Tourists shop for souvenirs on the pedestrian streets of Pham Ngu Lao - Chu Van An - Vo Thi Sau.

Leveraging advantages

Over the past period, Thuan Hoa district (formerly) and Thuan Hoa ward have gradually affirmed their role as the "locomotive" in the development of Hue City's night-time economy . In particular, the Pham Ngu Lao - Chu Van An - Vo Thi Sau pedestrian street, operational since 2017, has become a familiar destination for locals and tourists, especially international visitors. Spanning over 1km, the street not only concentrates accommodation, food, and entertainment establishments but also serves as a cultural hub with street art performances, music, and community interactions.

“Vibrant and bustling, a space filled with light, color, and sound, creating an impressive entertainment and shopping destination. Every time we come to Hue, we choose to stay in the ‘Western Quarter’ to experience the trio of: food, shopping, and entertainment, in addition to sightseeing tours of Hue,” shared Ms. Anh My, a tourist from Nha Trang City.

The expansion of pedestrian zones, connecting with the landscapes of both banks of the Perfume River, Truong Tien Bridge, and Nguyen Hoang Street, continues to be a highlight for Hue tourism, contributing to the unique appeal of the central Thuan Hoa ward at night. The urban space is "awakened," becoming vibrant yet harmonious with the cultural identity of the ancient capital, as the roads along the Perfume River, An Cuu, and Nhu Y are invested in and modernized.

In addition, although the Hai Ba Trung pedestrian street has not yet met initial expectations, it has created an additional space for cultural activities, shopping, and culinary experiences. Stages for Hue folk songs, traditional musical instruments, and street music performances on weekend evenings have gradually met the cultural needs of residents and tourists, laying the groundwork for diversifying nighttime economic products in the ward.

Add new space

In Thuan Hoa's night-time economic development strategy, along with continuing to effectively utilize existing night streets and pedestrian zones, the ward is developing a project to create a cultural and culinary street along the Nhu Y River. Accordingly, this street will connect with the pedestrian area along the Perfume River from the foot of the Dam Da to the Nguyen Hoang Bridge, creating a continuous chain of experiences encompassing nighttime scenery, cuisine, and culture. With its advantageous waterfront and open landscape, the Nhu Y Riverfront area is planned to become a multi-functional space: serving as a venue for street art performances and floating stages; a food court, service area, souvenir shop; a community gathering space; and an attractive check-in point.

According to Ms. Nguyen Hong Hoa Tranh, Vice Chairman of the Thuan Hoa Ward People's Committee, the highlight in the development orientation of the Nhu Y riverside cultural and culinary street is the approach of "open space - collaborative participation, collaborative creativity". "Instead of a closed business model, the ward encourages creative, sustainable ideas that are connected to the river landscape and the cultural identity of Hue. Art is not confined to a fixed stage; cuisine is not just for enjoyment but also a cultural experience; and the riverbank becomes a daily meeting place for the community," Ms. Hoa Tranh stated.

The consensus of residents and businesses is a crucial factor. Many service establishments along the Nhu Y River expressed enthusiasm and readiness to invest in renovating their spaces and improving service quality to seize opportunities when the street is established. “We are very happy that the local authorities are developing a plan to create a cultural and culinary street along the Nhu Y River. In the near future, we will renovate our infrastructure and upgrade the storefronts to attract customers,” shared Ms. My Phuong, owner of Song Xanh coffee shop at alley 7 Nguyen Cong Tru.

According to the plan of the Thuan Hoa Ward People's Committee, during the 2026 Lunar New Year, the locality will organize over 10 cultural, artistic, and entertainment activities along key streets to create a vibrant atmosphere for visitors. Along with this, urban beautification and infrastructure improvement will be carried out to create a more attractive and lively appearance for night-time economic spaces, especially pedestrian streets and areas along the Perfume and Nhu Y rivers.

Thuan Hoa Ward is also researching the formation of supplementary cultural spaces such as a book space about Hue, a book park, encouraging the socialization of the restoration of cultural works and historical relics; and applying modern technology to create unique cultural products to serve tourism.

Text and photos: Thanh Huong

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/lam-moi-khong-gian-dem-thuan-hoa-162705.html