Hanoi authorities are considering a ban against street performances in the city’s new pedestrian-only areas.
According to To Van Dong, head of the Hanoi Culture and Sports Department, city officials may ban “groups or individuals that make too much noise during performances” or those who fail to submit the content of their performances to authorities for prior approval.
Dong also shared with Tuoi Tre last Sunday that it’s not compulsory for performers to seek official permits, but the department needs to be informed of the shows beforehand.
“We need to know what the performances will be about, where they will take place and whether they contravene appropriate noise levels, all to ensure that their activities will not affect the lives of nearby residents,” Dong told the media outlet, adding that his office is coming up with an official set of guidelines for street performers.
Though the capital’s new pedestrian areas have been welcomed by both locals and tourists looking for open spaces to take a stroll, they have also caused many problems for residents living in the zones, as well as motorcyclists, reports Kenh14.
According to locals, the walking streets tend to be deserted until the afternoon, while commuters struggle to get around outside the plazas. There have also been complaints that even during their peak hours, the walking areas lack shops, eateries and other places of interest to cater to its two main demographics: young people and families.
Hanoi’s network of walking streets was unveiled this past September. Since then, the area surrounding Ho Guom and adjacent streets such as Dinh Le, Nguyen Xi and Trang Tien have been sectioned off from 7pm on Fridays to midnight on Sundays. Other streets such as Ta Hien, Hang Ngang and Luong Ngoc Quyen are also off-limits to vehicles on weekend nights.
[Photo via Thanh Nien]
