HANOI, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's capital Hanoi is set to provide free public WiFi service by the end of 2016, said Hanoi's department of information and communication on Friday.
The department said Hanoi is planning to install free public WiFi spots in many outdoor places to boost tourism, and for local citizens to look up traffic information, local VNExpress online newspaper reported on Friday.
Earlier in 2010, when the city celebrated its 1000th birthday, the idea of free WiFi service around Hanoi's tourist attraction of Sword Lake was raised. However, the proposal was then rejected.
In the latest attempt, the city's largest bus operator has announced it will install free WiFi spots on its 200 buses.
The country's southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City said last month that it was about to launch a free WiFi network as it takes a step closer towards a municipal e-government system.
Vietnam's tourism hubs including central Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang, northern Hai Phong and Ha Long have been wireless since 2012.
