Hanoi gives West Lake a makeover

Covering in excess of 500 hectares with a perimeter of around 15 kilometers, the West Lake in Tay Ho District is the biggest natural lake in Hanoi.

District authorities have recently replaced a two-kilometer section of railings surrounding the lake.

The old railing, dating to 2004, has grown degraded.

Nguyen Dinh Khuyen, chairman of Tay Ho District, said all degraded railings surrounding the lake will be replaced with new ones by the end of this year.

Workers put in place new railings surrounding the lake.

Aside from the railing, Tay Ho authorities also set up a new lighting system using LED light bulbs at the lake.

Local residents fish along the new railings.

An area along Quang An Street with mismatched railings.

Around three-fourths of the railings around the lake are still of good quality and will therefore be kept in place. These railings are designed with the symbol of Khue Van Cac, the Constellation of Literature pavilion inside the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Vietnam's first national university.

Workers pave the sidewalk.

The entire renovation project costs more than VND12 billion ($484,000) of Tay Ho District's budget.

The West Lake is one of Hanoi’s most popular tourist attractions where locals often walk or do outdoor exercise.

It is famous for the density of historical relics, pagodas and rows of restaurants and coffee shops. Photo by Giang Huy