Many subways in Hanoi have been rarely used as residents instead brave crossing the roads to save time.
There are currently 23 subways in the capital including 17 along Ring Road 3. The tunnels are all at crowded intersections which frequently see congestion.
The 500-metre-long tunnel which is equipped with a good lighting system and clear instruction boards is not used by pedestrians to cross the road as they said it was too long to use the tunnel.
Some other people said that going through a long, quiet tunnel was a bit scary.
"I only use the tunnel during the day time," a young woman Nguyen Lan Ha said, "I was scared walking through it in the evening alone as there is almost nobody there."
Some tunnels are built along the busy Pham Hung Street but they are also barely used.
The Hanoi Transport Department said that there are always one or two staff members available at the tunnels between 6 am-10 pm to clean and ensure security.
