Mixed opinions of Hanoians about Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square

The new look of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square has created a heated debate: some praise its spaciousness, others worry that it will lose the soul of Hanoi.

Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square ( Hanoi ) has basically completed phase 1 with many important items. Accordingly, the "Shark Jaw" building has been demolished; building number 7-9 Dinh Tien Hoang has been renovated; the architecture of Thuy Ta restaurant has been restored; at the same time, the facades of households along Dinh Tien Hoang - Cau Go - Hang Dao streets have also been synchronously renovated.

The appearance of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc after removing Shark Jaw caused controversy.

Notably, a large LED screen has been installed to serve community events, while traffic and public spaces around Hoan Kiem Lake have been reorganized to be more open and convenient for residents and visitors.

However, there are also many negative opinions, even harsh ones. The reporter of Knowledge and Life has recorded many conflicting opinions of people around Hoan Kiem Lake about this change.

The joy of open space

Talking to Knowledge and Life Newspaper, Ms. Le Thi Hong Thanh (68 years old, Ly Quoc Su street) shared: "The new look of the square is very spacious, airy, creating a feeling of comfort and relaxation. I believe this place will attract more tourists to visit and capture beautiful moments."

Ms. Hong Thanh (right cover) and her friends visited Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.

According to her, the recent 80th anniversary of the August Revolution proved the new attraction of this space: the number of tourists flocking to Hoan Kiem Lake increased, and the atmosphere was also more vibrant.

Mr. Tao expressed satisfaction with the new space of the Square.

Having spent his whole life driving passengers around the old town, Mr. Tao, a cyclo driver, is pleased to see that traffic congestion has somewhat improved.

“This intersection used to be terribly congested, every day. But now it’s much more spacious, cool, and pleasant. I hope Hanoi will become “brighter and more airy,” he shared.

Mr. Tran Binh Uoc (70 years old), a native of the old town, could not hide his emotion: “Standing here, I feel very honored and excited. The square is very beautiful now, more beautiful than in the past.”

"No matter where I go, my heart still remembers Hanoi", the lyrics also express Mr. Uoc's feelings for Hanoi.

For Mr. Uoc, this place is associated with his childhood, from the clanging sound of the trams to the bustling atmosphere by the lake. Humming the song “Even if I go to the four corners of the world, my heart still remembers Hanoi”, Mr. Uoc shared that he considers the Square a “very precious place”, both of historical value and reminiscent of a beloved Hanoi.

Video : Mr. Uoc expresses his love for Hanoi through lyrics.

Hope to preserve the soul of Hanoi, especially in the Hoan Kiem Lake area

However, many people are still saddened by the changes, especially those who have lived in Hanoi for generations with their families. They are happy about the new, spacious appearance, but also worry that Hanoi is gradually losing the unique features that once made up its identity.

Referring to the image of “Shark Jaw” which used to be a typical architectural mark here, Ms. Lan (67 years old, Ba Dinh district) said that the construction has its own mark. If the shark jaw still exists, tourists coming here will have an impression, a unique architecture. However, she also said that the current appearance of the square is still beautiful and airy.

Mrs. Oanh (left) and Mrs. Lan have both been attached to Hanoi since childhood, only hoping that Hanoi can preserve the soul of the thousand-year-old cultural land of Trang An.

As for Mrs. Oanh, 73 years old, a “native Hanoian”, when looking at the images of modern Hanoi, old memories come flooding back. When she was a child, her father took her to Hoan Kiem Lake. She still remembers that there was a temple there. At that time, the landscape was very different.

“The Hoan Kiem Lake area is now encroached upon too much, it no longer looks as spacious as before. The lake must be large to be beautiful, to be true to its soul,” Ms. Oanh worries.

Both ladies expressed a common wish that Hanoi could develop, but the central area, especially Hoan Kiem Lake, needed to be preserved as a spiritual heritage.

“Big, beautiful, modern things can be built anywhere, but Hanoi must keep its own uniqueness, the more it can preserve the soul of Hanoi, the better. Especially in the Hoan Kiem Lake area, not everything that is big and modern can be brought here to be beautiful, it has to be suitable,” said Ms. Lan.

Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square is near Hoan Kiem Lake.

According to the two women, old images such as the 12 Bo Ho Department Store, the clanging tram station… though small, create a unique charm for the old town. “Perhaps, people who have been attached to Hanoi all their lives like us will have nostalgic feelings. Everyone has a different point of view, but I think many people are like us, hoping that Hanoi can retain its soul,” Ms. Lan added.

“We are both happy and sad. Happy because Hanoi is developing more and more, but also sad because old memories are fading. When I was little, every Tet holiday my father took me to the market in this area. The road was narrow but the lake was very wide. Now it has encroached too much. Each era is different, but I still hope to preserve a part so that future generations can see the unique features of Hanoi,” Ms. Oanh confided.

How to make people know right away that this is Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake

Mr. Bui Viet Hoai, a resident of Hanoi, said: “The new space is quite modern. I hope there will be more details associated with Hanoi’s identity, such as Khue Van Cac, Turtle Tower, Dong Son Drum… to make it both beautiful and reminiscent of traditional culture.”

Mr. Hoai, a young person, thinks that adding cultural details will help the young generation have more check-in points.

He emphasized that adding cultural details will help the younger generation have more check-in points, thereby clearly identifying: "People will immediately know this is Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake."

Sharing his opinion on the controversy on social networks about the “ugly” construction, which is not in harmony with the space of Hoan Kiem Lake, Mr. Hoai said that an unfinished construction cannot be hastily criticized as ugly or beautiful, it needs time. “In the past, Ham Ca Map was also criticized a lot, but then it became a mark. Praise and criticism are normal,” Mr. Hoai said.

A leader of Hoan Kiem District said that the traffic arrangement around Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square after the pedestrian space is completed will basically remain the same as before. Vehicles will go around the pedestrian area, which has been separated by green strips.

To ensure traffic order and safety, creating favorable conditions for people, Hoan Kiem district has closely coordinated with functional forces and departments, branches and sectors. Functional teams regularly check, remind, propagate and handle cases of illegal parking. At the same time, they also monitor and evaluate the situation to report to relevant departments, branches and sectors.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/y-kien-trai-chieu-cua-nguoi-ha-noi-ve-quang-truong-dong-kinh-nghia-thuc-post2149052406.html