Old Quarter and ${attraction_Hoan_Kiem_Lake:”Hoan Kiem Lake”} areas to be closed and transformed into walking streets. This is the police’ plan approved by the Hanoi People’s Committee on June 2. According to the City Police Department Director Nguyen Duc Nhanh, all vehicles will be banned in the specific areas, turning it into an all-out walking street. This will solve the traffic problems and attract more tourists into the area. To ensure a safe and peaceful traffic, the plan will include setting up parking lots for both local and foreign tourists where they can leave their cars before entering Old Quarter.

The police department is confident of this plan basing on walking streets successfully implemented all over the world, stretching as far as 500 meters and 1 kilometer long. Old Quarter covers 36 streets. Moreover, a walking street was already established, albeit temporarily, during the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-${bigcity_Hanoi:"Hanoi"} last October.

During the next two months, the Hoan Kiem Lake - Le Thai To - Dinh Tien Hoang and Hang Ngang - Hang Dao - Hang Duong - Dong Xuan routes will be utilized as walking streets during weekends and public holidays to test the plan. The plan is scheduled to be implemented at the end of the year, with the municipal Transport Department  given the authority to implement the project.

But several local residents are against the plan, saying that it could cause even more traffic with illegal parking lots cropping up all over the place, even overpricing both local and foreign visitors. Moreover, it could affect their business altogether, since most of them earn from trading, not profiting from tourists.

Because of these clashing viewpoints between the government and citizens, an intensive survey will be conducted to address all issues involved in the project. This statement was made by municipal Transport Department Director Nguyen Quoc Hung. In relation to this, Nguyen added that the city will implement two inspection teams to re-examine parking places throughout 10 city districts.

The inspections will hone in on the responsibilities of state-owned and private enterprises in charge of managing parking services in their areas. Cyclos will still be allowed to operate in the Old Quarter area, but under strict supervision. Four particular businesses have been issued licenses by the municipal Department of Planning and Investment, and so unregistered cyclos should not be seen or used anymore to service tourists, local and foreign alike.