Ho Chi Minh City Unveils New Cho Lon Night Street
Binh Tay Ward in Ho Chi Minh City is set to launch its exciting new Cho Lon Night Street on December 1st. This initiative aims to significantly boost local culture and tourism by transforming the area into a dynamic public space for both residents and visitors.
According to the Binh Tay Ward People's Committee, this night street project is anticipated to become a major focal point, enhancing the stature of the historic Binh Tay Market and establishing a crucial cultural gathering spot in the heart of Cho Lon, home to a substantial Chinese-Vietnamese community.
Tran Duc Tho, the vice-chairman of the Binh Tay Ward administration, confirmed that the city has already granted in-principle approval for the project. The night street will commence trial operations on December 1, with its official grand opening slated for January 1, 2026.
Layout and Operating Hours
Covering an area of 1,510 square meters, the night street will feature a lively arrangement of food trucks and vendor carts distributed across several designated functional zones. Daily operating hours are scheduled from 6:00 pm until midnight (12:00 am).
Ward officials are optimistic that launching the street at the end of the year, coinciding with festive seasonal activities, will provide an immediate boost to local tourism. The goal is to establish Cho Lon Night Street as a premier destination for cultural exchange, commerce, entertainment, and culinary exploration, all centered around the venerable Binh Tay Market, a landmark known for its significant architectural heritage.
Furthermore, the street will actively integrate the rich cultural and social values of Cho Lon to diversify the city's tourism offerings.
Street Allocations and Zoning
The designated area spans the sidewalks of four streets surrounding Binh Tay Market:
- Nguyen Huu Than Street
- Thap Muoi Street
- Le Tan Ke Street
- Tran Binh Street
Le Tan Ke and Tran Binh Streets are primarily designated for motorbike parking to provide essential support for the night street's operations.
On Nguyen Huu Than and Thap Muoi Streets, the eight-meter-wide sidewalks will be meticulously divided into functional strips to ensure smooth flow and commerce:
- 1.5 meters near residential homes reserved for self-managed parking.
- 1.5 meters dedicated to pedestrian movement.
- 3.5 meters allocated for street stalls and vendors.
- 1.5 meters along the curb for customer access and queuing.
Boosting Local Economy and Tourism
Nguyen Quoc Duong, chairman of the Binh Tay Ward administration, emphasized the necessity of concentrated promotional efforts, given that Binh Tay Market is already a major tourist attraction.
"The night street will help promote the entire area and the market itself while creating a signature feature for the newly established ward. Its activities will support local tourism and help small merchants earn a stable income," he stated.
The ward administration has outlined a series of subsequent events designed to gradually modernize Binh Tay Market, transforming it from a traditional hub into a more contemporary, visitor-friendly destination. This approach seeks to address the shortcomings observed in previous night market models in the vicinity.
To kick off the excitement, the first Southern Vietnam Folk Food and Cake Week is scheduled to take place from December 4 to 10, featuring 40 stalls in total—30 dedicated to food vendors and 10 showcasing traditional cakes.
