Hoi An adds walking streets

QUANG NAM Vietnam’s World Heritage town, Hoi An, will extend its walking streets to create more space for tourists and ease the congestion in the historic quarter.

Vietnam Net Bridge media reported walking streets will be extended to Hoang Dieu and Hoi An market – outside of the original old quarter.

The city’s People Committee vice chairman, Nguyen Van Son, was quoted saying the pedestrian area, which was established in 2002, was congested with tourists and it created a burden on traffic, trading, shopping and tourism services.

“The city assigned Hoi An market as a cuisine centre and night market for tourists and streets around the market are now designed as pedestrian areas only.”

Walking streets open from 0800 to 1100 in the morning and from 1500 till 2200. Vehicles are allowed access for just four hours per day and late at night time to service shops and commercial establishments.

Last year, Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, designated Nguyen Phuc Chu Street a walking street located to the south of the Hoai River near the Hoi An Statute Park and Nguyen Hoang night market. It attracts hundreds of tourists with its cultural and art performances, traditional folk games and shopping area, the report said.

Since 2002 Hoi An has designated several streets for pedestrians.

Hoi An was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999 as an example of a well-preserved trading post that was a port of call for traders from China in the 1600s.

Quang Nam is home to three world-renowned attractions – the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary, and the Cu Lao Cham UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Hoi An welcomes nearly 2 million visitors annually, mostly domestic tourists.