Why are nightlife streets still "slow to catch up" in the heart of the city?

(Baohatinh.vn) - Once a vibrant area attracting many tourists every weekend evening, Nguyen Du food street (Thanh Sen ward) is now quiet, showing that the night street model has not yet created the stable appeal that was expected.

Báo Hà Tĩnh•05/01/2026

When it first opened, the food street combined with a nighttime pedestrian zone on Dao Tan and Nguyen Huy Oanh streets attracted a large number of people.

When it first opened in April 2023, the Nguyen Du (formerly known as) food street quickly attracted a large number of people to come and enjoy themselves. Every weekend evening, the streets of Dao Tan and Nguyen Huy Oanh (now part of Thanh Sen ward) were always crowded. Children played, people strolled, and food stalls lit up, creating a lively atmosphere that lasted until late at night. At that time, the model of a food street combined with a pedestrian street was expected to be a new highlight in the urban life of Ha Tinh .

However, after a period of operation, the scene here has changed significantly. The once bustling streets are now often deserted, the pedestrian areas are sparsely populated, and the stalls no longer maintain the vibrancy they once had. The contrast between the initial phase and the current reality highlights the difficulties in maintaining the "life" of the night market model. Many residents believe that the Nguyen Du food street once offered a fresh feeling, but that appeal wasn't enough to form a lasting habit of living there.

The food street is now deserted, no longer maintaining the vibrancy it once had.

Ms. Le Phan My Duyen (Thach Ha commune, Ha Tinh province) shared: “When the food street combined with a pedestrian street first opened, my friends and I often visited because of the novelty and lively atmosphere. On weekends, there were also quite attractive cultural and artistic programs. However, after a while, these activities didn't change much, and even became less frequent, so I visited less often.”

Not only the residents, but also the small traders – those directly involved with the night market – clearly feel the current slump. In the Nguyen Du food street, which once had over 50 stalls, only a few are still operating sporadically, and many have to close early due to a lack of customers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh Hoa (owner of a snack shop on Dao Tan Street) shared: “In the beginning, when we first opened the shop, we had a lot of customers, and we couldn't sell everything until late at night. Now it's completely different; there aren't many shops left here, and the customer base is unstable, so our shop has to increase online orders to maintain our income.”

There used to be over 50 stalls doing business, but now only a few remain, mostly tea shops.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Tran Duc Loi (owner of a tea stall on Nguyen Huy Oanh Street) believes that when the night market hasn't created a sufficiently large and consistent attraction, maintaining its long-term operation becomes very difficult. "The night market lacks entertainment and cultural activities to attract locals and tourists. When many stalls close early, the atmosphere becomes even more depressing, and fewer people walk around," Mr. Loi shared.

This reality highlights the challenges facing not only businesses but also the organization and operation of urban nightlife. When visitor numbers are inconsistent, activities are not diverse enough, and are not regularly maintained, nightlife areas struggle to establish a regular rhythm of life. This shows that urban nightlife needs to be viewed as a long-term process, requiring attention to organization, management, and content renewal in stages to better suit the needs of residents and attract tourists.

Many stalls are operating with few customers and have not invested much in attracting buyers.

Mr. Ngo Phuc Hoang (Marketing Director, Lang Thang Ha Tinh Co., Ltd.) said: “Night streets don't automatically become effective once they're built. They require time for testing, evaluation, and adjustments to suit the actual needs of local people. Furthermore, without clearly defining the target customer group and building unique experiences, night streets will struggle to become a destination in tourists' itineraries. Conversely, when properly organized, night streets can become an important part of building a night-time destination brand for the city.”

The experience of the Nguyen Du food street shows that urban nightlife needs to be viewed as a long-term process requiring adjustments to suit real-life situations. The collaboration of local authorities, along with the participation of businesses and the community, will be crucial in gradually revitalizing the nightlife, aiming to build a suitable, sustainable, and more accessible destination for residents. When properly organized, the nightlife will not only be "awakened" but can also become a familiar part of the urban rhythm of Ha Tinh.