VietNamNet Bridge - Half a month after the fire that killed six people in Fuse Bar, Hanoi's authorities have closed Zone 9, the famous entertainment address of Hanoi’s youth and expats.

The appeal to the youth of Zone 9

Bar blaze kills at least six people in Ha Noi's Zone 9

“Arts District” in Hanoi, is it possible?

Zone 9 at night.

Hanoi Chairman Nguyen The Thao has sent dispatches to Hai Ba Trung District People's Committee and the Binh An Investment Company on the close of Zone 9, at 9A Tran Thanh Tong.

Hanoi's leaders also asked the city police to urgently investigate and strictly handle the incident as an example to organizations and individuals in the city in fire prevention.

According to Binh An Company, the owner of Zone 9, after the Pharmaceutical Company No. 2 relocated to the suburbs, the Hanoi People's Committee has assigned Binh An to build a complex of offices and commercial centers here.

While waiting for legal procedures to implement the project, Binh An leased the land to the Tien Bo company until February 28, 2014. Tien Bo again signed a leasing contract with Thanh Dat Real Estate Company.

Thanh Dat leased the land to an individual and the Zone 9 was formed with dozens of fashion shops, cafes and studios.

Binh An said it planned to revoke the land in early November to prepare for the construction of the new building. It asked the related companies to stop repair and construction activities on the zone. However, the Fuse Bar still conducted repair and caused the fatal fire on November 19.

According to Binh An Company, the accident was caused because the Fuse Bar did not obey the requirement of the management unit. After the incident, some shops kept operating and repairing work.

The company asked the city government to urgently force these shops to close to revoke the land.

In recent months, Zone 9 has become a favorite destination of Hanoi youth. Many concerts of underground artists, exhibitions ... haven been held in this place.

Zone 9 is the former home of the Central Pharmaceutical Enterprise 2, which faces Tran Thanh Tong and Nguyen Huy Tu roads, Hanoi. This zone consists of five blocks built in the 1960’s.

After over 50 years, some areas have deteriorated. Many walls and ceilings are cracked, beams and pillars are also rusty. After the Central Pharmaceutical Enterprise left, this area was abandoned. In early 2013, a number of individuals and organizations hired and turned this place into an entertainment center for the youth, which is known as “Zone 9.”

Zone 9 is the home to coffee shops, bars, restaurants, fashion shops, studios, galleries, yoga classes and art centers. Each shop is designed in a unique style, but having a common thing - ruins and nostalgic atmosphere with peeling walls and recycled furniture.

The most famous names in Hanoi--like Barbetta Cafe, District 01 Cafe, Tadioto Cafe, Consignista fashion store are located here. The owners of several shops in Zone 9 are famous artists and architects.

People said that Zone 9 is attractive for its desolate, silent atmosphere, which is very rare in a bustling city like Hanoi. Zone 9 is compared to "Paris in the heart of Hanoi" and many young people like to take pictures here.

At Zone 9, many art events took place such as the Berlin street art and light art show held by the German Embassy, the exhibition of Hanoi in the subsidy period, the traditional music or underground music shows...

In September 2013, the first accident occurred here. Two young girls were shooting in the 4th floor then they fell to the third floor when the railing collapsed. After the incident, the local authorities have suspended granting business license in this zone.

On November 19, a fire at the Fuse Bar in Zone 9 killed six people.

Xuan Minh