Which direction for Vinh walking street?

Once considered the “spearhead” of the night economy, a convergence of culture, cuisine and tourism of Vinh City (old), but after more than 3 years of operation, Vinh walking street is gradually losing its appeal. Shops are deserted, the space is quiet, operations are also facing many difficulties…

Operating at a standstill

In April 2022, Vinh walking street was put into trial operation after a period of investment and upgrading. One year later, in May 2023, Vinh City officially opened the first walking street in Nghe An province. With 4 routes including Ho Tung Mau, Nguyen Van Cu, Nguyen Tai and alley 2 Nguyen Van Cu street connecting Nguyen Trung Ngan, this place was expected to become a highlight of urban tourism, contributing to stimulating the "lifeblood" of the night economy .

The walking street used to be crowded and had many activities. Photo: QA

In fact, in the beginning, the atmosphere in the walking street was very lively and bustling. On weekend nights, people flocked to it; music , lights and diverse programs were spread throughout the streets. According to estimates, during peak times, the streets attracted tens of thousands of visitors every night. Shops sprung up side by side, sellers and buyers created a bustling space in the heart of the city.

However, after 3 years of operation, that attraction has gradually faded. The once bustling streets are now deserted. According to the reporter's records in November 2025, of the 4 streets, only Ho Tung Mau street still maintains a stable number of visitors; the rest, Nguyen Van Cu and Nguyen Tai streets are almost deserted.

However, now the walking street no longer maintains its appeal each time it is held. Photo: QA

Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, residing in Truong Vinh ward, shared: “My house is near the walking street. Before, every weekend night, I took my wife and children out to play, to see the street and buy some snacks. But recently, the street has been deserted. Only when there is a famous singer performing, it is a bit crowded, otherwise it is very sparsely populated.”

Not only the people, but also the businesses themselves are aware of the situation of the lack of customers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, a food vendor, shared: “In the early days, everyone was excited, believing that the walking street would open up new business opportunities. But then the customers gradually decreased, some nights selling less than a few tens of thousands of dong. Many people were forced to close their shops, sublease their premises or close altogether. I still tried to stay, but it was getting harder and harder.”

According to statistics from Truong Vinh ward, the total number of fixed and mobile businesses on the walking streets was initially more than 200, but by the end of 2024, it had decreased by half. Up to now, only a few dozen households remain in operation.

Nguyen Van Cu Street no longer has any entertainment activities, and the number of visitors is sparse. Photo: QA

Mr. Duong Van Chuyen - Head of Block 2, Truong Vinh Ward, said: “We have Nguyen Tai Street located in the walking street. At first, Vinh City (old) arranged to make a culinary street, but very few shops opened, no customers. People complained a lot because vehicles were banned at night, inconvenient for daily life but the effect was not much. We proposed to move Nguyen Tai Street out of the walking street, so that people could return to normal life.”

Mr. Nguyen Son Tung - Deputy Head of the Economic Infrastructure and Urban Department of Truong Vinh Ward said: In fact, the operation of the walking street is currently facing many difficulties. After the merger, the workload of the ward has increased, while the human resources are limited, so the management of the walking street has not received due attention. In addition, the investment resources of the ward are very limited, not enough to regularly organize large cultural and artistic activities.

The difficulty also comes from objective factors. The number of tourists to Vinh City (old) is still modest, especially those staying overnight, while this is the main customer group of the night-time economic model. In addition, Nghe An's harsh climate, with hot summers and long, cold, rainy winters, has forced many nights of activities to be temporarily suspended on the walking street or organized in a deserted scene.

Nguyen Tai Street has been petitioned by residents to be removed from the walking street due to its ineffective operation. Photo: QA

Previously, the walking street was managed by Truong Thi ward (old), then assigned to the Center for Culture - Sports and Communications of Vinh City (old). After implementing the two-level government, the management was transferred to Truong Vinh ward in coordination with the center. However, the coordination between units is still not really smooth; the operating model is still heavily administrative, dependent on the budget and functional forces, while the role of businesses and the community is still unclear.

All these factors make the space that was once brightly lit now become quiet. The walking street is lacking “soul”, lacking typical cultural activities, lacking identity, lacking highlights to retain residents and tourists.

Need to change to adapt

Despite falling into a period of stagnation, Vinh walking street is still considered a potential model. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Hong - Head of Tourism Management Department, Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, although walking street activities have slowed down, this is also an opportunity to review, adjust and orient long-term development.

Ms. Hong believes that in order for Vinh walking street to “come back to life”, it is necessary to synchronously implement a number of key solutions, including: It is necessary to renew the content and space in a more intimate and attractive direction. This space should become an “open stage” of Nghe An culture, regularly organizing folk art activities, street music, fashion shows, traveling singers, etc. Regular weekly performances will help the street stay alive, at the same time, creating a familiar destination for people and tourists.

The walking street needs to be renovated to attract the huge number of visitors like in the beginning. Photo: QA

At the same time, it is necessary to promote the connection to develop weekend tourism, bringing walking streets into the night experience tours of tourists when coming to Nghe An. Connecting routes and points such as Uncle Ho's hometown, Cua Lo beach, Ho Chi Minh Square, traditional night food streets, accommodation facilities... will create a closed service chain of "eating - playing - shopping - resting", contributing to the formation of a typical night economic space of the city. In addition, the operating model needs to be strongly socialized, calling on businesses to invest in infrastructure, artistic lighting systems, check-in spaces... while the government focuses on supporting procedures, security, order and environmental sanitation.

Businesses must be trained on how to display, serve, list prices, and build their own brands. The streets can be re-planned according to themes such as "Nghe An Food Street", "OCOP Product Booth", "Souvenir Area", "Young Creative Corner"... to enhance the experience for visitors. In addition, promote the image of Vinh walking street on digital platforms. Events, festivals, and performances need to be communicated systematically, linked with the province's tourism campaigns, creating a ripple effect and attracting people and tourists.

Cultural and artistic activities on the street need to be innovated and diversified. Photo: QA

After more than 3 years of operation, Vinh walking street is going through a period of stagnation. However, with confidence and changes in management methods, the walking street still has a chance to revive. When the local government coordinates smoothly with businesses and the community, this space can become vibrant again, maintain the identity of Nghe An and become a regular destination for locals and tourists.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/huong-di-nao-cho-pho-di-bo-vinh-10311569.html