, there have been multiple music and cultural shows with costs funded by enterprises from Vietnam and abroad. Vietnam Airline supported artists coming from the Great Britain to perform here. The Cherry Blossom Festival (Japan), the 2017 Korean Cultural Days, the performances of Ha Giang and Quang Binh provinces’ traditions, and the recently food festival of ASEAN countries are among activities which have received a wave of acclamation from foreign embassies and provinces. Next September, the City Council will review the one-year of Hoan Kiem walking area. The Hanoi Chairman said that the City will find solutions to control the area more effectively.
Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung and voters at Hoan Kiem District
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Sharing the same view on environmental protection, the Hanoi chairman said the city has placed 4,000 trash bins across the city; putting into use 120 trash collectors and road sweeper vehicles to improve the air quality. Besides, the city will set up 10 air monitoring stations, as well as continue to clean up Truc Bach and West lake. Polluted water will not be allowed to discharge into the lakes. Hanoi chairman agrees on voters’ suggestion that there should be strict penalties as well as educational measures for dumping garbage at the wrong time and wrong place. He also expects the community to monitor and encourage the local people to comply with the city’s environment requirements.
Taking down even one tree requires considerations
With regard to trees, Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung said that after more than one year of implementing the 1 million tree project, the City has planted nearly 350,000 trees of all species. Among them, many domestic and foreign enterprises and provinces including those from Son La and Dien Bien Phu have contributed thousands of trees. Concerning the transfer of 1,300 African mahogany trees for the construction of ring road number 3 (Pham Van Dong Road), the the Hanoi chairman asserts that the project has been planned for many years. People living in this area strongly support the projectand approved more than 800 site clearing works. They also hope project to be launched soon. The African mahogany streets in this area were planted between 1991 and 1994.
“However, recently, the City is considering and conducting thorough investigation on the trees. Healthy and nice trees will be moved to other places. Whereas, twisted trees with no significant economic and aesthetic values will be taken down. According to calculations, the cost for moving 25 – 30 cm of diameter trees ranges from 3 to 3.5 million per tree. Meanwhile, the same total amount can be used to plant 15,000 to 18,000 trees. He added that the project also receives Official Development Assistance (ODA) fund andis expected to be launched in July 2017. If it is delalyed, a loss of 600 to 700 trillion VND would be incurred, so he hopes that voters, scientists, and experts will support the city in this project in particular.”
“Under Hanoi policies, taking down any tree requires investigation, and consideration for the best benefits of citizens, and the city’s government and the budget. Providing the best living environment for citizens should be the priority for city’s construction,” he said.
