Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen The Hung has approved Department of Transport's proposal to suspend the operation of restaurant boats on the West Lake for hygienic reasons.

Hanoi suspends West Lake wharf operation

Many restaurants boats do not meet requirements for operating at an inland wharf. The Department of Transport will review the firms that are working on the West Lake and will have measures to ensure their rights. Management at inland wharfs will also be tightened.

According to Tay Ho District authorities, there are 13 businesses operating on the lake with eight tourist boats, one sport boat, 13 canoes, 10 rowing boats, 115 swan paddle boats and four floating houses.

This is also a move to inspect and deal with polluted West Lake. From October 1 to 3, about 200 tonnes of dead fish were recovered from the lake. Oxygen depletion and the high ammonium levels that were 24 times higher than normal are allegedly responsible for the mass fish deaths.

Tay Ho District authorities reported that about 10,000 cubic metres of untreated waste water was discharged into the lake each day.

In 2009, boats on the West Lake were asked to move to upgrade the wharf but the plan hasn't been realised because of too many illegal restaurant boats. Many boats failed to meet environmental hygiene and business standards and have been fined numerous times but they still continue operating.