HA NOI — Electric cars begin rolling along Ha Noi's streets once again this morning to give tourists a new way to enjoy the historic sights of the 1,000-year-old capital. The pilot project implemented by the Dong Xuan Joint Stock Company to operate 12 cars around Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake and Ha Noi's Old Quarter for tourists officially launches today.
Each battery-operated cars will have seats for 8-12 passengers. Tickets cost an average VND15,000 (US$0.8) per ticket, depending on the tour. Groups of visitors can also hire an entire car for VND240,000 ($12.6).
Dong Xuan JSC will offer two tours. The first will highlight some of the Old Quarter's ancient commercial streets and the historic Dong Xuan market, including five stops along the way.
The second tour will bring visitors to several other ancient streets and visit historic relics such as ancient houses, Ngoc Son Temple, the Kim Ngan communal house and the Le Kings Temple. This tour will include ten stops.
Tour guides will introduce Ha Noi's history and culture at 13 of the stops.
Nguyen Cong Khoi, chairman of the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, said the tours will help curb traffic jams in the Old Quarter which are caused by pedestrians and large groups of tourists on cyclos.
Do Xuan Thuy, director of Dong Xuan JSC, said the car tours are part of a three-year pilot phase. At the end of the pilot period, the Ministry of Transportation and the municipal People's Committee will evaluate the programme and make a report to the Government. If the project runs well, more cars will be added.
Cars were once used as a common means of public transportation in Ha Noi.
Tour companies have reported that most foreign tourists to Ha Noi are interested in taking a tour of the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake. It is expected that the cars will meet tourist demands, especially as the city's millennium approaches and increasing numbers of tourists are choosing to visit Ha Noi. — VNS