The Hanoi People's Committee has ordered floating restaurants and tour boats operating on West Lake to move by the end of this month, according to DTI.

City officials recently approved a request to move all food and tourism vessels to the nearby Dam Bay area, ordering all boats to be out within the month of October. This paves the way for Hanoi's department of tourism to plan its own West Lake tours, as well as addressing the concerns of the local community.

The change is welcomed by tour providers and West Lake residents alike, who complain that the boats frequently pollute the lake and block views from the shore. Apparently, only six boats are licensed to operate on West Lake, however many more do. Not long ago, police stopped five illegal vessels after reports surfaced of boats discharging human waste into the lake.

And if that wasn't enough to deter you from taking a dip, a recent study by Hanoi National University also found the lake to be highly acidic due to heavy amounts of pollution in the water.

The smell is nothing to write home about, either. Nearby residents like Nguyen Thi Thanh are well aware of the stench coming off West Lake. 

“Many times we see the water turn dark and dead fish floating on the surface,” Thanh told DTI. “I am very happy to hear these floating restaurants will be moved.”

While everyone seems to be happy with the news, one local, Trong Truong, pointed out the slight caveat to the West Lake eviction notice.

“Dam Bay Lake is open to West Lake, so we cannot resolve pollution here just by moving these vessels there,” Truong told DTI.

At the very least, it'll take the waste water a little longer to get to West Lake residents. Progress.

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[Photo via joolsgriff]