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Sep 06, 2016 / 15:51

Visitors to Hanoi gain a spike thanks to expanding pedestrian streets

Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Do Dinh Hong believed that the pilot of opening more walking area around Hoan Kiem Lake from September 1 is an important event to lure more domestic and foreign visitors to the capital this year.

 
Hanoi People`s Committee started to pilot opening more walking area around Hoan Kiem Lake from September 1.
Hanoi People`s Committee started to pilot opening more walking area around Hoan Kiem Lake from September 1.
According to the municipal Department of Tourism, during the past national holiday (from September 2-4), international tourists to Hanoi reached 22,236 arrivals, up 11% over the same period in 2015. In the period, the city received 185,000 domestic tourists, up 23% over the same period last year.
The total number of visitors to Hanoi reached about 207,236 arrivals, up 22% compared to the same period in 2015, and the city gained 526 billion VND from tourism revenues, up 22% compared to the same period of 2015.
Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Do Dinh Hong said, alone on September 2, the number of foreign tourists to Hanoi reached 7,603 arrivals, an increase of 26% over the same period. Domestic visitors were approximately 65,000 arrivals, up 41% over the same period. Hanoi city welcomed about 72,603 tourists in this National Day, up 39% over the same period last year, and the total income from tourism reached about 185 billion VND, up 41% over the same period a year ago.
The strong growth of tourists to Hanoi pointed out the initial positive and impressive result of the pedestrian streets pilot around Hoan Kiem Lake.
The area around Hoan Kiem Lake during this National Day welcomed more crowded tourists than the past holidays, Director of the municipal Tourism Department Do Dinh Hong noted.

 
Illustrative image
Illustrative image
Implementing the Plan No. 159 on August 24, 2016 issued by Hanoi People's Committee on piloting  of opening more walking area around Hoan Kiem Lake on the occasion of the 71st National Day (September 2), the municipal Department of Tourism coordinated with the Hanoi Youth union to adjust the operations of Thang Long - Hanoi tourism support team in the area.
Hanoi People's Committee started to pilot opening more walking area around Hoan Kiem Lake from September 1.
Accordingly, more streets around Hoan Kiem Lake are shut to traffic for pedestrians from 19:00 - 2:00 am in summer and 18:00 to 2:00 am in winter at weekends to meet the needs of cultural activities and healthy recreation of local residents, domestic and foreign tourists.
The streets include Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Lai, Le Thach, Dinh Le, Nguyen Xi, Trang Tien (from Ngo Quyen to Dinh Tien Hoang), Hang Khay, Le Thai To, Hang Trong (from St. Joseph’s Cathedral to Le Thai To), Nha Tho and the Cathedral square. 
The piloted period will run until the Lunar New Year (Tet) Holiday 2017. 
The first pedestrian streets in Hanoi - Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Duong and Dong Xuan in the Old Quarter - were inaugurated in 2004, where visitors could walk, shop and sample street foods.