Vietnam ancient town to expand pedestrian area

Vietnam ancient town to expand pedestrian area

Tourists stroll the pedestrian area in Hoi An

Tourism authorities in the central province of Quang Nam have announced that Hoi An's pedestrian zone will be expanded in size and be enforced for longer hours beginning April 1.

According to the Hoi An Center for Culture and Sports, the 2-square-kilometer historic neighborhood in Minh An Ward will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and then from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

At night, the walking zone will be expanded to cover sites like the 17th-century temple Tuy Tien Duong Minh Huong, the Cam Pho Temple, and a gallery of XQ embroidery paintings. Currently the area is open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

According to Quang Nam Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports, the province attracted over 3.4 million tourists last year, an increase of more than 20 percent from 2012.

~News courtesy of Thanh Nien News~