Pedestrian streets "lead the way" for the night economy.

While the pedestrian streets in the ancient town of Hoi An exude a tranquil atmosphere, the pedestrian zones in the center of Da Nang city are associated with a vibrant and bustling environment. This is an advantage for creating unique products linked to the night-time economy of Da Nang tourism.

Tran Phu street in Hoi An Old Town (Hoi An ward). Photo: QUOC TUAN

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The concept of "pedestrian streets" in Hoi An Old Town first appeared in 1998 when the local authorities launched the "Hoi An Old Town Day" (later known as "Hoi An Old Town Night"). In 2004, Hoi An officially implemented the "Pedestrian and Non-Motorized Vehicle Street" project, applied to most of the core area of ​​the Old Town, and recently expanded to include Phan Chau Trinh Street.

For over 20 years, the "Pedestrian and Non-Motorized Vehicle Zone" in Hoi An has been consistently maintained, creating a significant impact and contributing considerably to Hoi An's rise as a global tourism brand. The establishment of this "pedestrian zone," integrated with the unique identity of the ancient town, has helped Hoi An receive numerous international accolades.

In 2024, GuruWalk – a global provider of free walking tours – ranked Hoi An among the top 100 best cities in the world for walking exploration. Also in 2024, Tran Phu Street was selected by Architectural Digest (USA) as one of the 71 most beautiful streets in the world. More recently, Hoi An was ranked number one in the top 5 most charming historical centers in Asia by the online travel website Tourlane (France), with the pedestrian zone being a key criterion for evaluation.

Another pedestrian street that has recently attracted many tourists to experience the nightlife in Da Nang is the An Thuong tourist street (Ngu Hanh Son ward). This pedestrian street was implemented by the local government since 2022 to create a vibrant space for locals and tourists to visit, have fun, enjoy food , and shop in the most beautiful and modern tourist streets along Da Nang's coast.

With its convenient location, the An Thuong tourist area also offers activities extending to My An beach, allowing visitors to swim, surf, and more. During holidays, there are also many unique activities such as street carnivals and street music performances.

Meanwhile, the Bach Dang pedestrian street (the section from Dragon Bridge to Tran Thi Ly Bridge, Hai Chau Ward) officially opened in June 2024. The pedestrian area is located on the extended Bach Dang road (1.2km long) and operates from 3 PM to midnight every day of the week.

After more than a year in operation, Bach Dang pedestrian street has hosted numerous music and art performances, festivals, events, art activities, and street food stalls. Simultaneously, the Bach Dang pedestrian street connects with the pedestrian routes across Nguyen Van Troi Bridge and Tran Hung Dao Street, as well as across the Dragon Bridge, creating a tourist highlight for Da Nang city, especially at night. According to the pilot plan approved by the Da Nang City People's Committee, the Bach Dang pedestrian street will be implemented until the end of 2028.

Leveraging the night-time economy

Pedestrian streets in Da Nang generally offer a diverse range of commercial and tourism services such as restaurants, hotels, spas, and bars, providing tourists with quality entertainment and shopping options, especially at night, given the increasing demand for nighttime tourism experiences.

A corner of the An Thuong tourist area (Ngu Hanh Son ward). Photo: Xuan Son

Throughout the country, it's not uncommon for a locality to have many pedestrian streets; however, possessing pedestrian streets with such distinct characteristics as Da Nang is special. While the pedestrian streets in Hoi An Ancient Town offer visitors a sense of tranquility and nostalgia, the pedestrian streets in the center of Da Nang are gradually taking on the appearance of a vibrant and bustling entertainment hub. These areas are less than 30km apart, so visitors can easily experience both during a trip to Da Nang.

According to experts, it is necessary to leverage the unique characteristics of these pedestrian streets to further enhance the product and align it with market demands. Mr. Vo Phung, Vice President of the Da Nang City Tourism Association, believes that it's not easy for a tourism product that has existed for over 25 years to remain popular with tourists. Therefore, the "Ancient Town Night" program in Hoi An Ancient Town needs further refinement, focusing on the tranquil and serene atmosphere of the old town. In addition, the operation of electric bicycles needs to be strictly managed, and they should not be allowed to operate within the ancient town during pedestrian street operating hours.

Regarding the An Thuong tourist area, the Da Nang City People's Committee has decided to invest over 100 billion VND in the second phase of the An Thuong tourist area project. The highlight of this project is the construction of a central square, combining sports and recreation facilities, including an outdoor stage, seating areas, a musical fountain, greenery, exercise equipment, and a lighting system. With several entertainment services already operating after midnight, the An Thuong tourist area will continue to receive upgrades and investment from now until 2027, promising to make this area an indispensable nighttime destination for international tourists visiting Da Nang.

According to Mr. Phung Quang Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Green Tourism Federation (Vietnam Tourism Association), if night-time economic services are well-developed and attract tourists, the value generated can be dozens of times greater than the revenue earned during the day at that same destination. To create impressive night-time tourism products, the most important factor is the connection and cooperation between tourism businesses and local destination management agencies.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/pho-di-bo-dan-loi-kinh-te-dem-3310001.html