Sorry for Bui Vien Western Street

"The music was so loud that I couldn't play it for long, so I just sat for a while and then left," James (British) said after 5 years of returning to Bui Vien walking street.

Having been here in 2020, he enjoyed drinking craft beers, enjoying the street atmosphere with loud music.

"I'm still interested in the hustle and bustle here. But now the bars/pubs are so close together, the noise is so mixed that I feel uncomfortable because there's no space to chat. When walking on the street, I feel uncomfortable when sellers constantly stop me to offer me services. Everyone has their own feelings, I feel like this place is no longer suitable," he shared.

James planned to rent a dorm bed on the street to party all night the following days. However, he decided to leave.

Turn back

James is not an isolated case. Among the departing tourists was Gita Merlinda (Indonesian nationality).

Gita checked in at Bui Vien walking street in October. Photo: Gita Merlinda.

Coming to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time in October, Gita was eager to explore the place that was introduced as "a unique night space for international tourists". Her first impression was the vibrant and cheerful atmosphere, different from the neighboring streets. Here, she found a seafood restaurant, the taste was very delicious, but after eating, the female tourist quickly changed the location.

She said she walked the entire way but couldn't find a suitable stop, the music overwhelmed the conversation, while what she wanted was a space that was just cheerful enough to be able to focus on enjoying Vietnamese beer.

"Apart from the culinary experience, I don't feel the Vietnamese identity here. What I look forward to, when I hear the street is a place of cultural exchange," Gita said.

Bars with lively music and dancers dominate Bui Vien walking street. Photo: Linh Huynh, Do Khang, Duy Hieu.

Meanwhile, Alessia (Italian nationality) said that when traveling in Asia, she always looked forward to Western streets as a place where she could enjoy culture, authentic cuisine and street music to better understand the place. However, when she came to Bui Vien street, she felt that this night model was not suitable.

Alessia was a little intimidated by the provocative dancers and the bar's flashing lights. She still enjoyed the lively atmosphere, but would only return if Bui Vien kept things to a minimum.

"To explore the streets, I choose to come during the day. The air is cooler then, and there are many dining options. For me, Ho Chi Minh City is still a great destination with the hospitality of the people and diverse cuisine," she said.

Restore

When planned as a walking city in 2017, Bui Vien is expected to become an ideal place for tourists to experience cuisine, music, street culture and make international friends.

However, the current situation of Bui Vien walking street is noisy and loud sounds from many bars, sometimes chaotic space, and encroached sidewalks, according to the Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association.

Many businesses and quality restaurants gradually withdrew from Bui Vien. Other shops quickly replaced them, but most of them were low- and mid-range bars, making the street lack identity. That is why Bui Vien has faded in the eyes of civilized tourists and Ho Chi Minh City residents.

Speaking with Tri Thuc - Znews , Master Dong Son Lam, lecturer of Tourism and Hospitality Management at RMIT University Vietnam, said that spontaneous development, lack of coordinated coordination and excessive commercialization have distorted the original cultural vision of the street.

Instead of just having music from bars, Bui Vien should organize regular street art performances such as acoustic, circus... Photo: Linh Huynh.

The lack of functional zoning, the dense bar population and noise pollution have turned this place into a mass entertainment area without selection. Previously, in 2021, more than 30 businesses on this street had to sign a commitment to reduce noise.

Looking at Ta Hien Western Street (Hanoi), the regret for Bui Vien is even greater. This street is bustling with the atmosphere of eating and drinking at night, but without the loud noise. At the same time, it has a consistent urban design, effective management, meeting international needs, but still maintaining its local character.

"If this continues, Bui Vien will face the risk of a sharp decline in brand reputation, repelling quality tourists, eroding cultural values, losing the trust of investors and causing trouble to neighboring residential areas," this master's degree holder said.

In order not to lose the street’s role as a bridge to global tourists, a clear strategy is needed with the coordination of urban planning, cultural management and public-private cooperation. A true Western street must be a place of civilized exchange, selective street art, delicious local beer or food.

In August, Ben Thanh Ward said it would research and develop a proposal to Ho Chi Minh City to have a policy and direction to consolidate and expand Bui Vien walking street. However, according to the master, expanding space without improving the quality of experience is just a formal solution.

If the street is to become a true cultural destination, in addition to bars serving craft beer or local wine, there should be Vietnamese specialty restaurants, especially Southern and Western cuisine to increase the depth of the experience . The locality can also turn Bui Vien into a starting point for city tours and night food tours to connect and introduce the street to tourists.

"Repositioning the product from a cheap night street to a cultural night street, reflecting the dynamic but civilized identity of Ho Chi Minh City, will attract high-value and sustainable tourists," this master emphasized.

A group of Indian tourists enjoy themselves at Bui Vien walking street in December 2024. Photo: Linh Huynh.

From a broader perspective, Dr. Justin Matthew Pang, Senior Lecturer of Tourism and Hospitality Management (RMIT University Vietnam), realized that with its central location and large number of international visitors, Bui Vien walking street has the potential to develop into a city- or national-level tourism brand. But first , the street must be brought back to its original purpose , instead of maintaining its current operations.

The doctor gave the example of Portobello Road (London), where the markets are privately run but still tightly managed by the city council. Or the reversal of direction of Clarke Quay (Singapore).

In the 1990s, Clarke Quay was expected to become a vibrant street, but due to unclear goals and stories, this model failed. The Singapore government then strongly reshaped it with stakeholders and Clarke Quay was revived. In Thailand, Khao San Road also made a lasting impression thanks to clear customer segments and flexible management.

In general, these three countries have successfully built sophisticated cultural and tourist night streets thanks to tightly oriented management, application of image recognition standards and diverse experience models. That is the experience Bui Vien should learn.

"Local authorities play a very important role in leading and reshaping the development direction, brand and operating model for Bui Vien. Avoiding the long slide when this street has the potential to become a cultural and tourist night city," Dr. Justin expressed.

Source: https://znews.vn/tiec-cho-pho-tay-bui-vien-post1602972.html