Maintaining the rhythm of the Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market.

The Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market not only provides livelihoods for small businesses but also connects art enthusiasts, enriching the community's spiritual life.

To maintain the stable operation of the pedestrian street and Bach Dang night market, it always receives attention from the local Party committee and government, along with the efforts of the staff and employees of the Le Thanh Nghi Ward Public Service Center.

To keep the pedestrian street brightly lit.

Every Saturday and Sunday at 5:30 PM, regardless of the scorching heat or biting cold, staff from the Le Thanh Nghi Ward Public Service Center gather at the Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market to set up the stage. Some pull the speakers, others install the equipment, and still others redecorate the stage... everyone works together to create the perfect setting for the "Connecting Passions" program.

Along the Bach Dang River, the stalls of the night market gradually open. The pedestrian street space slowly transforms from its usual daily rhythm to a weekend cultural hub.

It's not a major event, nor a professional art program, but what makes Bach Dang pedestrian street so valuable is its consistency. Regularly organized, regularly maintained, regularly illuminated. Each week, 10 to 20 community clubs register to perform, ranging from youth music groups and modern dance clubs to children's performances, folk songs, and hobby group activities. The performers are students, workers, retired officials, and ordinary people who share a common passion for art.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Kiem, an officer at the Public Service Center of Le Thanh Nghi Ward, shared: “There were days when it started raining heavily during the program, and we only had time to rush out to cover the speakers and equipment with tarpaulins. We could get wet, but the speakers and equipment had to stay dry, because if the equipment broke, there would be no stage for the people in the following weeks. On some cold, windy nights, everyone was tired and wanted to rest, but then we thought about the scheduled performances of the clubs, the eager faces of the children waiting to go on stage, and the people waiting to watch the program, and we encouraged each other to continue organizing.”

Since the Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market were transferred to the Le Thanh Nghi Ward People's Committee, the workload has increased significantly. Personnel have decreased, but the number of tasks has increased, while there is no separate allowance for organizing the stage and operating the pedestrian street. However, for the past seven months, not a single weekend night has passed without the pedestrian street lights being turned off. Activities have been maintained regularly through a sense of responsibility, self-discipline, and a commitment to serving the community.

Ms. Tran Thi Mai, residing on Tran Hung Dao Street ( Hai Duong Ward), stated: "The most valuable aspect is not the scale of the program, but its persistence. The pedestrian street is therefore not just a place for recreation, but is gradually becoming a fixed cultural activity. Children eagerly await the weekend to watch the performances. Adults look forward to evenings spent walking, watching cultural shows, and chatting. Night market businesses have gained a stable livelihood. A community cultural space is formed from these simple things."

The challenge of sustainable development

Transferred to Le Thanh Nghi ward in July 2025, Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market regularly lights up, becoming a cultural meeting point on weekend evenings in western Hai Phong .

Maintaining the pedestrian zone is a significant effort, but for sustainable development, the Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market are facing many systemic difficulties. The lighting infrastructure is managed by the Department of Construction, but due to limited funding, it is only turned on on holidays and not on weekends, which somewhat affects the quality of the space for activities. Previously, Thong Nhat Square was located within the pedestrian zone, allowing for more proactive activity organization. However, since July, the square has been handed over to the Department of Construction for management, making it difficult to connect the square and the pedestrian zone.

In addition, there is the issue of human resources. The staff at the ward's public service center have to handle many other professional tasks while also organizing and operating the pedestrian street, without a dedicated support mechanism. To maintain the rhythm of activity on the pedestrian street and night market, the center's staff work mainly on a sense of responsibility. Without support from the city and relevant departments, it will be very difficult to maintain it in a stable and professional manner in the long term.

Mr. Dam Minh Khoi, Director of the Public Service Center of Le Thanh Nghi Ward, expressed his desire for the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to support the organization of professional art programs, connecting theaters, art troupes, and circus groups to perform for the people on the pedestrian street. At the same time, he requested the City People's Committee to direct relevant departments and agencies to coordinate in managing the pedestrian street space, squares, infrastructure, and event organization to ensure unified operation.

Over time, the Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market have been maintained primarily thanks to the sense of responsibility of the local government and the cooperation of the people, gradually becoming a community cultural space. However, to fully realize the value of the Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market, relying solely on the efforts of the ward is still insufficient.

With proper support and a well-structured urban cultural plan, Bach Dang pedestrian street and night market could absolutely become a weekend cultural highlight, a model community space, and a model for urban cultural governance at the ward level.

THANH HOA

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/giu-nhip-pho-di-bo-cho-dem-bach-dang-534978.html