Hoi An has limited the traffic of cars and buses in the Old Town. (Source: VNA) The city said the adjusted traffic plans aim to ease congestion onoverloaded infrastructure in the booming tourism area.
Only electric-powered public transport will be permitted in theOld Quarter and other destinations in Hoi An, boosting ‘green’ traffic at theUNESCO-recognised world heritage site.
The city’s urban management unit has placed traffic signs on PhanChau Trinh, Cao Hong Lanh, Tran Hung Dao, Hai Ba Trung, Nguyen Truong To, NgoGia Tu, Ly Thuong Kiet, and Tran Quang Khai streets to warn travel agenciespreparing for tourists transport plans.
The unit said cars cannot stop, park or use their horns at 14junctions between certain times in the Old Quarter.
Commuters and tourists can travel from the Old Quarter to thecity’s inner stops and public parks to destinations in the old quarter on sixelectric bus routes.
It’s expected that the city will ban all operations ofgasoline-operated vehicles in the Old Quarter by the end of this year,reserving only pedestrians and environment-friendly vehicles such as electriccars or bicycles.
Hoi An encourages locals and tourists to raise awareness ofgood-natured behaviour and hospitality among the community, promoting afriendly tourism environment to make the city the most popular destination incentral Vietnam.
Residents are urged to stop littering public sites, excessivelyusing horns in traffic, harassing and overcharging tourists and making noise inpublic places.
Congestion in Hoi An has worsened as tourists flock back to theancient city, while its infrastructure remains limited.
Experts from Japan said the town hosts at least 10,000 vehiclesdaily, and congestion often occurs in the afternoon when coaches carryingtourists arrive. Motorbikes account for 77% of vehicles in Hoi An.
Hoi An is an ideal place to encourage people to use bicyclescompared to HCM City and Hanoi, and bicycles are the preferred mode oftransport for tourists, women and students.
The city reserved bicycle lanes on some roads under a pilotbicycle-sharing system launched in 2019.
Since 2002, Hoi An has earmarked several streets for pedestrianand non-engine vehicles to reduce noise and ensure safety in the old quarter,where many foreign tourists ride bicycles.
Pedestrian areas on streets of Tran Phu, Nguyen Hue (in front of HoiAn market), Phan Chau Trinh, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa and the Hoai River Square wereexpanded in 2017.
The walking zone runs from 9 am to 11 am and from 3 pm to 9.30 pmin the rainy season, or 10 pm in summer. Motorbikes or engine vehicles areallowed access for four hours per day and at night.
Hoi An was the first city in Vietnam to host a Car-Free Day andthe first location in the central province to launch the 3-R (reduce, reuse andrecycle) programme while promoting reusable bags and the operation ofsolar-powered lighting in the city’s square.
The town has targeted the use of 100,000 bicycles among residentsand tourists in the coming years./.
VNA
