Ha Dinh Duc, a famous scholar of Hanoi, reported that the average depth of Hoan Kiem Lake is over 1 meter. Without being dredged, the lake will become a marsh in several decades.

Researcher Ha Dinh Duc.

Hoan Kiem lake dredgers aim to safeguard its ancient turtle

What will happen to Hoan Kiem Lake if it is not dredged?

In the 1960s, many sports activities took place on the lake, such as boat racing and water-skiing, using high-capacity canoes. It proves that the lake’s water level was very deep. The lake was also much larger.

Those who love Hanoi are concerned about anything related to the capital city’s symbol. Can German technology ensure the lake’s safety?

This technology has less impact on the environment than popular mud-dredging techniques used in Vietnam. It has been successfully applied in Germany, Thailand and other countries, including the fish pond at the Presidential Palace.

However, when applied in Hoan Kiem Lake, we must preserve the current environment of the lake and the safety of the ancient turtle. The upcoming dredging will be another test of this technology.

This will be the first time Hanoi will dredge Hoan Kiem Lake using modern technology. How will the volume of mud, which is said to be huge, be treated?

If this test is successful and the Hanoi authorities permit, we will dredge the entire lake using this technology. We will recalculate the volume of mud after the trial dredging. Afterwards, Germany will transfer the technology for Vietnam to use in other lakes in Hanoi and Vietnam.

If the whole lake is dredged, how can we ensure the safety of the ancient turtle?

The lake will be divided into small areas. The area where the machine is used will be surrounded by nets to protect the old turtle.

The Hanoi Construction Department is implementing a manual dredging project around the lake’s bank. The two projects, if being successful, will help improve the environment of the Hoan Kiem Lake and restore its depth.

VietNamNet/VNE