Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street
Introduction
When Hanoi’s heart makes way for footsteps
Every Friday evening, as the streetlights around Hoan Kiem Lake are just turning on, the familiar flow of traffic quietly recedes, giving the streets by the lake over to pedestrians. From then until midnight on Sunday, the area around the lake becomes a large playground in the heart of the capital, where the elderly stroll leisurely, children play tug-of-war and jump rope, and music and singing ring out beneath the old trees casting shadows on the lake’s surface.
Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street officially began operating on September 1, 2016, initially comprising 16 streets around Hoan Kiem Lake and nearby areas, and was later extended into the Old Quarter with its night market and food street. After nearly 10 years, the pedestrian space has become a "brand" of Hanoi, welcoming tens of thousands of residents and visitors every weekend.
