The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued regulations on the management and exploitation of West Lake, allowing 10 types of services to operate.
Services in the list of businesses include: Transporting tourists by water without overnight accommodation; cultural, sports, tourism and performing arts services; organizing traditional festivals, boat racing; water music performances; hot air balloons; paragliding; golf courses; swimming, diving; boating, canoeing, water cycling, windsurfing; electric tire cars, bicycles, tourist cyclos on the walking routes around West Lake.
These types of businesses must ensure requirements on environmental management (including wastewater, lake water and water level, lake surface sanitation); air environment and waste, garbage; infrastructure, planning, construction and architecture.
Tay Ho District People's Committee is the focal point for comprehensive management, coordinating with city departments and branches to perform the task of managing and exploiting West Lake.
Kayaking on West Lake
Previously, at peak times, there were 14 businesses participating in the management and exploitation of inland waterway ports, using up to 147 inland waterway vehicles for business services, tourism, entertainment... on West Lake.
However, these vehicles and facilities not only do not ensure operating conditions according to regulations such as fire prevention and fighting; vehicle inspection... but many large-sized vehicles and floating houses also regularly discharge waste, causing serious pollution to the water environment of West Lake, causing mass fish deaths.
In early 2017, Hanoi City directed to stop all business activities within the West Lake management area. Determine the location and move ships, boats, and floating vehicles to the assembly location; develop a plan to dismantle and completely relocate vehicles out of West Lake.
West Lake is more than 527 hectares wide, with a circumference of about 19 km. The lake's technical infrastructure is basically completed synchronously, from embankment slopes, walking paths, drainage systems, lighting, and trees.
Around the lake and surrounding area there are 22 ranked historical and cultural relics and a number of famous traditional craft villages.
