HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Planning andArchitecture and Spain's Idom Ingenieria Consultoria S.A. plan to work togetherto open more pedestrian streets and shopping malls in district 1.

The department will open a pedestrian area on Le Loi Street (extending from the23/9 Park to the HCM City Opera House), which will connect with Nguyen Huepedestrian street. This pedestrian area will be near the metro station nowunder construction.

Parts of Ham Nghi and Ton Duc Thang streets are also expected to becomepedestrian streets.

In the first phase of the project, landscape design will revolve around theOpera House Park and include functional areas and more greenery.

The department has suggested installing a water fountain and building a flowergarden near one intersection, adding that it should be embellished withintricate architectural details. Elements of light, sound and color are alsoimportant, according to the department.

Phase two will see the completion of the design of the Le Loi street section.

The department will continue to assess the public space downtown and theincorporation of underground and shopping spaces.

According to the department, the walking section of Nguyen Hue suffers fromintense thermal radiation and lacks sufficient open spaces for additionalcommercial activities.

Visitors are also not as attracted to its greenery, public facilities anddecorations, as was expected when it first opened.

To assist commuters and tourists affected by the project, parking spaces willbe set up along the proposed area.

The department will also identify which cultural and entertainment activitiesshould be held in the downtown area, and study the existing road infrastructureand other cultural and art works that will be put into use in the area by2020.-VNA