Sidewalks along West Lake turn into bustling eating and drinking places

The sidewalk along West Lake (Tay Ho district, Hanoi) day and night has shops with mats and tables and chairs for customers to eat and drink.

A coffee shop on Trich Sai street arranges tables and chairs on the entire sidewalk to welcome customers - Photo: PHAM TUAN

Although the Steering Committee 197 of Hanoi City and Tay Ho District have launched many large-scale campaigns to reclaim sidewalks for pedestrians, the situation of occupying sidewalks and stone benches along West Lake for business purposes has not been thoroughly resolved, but has become more and more bustling.

Encroaching on the sidewalk along West Lake all day and night

The romantic space around "West Lake in the autumn afternoon, the golden water surface swaying on the distant shore invitingly" is utilized by many shops for business.

According to Tuoi Tre Online on the afternoon of November 10, along the streets around West Lake such as Trich Sai, Nguyen Dinh Thi, Ve Ho..., mats, tables and chairs of coffee and food shops were displayed all over the sidewalks. Customers' motorbikes were also lined up on the sidewalks along the above street.

The sidewalk is narrow, tables and chairs take up all the space, forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of the road.

Many narrow sidewalks of 50-60cm are also filled with tables and chairs for business. Many readers reported to Tuoi Tre Online that they have to walk on the street to exercise because the sidewalks are no longer available.

Dirty scene along the sidewalk around West Lake

Encroachment on the sidewalks of West Lake has been going on for many years. Recently, it has become more and more bustling.

Regularly jogging around West Lake every afternoon, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tu (32 years old, Hanoi) said: "In the past, I liked jogging around West Lake because it was very airy and cool. But recently, the space around the lake has become worse. Vehicles and tables and chairs are stacked on the sidewalk, making it impossible for me to jog. Sometimes I have to run into the crowded street, which is very dangerous."

The mats are dried on the lake railing, waiting for the time to welcome guests.

By the evening of November 10, Tuoi Tre Online noted that mats on the West Lake railing along Trich Sai Street had been spread out on the sidewalk since the afternoon, with tables and chairs arranged and... welcoming guests to eat and drink. In the cool, beautiful weather, guests sat as if they were in a restaurant.

By evening, mats were spread out and this area suddenly became a place to eat and drink.

At a beer house right at the beginning of Ve Ho Street, tables and chairs are also placed on the sidewalk to welcome customers, although the sidewalk section is very narrow, the sound of "do, do" is incessant at night.

A beer shop on Ve Ho street

Also on Ve Ho Street, many large recliners are placed by many shops stretching hundreds of meters along West Lake to welcome customers. At first glance, it looks like it is in the middle of a beach, blocking the path of people.

What does the government say?

Large folding recliner chair in West Lake like at a beach

Faced with the above situation, speaking with Tuoi Tre Online on November 11, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khuyen - Chairman of Tay Ho District People's Committee - said that recently the district has continuously launched campaigns to punish and restore order on sidewalks, but there is still a situation of encroachment on sidewalks for trading and business.

"We are currently checking parking lots for residents in Thuy Khue and Buoi wards. Every time we deploy, shops and restaurants encroach on the sidewalks. It's difficult, the sidewalks are small but the demand is high, so we have to deploy regularly to handle it," said Mr. Khuyen.

According to the leader of Tay Ho District People's Committee, to prevent the recurrence of sidewalk encroachment, the district has also held a review meeting with Steering Committee 197 in the wards where the above situation occurred. At the same time, in the coming time, the district will consider allocating more funding for the steering committee to operate more effectively.

Mr. Khuyen said that the district is currently proposing streets for nighttime business. However, the sidewalks on streets such as Trich Sai, Ve Ho, Nguyen Dinh Thi... are too narrow and do not have the standard cross-section to do so, so it is "very difficult".

Many people passing by these streets wonder when this situation will be corrected, hoping " one day each small street will answer me ".

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/via-he-doc-ho-tay-bien-thanh-noi-an-chon-nhau-nhon-nhip-20241111100717808.htm