Bui Vien Pedestrian Street in HCM City
According to District 1 authorities, there are 600-800 visitors to Bui Vien Street on the weekend and up to 1,000 on special occasions. However, Bui Vien Street is narrow with uneven pavements. It is easily overcrowded and suffers from congestion during festivals and holidays. The expansion will ease overcrowding and the parking lots nearby can meet demand.
Since Bui Vien Street was pedestrianised, criminal offences have decreased compared to 2016. However, there are still concerns over drug trading in the alleyways. The local authorities have pledged to put security guards and traffic police on the streets to ensure public order.
District 1 authorities claimed Bui Vien pedestrian street also benefits locals living nearby such as being able to develop tourism services and increasing property values. There are 349 business facilities in 2017, up 13 compared to 2016.
Architect Le Ngoc Thinh from University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City thinks that Bui Vien Street doesn't have any outstanding feature and tourists can't find anything that is uniquely HCM City there. He said in Pattaya, tourists can enjoy traditional martial arts and music shows.
Architect Vo Huynh Long agreed. He said, "70% of the shops there are bar and restaurants but only a few of them dedicated to Vietnamese cuisine."
He suggested that the authorities should pedestrianise this street from 7 pm to 3 am the whole week, not just from Friday to Sunday. Secondly, security must be tightened and finally, street activities and local food must be improved to ensure a memorable cultural experience.
Nguyen Truong Luu, head of HCM City Association of Architects, gave high regards to the expansion proposal and said adjacent streets and alleyways can also be pedestrianised. Locals can make a profit from tourism activities to upgrade their houses which in turn, will attract more visitors.
Chairman of Pham Ngu Lao Ward People's Committee Le Tan Dat, confirmed that many people want to live on the pedestrianised street. It will be more convenient and less pressure on Pham Ngu Lao and Cong Quynh streets if the whole Bui Vien Street is pedestrianised.
HCM City People's Committee said they asked related agencies to study the feasibility of the project. Director of the Department of Tourism Bui Ta Hoang Vu approved of the proposal.
