 |
| By the water: Trinh Cong Son Street is known as a romantic and peaceful spot. VNS photo Thai Ha |
Viet Nam News
by An Vu
Trinh Cong Son walking street, some 900m long, is a fitting tribute to its namesake, late musician Trinh Cong Son (1939-2001), a celebrated Vietnamese musician, songwriter, painter and poet.
The street, which was officially opened to public in October last year, stretches between Lac Long Quan and Au Co streets. Visually, it is a poetic meeting of longan trees, Ve Ho Lake, lotus ponds, a large square and a long leafy road like those seen in scenic popular dramas.
Because the street is named after the musician, some live shows are organised in his memory. Singers perform his songs like Lulling You, Great Circle of Life, Old Flame and others.
Like other young couples, Tran Nguyen Vu and Nguyen Ngoc Thao have regularly come here on the weekends to listen to Son’s music performed by amateur singers and sip coffee at pavement stalls where it costs only 10,000 – 20,000 dong (less than US$1).
“Besides, we come to enjoy snail vermicelli soup, Phu Thuong-made sticky rice and West Lake crisp shrimp pancake. There are other village specialties such as Thanh Tri’s rolled rice crepes and Vong village’s young rice flakes. The music is performed by students at the Ha Noi College of Art and other amateur singers,” said Vu.
The Ha Noi city council has also arranged to bring in cultural activities including dragon boat racing, and a rose festival in the West Lake to experiment with the new space.
The walking street at Hoan Kiem Lake, established last year, has been a shining success in serving the increased demand for entertainment and recreation for city dwellers. However, the number of people that frequently visit the lake has caused overcrowding.
Traffic to the walking street in Hoan Kiem Lake causes congestion and at times a suffocating atmosphere in the city centre. The authorities have since opened a series of new projects including the Phung Hung walking street and art space and the Dong Xuan market space which have collectively helped to lessen the burden on the walking street around the lake.
 |
| Fitting tribute: The street bears the name of the late musician Trinh Cong Son, a celebrated Vietnamese musician, songwriter, painter and poet. VNS photo Thai Ha |
 |
| Community space: Trinh Cong Son Street is expected to attract a large number of visitors. VNS Photo Thai Ha |
The opening of the Trinh Cong Son walking street demonstrates the strong desire of the authorities to meet public demand for community activities. Several kiosks have already been set up in the street, selling food, drinks and souvenirs. The stalls are designed to mimic the architecture of Ha Noi Old Quarter, and that of the Hoi An ancient town.
Nguyen Dinh Khuyen, deputy chairman of Tay Ho District’s People’s Committee, said the local authorities presented the idea of pedestrianising the street to some 300 households living on Trinh Cong Son Street before moving ahead with the project.
“I believe that by executing the plan for street to fit the lives of citizens the district will receive high approval from the locals,” he said.
To Van Dong, director of Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports, said the city was aiming at developing new and multiform spaces to serve tourists and locals.
Architect Doan Ky Thanh said, “The addition of other cultural spaces away from central Hoan Kiem Lake to more areas is a must. This should have been in our plan from the beginning.”
Some citizens have raised objections to the opening of the walking street. Tran Thanh Trung, a man living on the street, said setting up shops would have a negative impact on the area, as they would occupy pavements, and cause congestion in the locality.
Some others show support to the authority’s decision, local resident Nguyen Thu Duong said, “The establishment of the new walking street is a good decision, as it will create a meaningful community space for the people. However, the best method would be to build mobile stalls so that vendors can still operate on weekends, but the local area will otherwise retain its current form.”
The Trinh Cong Son walking street is open to the public from 7.30pm on Fridays, and continues running throughout weekend evenings. VNS
OVietnam