Some streets around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi will be limited to pedestrians beginning May 19^th.

The Management Board of President Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum held a meeting on May 17^th with relevant agencies on the first pilot phase of making several pedestrian streets around the mausoleum.

According to a decision of Hanoi City People’ Committee, the draft proposal by the Transportation Department and the Management Board of the mausoleum, to turn Chua Mot Cot, Ong Ich Khiem and the south side of Hung Vuong streets surrounding Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum into walking streets, has been approved and will be implemented from May 19^th.

While the proposal aims to ban all vehicles from these streets, exceptions would be given in special cases for vehicles of organisations, offices and individuals who work and live within the area, and these vehicles have to move at a speed of no more than 15km per hour. All vehicles have to get permission from the Management Board of the mausoleum to have access to the pedestrian streets.

However, the plan would not significantly affect businesses or offices in the area and would be more feasible than setting up walking streets in the Old Quarter, since the mausoleum is in an area with fewer commercial businesses./.