Making the city more attractive at night.
In early May, the area around Hanh Phuc Lake became more bustling than usual. Stages, stalls, miniature landscapes, and artistic lighting displays were being finalized in preparation for a series of activities lasting seven days and nights (from May 10th to 16th) in response to the Hai Phong Red Phoenix Flower Festival 2026.
Few would have imagined that this area was previously primarily a public space used for strolling and exercising by local residents. After renovation, the Hanh Phuc Lake flower garden gradually took on a new look with walking paths, a harmonious landscape, a lighting system, and open spaces for community activities.
According to the People's Committee of Kien An Ward, the "Happiness Festival 2026" is being held in conjunction with the inauguration ceremony of the Happiness Lake flower garden project. From this urban beautification project, the local authorities aim to develop the area into a cultural, entertainment, and service space that operates regularly on weekends.
A notable highlight of this year's event series is the pilot implementation of a night-time economy model. The lakeside area will feature dozens of stalls showcasing OCOP products, digital technology, regional cuisine, and community-based experiential activities.
Mr. Nguyen Phong Doanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien An Ward, said that organizing nighttime activities aims to gradually form new consumption habits, extend the operating hours of urban services, and increase the economic value of public spaces.
“Kien An has advantages in terms of landscape, central location, and a unique system of historical and cultural relics. We want to effectively exploit these advantages to develop services, tourism , and the night-time economy in a civilized and modern direction, while still remaining close to the lives of the local people,” Mr. Doanh shared.
According to the plan, throughout the program there will be many cultural and artistic activities and community exchanges such as: LED Carnival performances, cosplay, performances by young bands, the traditional music night "Kien An Rhythm", children's talent gala... Activities are arranged continuously to create a stable flow of visitors to the Happiness Lake area at night. Not only local residents, but many businesses also hope that this model will create more opportunities for service development.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, owner of a beverage business near Hanh Phuc Lake, said that in the days leading up to the event, the number of visitors to the lake area increased significantly. Her family also invested in renovating the shop and adding more products to serve customers in the evening. "If these activities are maintained regularly, this will be a good opportunity for small businesses like ours. People will have a place to have fun, and services will also develop," Ms. Huong said.
Opening up new avenues for development.
In the context of many localities seeking new growth opportunities from services and tourism, the night-time economy is seen as a promising direction. For Kien An ward, organizing the "Happiness Day 2026" is not only about participating in the city's festival but also a test run of a new urban development model.
Kien An Ward is aiming to build the brand "Kien An - A Destination for Happiness," using community culture as its foundation and focusing on the quality of life of its residents as the center of its development.
Besides the advantage of Happiness Lake, Kien An ward also possesses many potential tourist destinations such as: Thien Van Hill, the Meteorological and Hydrological Station, and national and city-level historical and cultural relics. This is considered a foundation for the locality to develop eco-tourism, experiential tourism, and cultural services.
The organization of nighttime activities has also contributed to changing the urban rhythm in the western central area of the city. Instead of being vibrant only during the day, commercial, entertainment, and recreational activities extend into the evening, creating additional consumer demand and job opportunities for residents.
According to the plan, this year's program will have approximately 54-75 participating booths, expected to attract around 1 million visitors during its duration. Businesses around the lake area are also encouraged to implement promotional programs and "happy hour" events to stimulate consumer spending.
Notably, the entire program was implemented through a socialized approach, involving businesses, households, and the local community. From urban beautification and landscape decoration to ensuring security and order, environmental sanitation, and fire prevention and control, everything was prepared comprehensively.
Mr. Nguyen Van Tung, a resident of Tran Thanh Ngo 2 residential area, believes that the creation of a large-scale community space will add vitality to Kien An town. Previously, evenings were quite quiet with little activity. Now that the ward has a cultural playground, pedestrian area, and art programs, the residents are very excited. If maintained long-term, it will create a new look for the area.
Beyond simply stimulating short-term consumer demand, this model is also expected to lay the foundation for Kien An to develop pedestrian streets, street art and cultural spaces, and nighttime services in the future.
From a series of activities in response to the city's festival, the "Happiness Day 2026" is demonstrating Kien An's new approach to urban development. It's not just about investing in infrastructure and beautifying the landscape, but also about creating living spaces rich in experiences, boosting the service economy, and enhancing the spiritual well-being of its residents.
HAI MINHSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/kien-an-khai-thac-loi-the-kinh-te-dem-542523.html
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