Haiphong will open a city-centre pedestrian street and night food market on August 28, featuring local food, cultural performances and entertainment to boost tourism and the night-time economy.
The pedestrian zone will operate every Friday and Saturday evening, stretching through the city's central garden strip from Quang Trung Street, near the Le Chan Monument, to Tran Hung Dao Street and Haiphong Opera House Square.
Around 22-30 stalls will offer local specialities, One Commune One Product (OCOP) products and other goods. The stalls will have a uniform, modern design and can be easily installed and removed to maintain the appearance and cleanliness of public spaces.
Visitors will also have access to free Wi-Fi and QR-code cashless payments.
The pedestrian street will blend traditional culture with modern entertainment, with performances at Haiphong Opera House Square and nearby streets, alongside esports and technology experiences for younger visitors.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 pm on August 28 at Haiphong Opera House Square, featuring a military band parade, art performances, lion and dragon dances and food experiences.
Vu Dinh Tien, deputy director of the Haiphong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the pilot scheme would help the city assess and refine its night-time economy model while creating a distinctive tourism attraction.
The initiative follows a series of cultural, arts and entertainment activities held around the central garden strip and Haiphong Opera House during the Haiphong Red Flamboyant Festival 2026 in May.
Haiphong welcomed around 1.85 million visitors in May, attracted nearly USD 692.6 million in foreign investment and recorded budget revenue of more than VND 15 trillion.
The new pedestrian street will be Haiphong's first since its merger with Hai Duong. Hai Duong opened a 1.6-kilometre pedestrian street along the Bach Dang River in 2023, while several areas in Haiphong also piloted similar schemes, but none were sustained.