Lao Bao walking street - a cultural exchange point with strong colors of the Vietnam

Lao Bao Town (Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province) is a border town with Laos. The town has completed Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the first walking street in the border area. This is a space for exchange and experience of cultural and culinary activities that people are waiting for and are expected to be an attractive entertainment spot, attracting tourists.

Nguyen Hue walking street has sister villages from Laos to exchange culture and cuisine. Visitors can experience and enjoy dishes prepared by Lao people and join in the Lam Vong dance of the Land of a Million Elephants. The walking street is both a space for cultural activities and a place for entertainment and shopping at night to meet the needs of the people; contributing to retaining visitors, promoting the development of trade, services and tourism in the area.

Nguyen Hue Street, where the walking street is organized. (Photo: Yen Ma Son)

Nguyen Hue Street, where the walking street is held. Photo: Internet.

Mr. Tran Dinh Dung, Secretary of the Lao Bao Town Party Committee, emphasized: The formation of Nguyen Hue walking street in this border town will be a highlight and long-term brand of Lao Bao if organized and maintained. Nguyen Hue walking street is organized on major local holidays and events such as Southern Liberation Day, National Reunification Day (April 30), Khe Sanh Victory - Huong Hoa Liberation Day (July 9), National Day (September 2), New Year's Day... Therefore, we determined to build Lao Bao walking street in a direction with many new and unique features, in which, taking the cultural exchange between Vietnam and Laos as a highlight.

Nguyen Hue walking street stretches from Le Quy Don street to Tran Phu street, in An Ha hamlet, Lao Bao town. According to the leader of Lao Bao town People's Committee, the walking street will be organized in the space of Nguyen Hue street, which is a double road with a hard median strip, the walking street section is 300m long and 31m wide.

Nguyen Hue walking street. Photo Internet.

This area has a complete traffic system, with many intersecting streets. The choice of Nguyen Hue Street as a walking street is because there are few households living there, so the implementation of the walking street will have little impact on the daily lives of households on the street. Currently, on the street there is 1 restaurant, 3 coffee shops, 2 entertainment spots for children. Most of the businesses operate from 8am to 10pm every day, with a stable number of customers.

Mr. Le Ba Hung, Chairman of Lao Bao Town People's Committee, said that Nguyen Hue walking street officially entered into pilot operation from 5:00 p.m., April 28 to April 30. On the opening night, the street attracted nearly 70 booths to participate in exciting activities serving cultural and artistic exchanges; promoting OCOP products; dining, shopping, entertainment...

The walking street meets the minimum functions, divided into areas: Area for displaying and selling traditional craft products, specialties of Lao Bao, Laos and neighboring communes and towns; area for performing arts and taking souvenir photos; area for refreshments and children's entertainment; area for delicious specialties of Lao Bao, Laos and neighboring communes and towns; parking area and public restroom area.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street is located in the center of town, next to Lao Bao Lake - a place with beautiful and airy scenery. Currently, the area near Nguyen Hue Street has a system of sidewalk businesses, meeting the needs of the people. Mr. Truong Quoc Dung, a resident living in Lao Bao Lake area, said that with a favorable location near the lake, with a cool landscape in the summer, the mobile businesses here operate very well. At night, the area along Nguyen Hue Street, close to the lake, is a place to "cool off" for the whole town.

Here, people can walk for exercise, health care or enjoy quick and simple dishes for rest and entertainment. If properly invested, there will be many synchronized food chains along with games, mass art, other cultural activities... will attract a large number of visitors from inside and outside the area to experience and enjoy.

Walking street is brilliant with yellow bell flowers. Photo: Internet.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Truong Phong, owner of Sabaidee restaurant in Nguyen Hue area, said that his business is located on the central street of the town, where night activities are very bustling. Mr. Phong's restaurant often serves mostly Lao guests from Sepon district. "These people want to have a space for entertainment and recreation to experience the night atmosphere of Vietnam. The walking street organizes many cultural and street entertainment activities to attract visitors to interact and enjoy. If it operates regularly, it will become a brand of this border city" - Mr. Phong shared.

Lao Bao town is located on the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) route, so every day, domestic and foreign tourists often pass by. However, the number of tourists staying in this locality is very small due to the lack of playgrounds and entertainment venues. Mr. Nguyen Van Quyen (An Ha hamlet, Lao Bao town) said: “People really welcome the town to organize a walking street. Choosing Nguyen Hue street as a pilot area is a suitable place, meeting the essential conditions. This place grows a lot of bougainvillea and yellow bell flowers blooming all year round; the green tree system and landscape are beautiful. Lao Bao people are in great need of places for entertainment, recreation, cultural exchange... The successful organization of the walking street will promote and spread the image of Lao Bao to friends, especially on the trans-Asia route”.

Mr. Tran Dinh Dung, Secretary of Lao Bao Town Party Committee, said that the action program of Huong Hoa District Party Committee determined to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector. Lao Bao is a bridgehead urban area on the Trans-Asia Highway, where there are conditions for all-round development, including tourism economy./.

Thu Hang