Don't let the night market become a drinking street.

As Thanh Nien newspaper reported, on March 26, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung and his delegation worked with the District 6 People's Committee on the project "Cho Lon Night Street associated with tourism development" in the district.

This project was submitted by the District 6 People's Committee in early 2023, and subsequently assigned by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to the Department of Industry and Trade to lead and coordinate with other departments and agencies to provide feedback and finalize it.

The Cholon Night Market is organized on the sidewalks of four streets: Nguyen Huu Than, Thap Muoi, Le Tan Ke, and Tran Binh, covering a total area of ​​over 1,500 square meters. The sidewalks of Thap Muoi and Nguyen Huu Than streets are 8 meters wide and mostly occupied by businesses that only sell wholesale during the day and close at night. Because there are few residents living nearby, cultural activities will not significantly impact the local population.

The area in front of Binh Tay Market (District 6, Ho Chi Minh City) is planned to be used for a night market.

Since April 2022, District 6 has been experimenting with a small-scale night market model in front of Binh Tay Market. Besides food , it also hosts many cultural and artistic activities on weekends.

Ms. Le Thi Thanh Thao, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of District 6, said that Binh Tay Market is bustling during the day but quiets down after 6 PM. Seeing the space being wasted, the local authorities came up with the idea of ​​organizing a night market.

Before developing the project, District 6 surveyed many night markets in various districts of Ho Chi Minh City, as well as studying successful models from countries in the region. The local goal is not only to attract visitors to eat, drink, and enjoy the market scenery, but also to foster interaction.

District 6 has also submitted a plan to the Department of Culture and Sports to project artistic lighting at Binh Tay Market at night to create a highlight.

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung supported the plan to open a night market in the Binh Tay Market area, while also requesting District 6 to conduct a thorough assessment once again, paying attention to ensuring infrastructure such as electricity, water, parking, environmental sanitation, and food safety. The local authorities should coordinate with the Department of Transport and the Department of Construction to establish a unified management and operation point for the infrastructure system. In particular, the Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City requested that the night market not become a place for drinking.

Going to the night market is mainly for eating and drinking.

For a long time, many people have thought of night streets as drinking streets. A reader with the nickname 86153 asserted: "How can it be a night street without drinking? Hardly anyone drinks smoothies after 10 PM!" Reader Tuan Luong also commented: "If there were no alcoholic drinks in a night street, would anyone participate?"

Agreeing with this point, commenter Ai Tran Van added: "Look at Thailand, the best tourist destination in Southeast Asia. Do they have food and drinks at their night markets? Thailand just recently reduced alcohol taxes to boost tourism. Going to a night market is mainly for eating and drinking, what else would you go there for?"

"If there's drinking and eating, it doesn't affect anyone! People pay for it, it's not free, it stimulates demand, and the government collects taxes," added reader Son Nguyen. Reader Hieuthuan Nguyen Chau also frankly stated: "What's wrong with drinking and eating at night? As long as people strictly adhere to regulations on alcohol levels and public order, it's very good for people's lives and government revenue."

We need more new and engaging activities.

Meanwhile, many voters strongly support Ho Chi Minh City's decision to ban night markets from becoming drinking establishments. Voter Tam Luong Hong emphasized: "Banning night markets from becoming places for drinking is a correct decision by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee."

Sharing the same viewpoint, reader Pin expressed: "Many 'night markets' nowadays only offer food and drinks, so there's a great need for more new models of activities to attract people to visit and experience them." Agreeing, reader Hieu Duong recounted: "I visited several night markets in Taiwan, China, and Thailand, and I saw that their food stalls were very diverse, with tourists and locals mainly enjoying the food. Unlike many places in Vietnam, the number of people drinking beer in their night markets is very small, and they drink very moderately. There's no boisterous drinking with groups shouting 'cheers, cheers' that startles people like in our country. Enjoying food and drinking are two different things."

"To prevent night markets from becoming just drinking streets, we need to research and invest in many rich, diverse, and innovative activities. Abroad, I've seen many programs such as cooking classes, singing, dancing, Tai Chi practice, traditional (and modern) games with prizes, puppet shows, magic shows, animal circuses, acrobatics, calligraphy, portrait painting, water shows, light shows… In general, there are many activities to entertain and invite viewers to participate. Therefore, people really enjoy going to night markets and night streets. They are not only places for relaxation and entertainment, but also places where people can socialize, make friends, and learn many things," Long Hai commented.

It is suggested that Ho Chi Minh City establish a channel to receive suggestions for suitable activities in the night market. Activities that reflect the city's unique character, while also being innovative and attractive, are much needed.

Hong Nhung

When the nightlife offers a variety of wholesome, diverse, attractive, and novel activities, drinking alcohol will naturally decrease.

Tien

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/khong-de-pho-dem-tro-thanh-pho-nhau-185240331214142418.htm