Ho Chi Minh City just announced public poll about turing more roads into walking streets in its backpacker area and make them pedestrian-friendly. The plan is expected to provide a bigger venue for the Lunar New Year celebrations in mid-February.
The city government request Ho Chi Minh City tourism department to researches and collects public opinions about turning De Tham and Do Quang Dau into walking streets. At the moment, Bui Vien which ban its traffic at weekend to open pedestrian zone crosses both of these streets.
If this plan is approved, it should be done before Lunar New Year, the country’s biggest and longest vacation, the city said.
Maps of pedestrian zones
These three streets sit in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City and are popular tourism area with many bars, restaurants and dance clubs. At peak day, Bui Vien alone receives more than 2000 people and earns more than VND37 billion ($1.63 million) a year.
To improved condition in Bui Vien Street such as provide free WIFI access, setup public toilets, granite paving, music stages, surveillance cameras and security guards in order to turned it into walking zone, the city spent VND13 billion ($572,300) in August.
Another popular and famous walking street in Ho Chi Minh City opened to public in 2015 is Nguyen Hue Street, and it was the first walking street in the city.
Saigon, Vietnam’s biggest commercial center, is one of the most popular destinations in the country.
As a report by city’s tourism department, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 2.8 millions foreign arrivals in the first 6 months of 2017, grown 14% from previous year. While the tourism sector raked in VND53.6 trillion ($2.4 billion), up 12 percent from the same period last year