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The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued regulations on the management and exploitation of West Lake, allowing 10 types of services to operate.
The services included in the business category are: Tourist transportation by water without overnight stays; cultural, sports, tourism and performing arts services; organizing traditional festivals and boat races; water music shows; hot air ballooning; paragliding; golf practice areas; swimming and diving; boating, canoeing, water biking, surfing; electric vehicles, bicycles, and rickshaws for tourism on the routes around West Lake.
These types of businesses must ensure compliance with environmental management requirements (including wastewater, lake water and water levels, lake surface sanitation); air quality and waste disposal; infrastructure, planning, construction, and architecture.
The People's Committee of Tay Ho District is the central coordinating body for the comprehensive management and exploitation of West Lake, working in coordination with city departments and agencies.
Kayaking on West Lake
Previously, at its peak, 14 businesses were involved in managing and operating inland waterway terminals, using up to 147 inland waterway vessels for business services, tourism, and entertainment on West Lake.
However, these facilities not only fail to meet operating requirements such as fire safety and inspection, but many large floating houses also frequently discharge waste, causing serious pollution to West Lake and leading to mass fish deaths.
In early 2017, Hanoi City directed the cessation of all business operations within the West Lake management area. The city identified and relocated boats, ships, and other floating vessels to designated areas; and developed a plan for the complete dismantling and removal of these vessels from West Lake.
West Lake covers an area of over 527 hectares, with a circumference of approximately 19 km. The lake's infrastructure is basically complete and integrated, including embankment slopes, walking paths, drainage systems, lighting, and greenery.
Around the lake and its vicinity are 22 classified historical and cultural relics and several famous traditional craft villages.
