A comprehensive plan to improve green spaces, parks and gardens in the capital city has been announced by the Hanoi People’s Committee. According to the plan, 18 new parks and gardens will be built and 42 existing areas will be upgraded around the city. The area includes the districts of Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung and a part of Tay Ho. Authorities plan to build new green parks and upgrade existing ones, including Dong Da Park, Bach Thao Park and the Hanoi Zoo. The plan also aims to increase the green tree rate in old apartment complexes up to at least one square metre per person, a rate which the city has been struggling to achieve since the introduction of the Vietnam Construction Standard in 2008. At the same time, seven park zones are planned in the extended urban core area, which runs from the Red River to the 4th Ring Road. Me Linh district’s Quang Minh – Chi Dong zone is expected to be transformed into an area of industrial ecological parks, helping local people to continue making a living from the land. Constructions of sport parks for professionals as well as public use will get underway in the Van Khe – Me Linh and Xuan Canh – Dong Hoi zones, including stadiums, indoor and outdoor games complexes and a multi-functional cultural centre that may be used for the Asiad Games in 2019. In the Van Tri – Son Du and Co Loa – Viet Hung zones, the city will build entertainment parks in an effort to promote tourism, while the Yen Thuong – Ninh Hiep and Trau Quy – Da Ton zones will plant trees for research and conservation purposes. (Vietnam News March 24)
