Hanoi spruced up for its millennial anniversary

At present, the city has more than 100 lakes, 46 of them upgraded with dyke and water drainage systems, while the remaining lakes are still facing serious pollution. Many lakes have been occupied and turned into rubbish dumping sites, which gradually become hotspots for disease, social evils and crimes.

The Hanoi municipal Department for Construction has developed a project to upgrade 44 lakes in the city’s inner districts and another in the outlying town of Son Tay. The project will be implemented within three years at an estimated cost of more than VND1,400 billion.

Vuc Lake, one of the four most-polluted lakes in Hanoi, is the first one to receive financial support from the community. Improvement of the lake in Long Bien district started on March 14 at a total cost of VND20 billion (over US$1 million).

The second lake under improvement is Hao Thanh lake in Son Tay town, using investment from a State-owned business. The project is expected to be completed in the next four months at a total cost of VND12 billion.

However, some other projects on lake improvement still face difficulties relating to land acquisition and site clearance.

According to architect Hoang Thuc Hao, lakes are considered the lungs of the city. Together with rivers and canals, lakes have created a strong living environment for the people, he said.

There is growing concern about lake improvement efforts in Hanoi. Lakes should be upgraded in a way that can create impressive views but keep the original features of a thousand-year-old Hanoi in harmony with the surrounding environment.