Pedestrian streets have long become an integral part of many cities worldwide, and Vietnam is no exception to this trend. More than just places for relaxation and entertainment, Vietnam’s most bustling pedestrian streets are also attractive tourist destinations, contributing to local economic growth and promoting the unique culture of each region. However, to effectively harness the potential of this model, systematic investment and the creation of a unique identity for each street are necessary.
Globally, many cities have transformed pedestrian streets into tourism and economic symbols. A prime example is Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street in Shanghai, China, with over 100 years of history, welcoming millions of visitors daily. The success of Nanjing Road demonstrates the immense potential of pedestrian streets in attracting tourists and creating vibrant public spaces for residents. Developing pedestrian streets not only meets commercial and tourism needs but also reflects the development of spiritual life, as people have more space for socializing, shopping, and entertainment. Distinctive pedestrian streets not only attract tourists but also create significant real estate value, affirming the area’s position.
Vietnam began focusing on developing pedestrian streets in 2004 with the success of Hoi An Ancient Town. However, it was not until more than 10 years later that this model truly exploded with the emergence of Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street (Ho Chi Minh City) in 2015 and Hoan Kiem Lake area (Hanoi) in 2016. Thanks to their central locations and large-scale investment, these two streets quickly became famous tourist destinations, attracting a large number of domestic and international visitors. By 2020, when the government issued the “Night Economy Development Project,” pedestrian streets became even more prominent and developed strongly in many other provinces and cities such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, Quang Binh, etc. However, many pedestrian streets in Vietnam are still monotonous, lack identity, and have not fully exploited their potential.
According to architect Doan Ky Thanh, for a pedestrian street to truly succeed, more than just banning vehicles is needed. It is necessary to solve the complex problem of traffic, landscape, interactive activities, and functional design. Pedestrian streets need to be invested in adequately to ensure commercial viability and enhance cultural tourism value. Reality shows that many localities are still hesitant in planning and managing pedestrian streets, leading to some streets being deserted and failing to attract tourists.
However, despite the challenges, Vietnam still has great potential to develop bustling and unique pedestrian streets. Some investors have recognized this potential and boldly invested in large-scale pedestrian street projects, bringing high-quality public spaces to residents and tourists. A typical example is the Regal Legend project in Quang Binh, with two pedestrian streets along the lake and the coast, expected to become a new attractive destination in the region.
To help readers explore the most vibrant and distinctive walking spaces, this article will introduce the most bustling pedestrian streets in Vietnam, where visitors can immerse themselves in the bustling atmosphere, experience local culture, and enjoy attractive street food.
Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street – Hanoi
When mentioning the most bustling pedestrian streets in Vietnam, Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street, the heart of Hanoi, cannot be missed. Officially opened in 2016, Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street quickly became a favorite destination for locals and international tourists. The spacious walking area surrounding the ancient Hoan Kiem Lake, connected to bustling commercial streets like Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Thai To, Hang Khay, etc., creates a diverse entertainment, recreation, and shopping complex.
Every weekend, Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street becomes extremely lively and bustling. Street cultural and artistic activities take place continuously, from traditional and modern music performances to folk games and community sports activities, attracting a large number of residents and tourists to participate. Moreover, Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street is also a street food paradise with countless attractive dishes such as Trang Tien ice cream, o mai (salted dried fruits), lemon tea, fried fermented pork roll, etc. Visitors can easily find Hanoi specialties and enjoy them in the bustling pedestrian street atmosphere.
Bustling Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street with street cultural and artistic activities
Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street is not only a place for entertainment but also a special cultural and historical space of Hanoi. Strolling along the pedestrian street, visitors can admire ancient architectural works such as Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, Turtle Tower, etc., and feel the vibrant pace of life in the thousand-year-old capital. With its cultural, historical values, and unique experiences, Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street deserves to be one of the most bustling pedestrian streets in Vietnam, a must-visit destination when coming to Hanoi.
Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street – Ho Chi Minh City
Located right in the center of District 1, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street is one of the most modern and bustling pedestrian streets in Ho Chi Minh City. Inaugurated in 2015, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street quickly became a new symbol of this dynamic city. With a length of nearly 700m and a width of 64m, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street is designed to be modern and airy with a large square, fountains, green trees, and stone benches, creating an ideal public space for residents and tourists.
Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street is famous for its vibrancy and diversity of activities. During the day, it is a hub for many fashion stores, cafes, and luxury restaurants, attracting young people and office workers. In the evening, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street becomes more sparkling and bustling than ever. Street art performances, music shows, magic shows, etc., take place regularly, bringing a joyful and lively atmosphere. Especially during holidays and Tet, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street is splendidly decorated with unique miniatures, attracting thousands of visitors to admire and take photos.
Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street sparkling at night with lights and entertainment activities
Not just an entertainment spot, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street is also the venue for many important cultural and political events in Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen Hue Square is often chosen as the location for festivals, large-scale art programs, New Year’s Eve countdown events, etc. With its prime location, modern space, and vibrant activities, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street deserves to be one of the most bustling pedestrian streets in Vietnam, contributing to the special attraction of Ho Chi Minh City.
Hoi An Ancient Town – Quang Nam
Hoi An Ancient Town is not only a World Cultural Heritage site but also one of the most famous and charming pedestrian streets in Vietnam. Since 2004, Hoi An has been one of the pioneers in developing the pedestrian street model, bringing a peaceful, ancient, and culturally rich space for visitors. Hoi An Pedestrian Street includes the central area of the ancient town with Bach Dang, Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi streets, etc., and Nguyen Hoang night market area.
The special feature of Hoi An Pedestrian Street is its ancient architectural space, which is almost completely preserved. Ancient houses with mossy tile roofs, winding alleys, and colorful lanterns create a romantic and nostalgic ancient town picture. Strolling along Hoi An Pedestrian Street, visitors can feel the slow, peaceful pace of life and explore the unique culture of this land.
Hoi An Pedestrian Street is also a shopping and culinary paradise with countless handicrafts, clothes, souvenirs, lanterns, etc., and specialties such as cao lau (Hoi An noodles), mi quang (Quang noodles), ban bao ban vac (white rose dumplings), sweet soup, etc. Nguyen Hoang night market is a must-visit destination when coming to Hoi An Pedestrian Street, where visitors can buy souvenirs, enjoy street food, and immerse themselves in the bustling and joyful atmosphere.
Hoi An Ancient Town sparkling with lanterns and ancient architecture
With its ancient beauty, peaceful space, and unique cultural experiences, Hoi An Ancient Town is not only a bustling pedestrian street but also a distinctive cultural tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Other Potential Pedestrian Streets
In addition to the famous pedestrian streets mentioned above, many other localities in Vietnam are developing and exploiting the potential of this model. Some emerging pedestrian streets with the potential to become attractive destinations in the future include:
- Trinh Cong Son Pedestrian Street (Hanoi): Located along the poetic West Lake, Trinh Cong Son Pedestrian Street offers a unique cultural and artistic space with music performances, art exhibitions, street food, etc. However, this pedestrian street still needs more investment and promotion to attract a large number of tourists.
- Bach Dang Pedestrian Street (Da Nang): Along the poetic Han River, Bach Dang Pedestrian Street is an ideal destination for sightseeing, strolling, and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the coastal city of Da Nang.
- Nha Trang Beach Pedestrian Street (Khanh Hoa): With the advantage of a long and beautiful coastline, Nha Trang has the potential to develop bustling beachfront pedestrian streets, combined with entertainment activities, beach sports, and distinctive cuisine.
Developing pedestrian streets is an inevitable trend in the urbanization and tourism development of Vietnam. For pedestrian streets to truly become attractive destinations and contribute to promoting the local economy, systematic investment, synchronous planning, and the creation of a unique identity for each street are necessary. At the same time, close coordination between local authorities, businesses, and the local community is needed to effectively exploit the potential of the pedestrian street model, bringing high-quality public spaces and unique travel experiences to domestic and international tourists.
Conclusion
Vietnam’s most vibrant pedestrian streets are not only places for relaxation and entertainment but also cultural symbols, attractive tourist destinations, and drivers of local economic development. From the bustling Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street and modern Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street to the peaceful Hoi An Ancient Town, each street carries its own beauty and charm, contributing to the diversity and richness of Vietnamese tourism. In the future, with systematic investment and planning, Vietnam promises to have more unique and attractive pedestrian streets, affirming its position on the world tourism map.