After more than a month’s trial, a pedestrian zone near the statue of King Quang Trung in Saigon’s District 10 officially entered operation Tuesday night. 

This is the third pedestrian street in the city after Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien, both in District 1 and overrun with large crowds during weekends and holidays.

With total investment of VND2.5 billion ($108,000), the new walking street is over 100 meters long, stretching from the Nguyen Lam - Ba Hat to Nguyen Lam - Nhat Tao junctions.

People visit the pedestrian zone near the statue of King Quang Trung
in Saigon’s District 10, November 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. 

It is open to tourists from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily except Monday. The pedestrian zone features a food court with 50 stalls, mainly selling drinks and fast food, but no alcohol to maintain public order.

The area has three parking lots, accommodating more than 900 motorbikes, and a free public toilet. On weekends, cultural activities and street art performances will be held.

Saigon is Vietnam’s biggest metropolis and leading tourist attraction. The Nguyen Hue pedestrian street attracted around 3,300 visitors on a weekday last year while Bui Vien received about 5,300 visitors, according to official statistics.

City authorities have mulled opening more pedestrian zones in future to develop the night-time economy and local tourism.