A number of citizens have been complaining about the increased number of food and souvenir stalls which take up much of the area of the pedestrian streets in Hanoi's Old Quarter.
Luong Ngoc Quyen Street
Six streets in the Old Quarter are turned into pedestrian areas at night on the weekends. The aim is to increase safety and make the Old Quarter more friendly to tourists and trade.
However, according to residents of Hang Buom Ward, hundreds of stalls have been popping up and encroaching the sidewalk and even the roads on Luong Ngoc Quyen Street. Due to a large number of customers and staff, the walking area has not grown but shrunk.
Eating on the road
One resident living on Luong Ngoc Quyen Street said, "My father is 87 years old and he often has to go to the hospital. But the ambulance can barely move on this street. This situation is dangerous for him."
Late last year Bui Xuan Hung, chairman of Hang Buom Ward People's Committee, said the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee assigned Dong Xuan Company the responsibility of cooperating with local authorities to manage pedestrianised streets.
Food stalls take over street
Even though the walking area improves business and attracts an increased number of visitors, Hung admitted that there is a problem of space. "We do have a problem with these spontaneous businesses cropping up serving low quality and unsanitary products."
Hung said they will cooperate with Dong Xuan Company to begin inspections of the streets in question and begin discussions with business owners on better management.
