The Hanoi Department of Transport proposes to ban all vehicles in 10streets in the central city from early next year, the departmentdirector, Nguyen Quoc Hung, said on Nov. 29.

The streets are Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Hang Duong, Dong Xuan, Le Lai, LeThach, Le Thai To, Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Khay and Trang Tien in HoanKiem district.

The streets would open for pedestrians fromJanuary 1 from 6am on Saturday to 10pm on Sunday. The same schedulewould apply on national holidays.

The project is expected to help preserve the capital's culture and boost tourism and trade.

According to the department's survey on affected local residents inthese streets, 925 households would be affected by the project, of which71 percent supported the project.

The survey also foundthat residents in 10 walking streets owned more than 1,500 vehicles,mostly motorbikes. They usually kept their vehicles at home or inparking lots nearby.

Deputy Director of the departmentNguyen Xuan Tan said the project would require 14 parking lots with anarea of 5,670sq m for resident parking. These lots would be locatedwithin 500m of their houses.

The parking lots will also be used for public vehicles. Neighbouring streets will also be used as parking places on holidays.

Pham Minh Hang, resident in Dong Xuan street said it was a niceidea to create pedestrian areas where she and other residents couldescape from the noise pollution and gas emissions for a while.

"I think the authorities should also arrange parking lots efficientlyto avoid disrupting residents' trading activities," she said.

Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Dong Xuan and Hang Giay streets were alreadyclosed to traffic on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6pm to 11pm./