HCM City (VNA) - Thousands of local and foreign touristsflocked to Bui Vien Walking Street in the popular backpacker area of HCMCity’s District 1 as it officially welcomed walkers at its grand opening onAugust 20’s night.

The street is reserved exclusively forpedestrians from 7pm to 2am at weekends.

During this time, vendors are allowed to displaytheir merchandise on the pavement, but not on the road.

Two stages for live music performances are alsoset up at the two ends of the street, promoting both Vietnamese folk songs andinternational music.

In addition, tourists can enjoy free Wi-Fiservices, public toilets and other tourist-related services.

Foreign visitors have already praised the streetfor selling “cheap beer” and “providing good services”.

Mahlet Christie from Australia said it was avery good idea to open the walking street. “We love it as everything here is soaccessible. It was interesting to sit on the street watching everyone goingpast.”

“The food is amazing as always. Vietnamese beeris very good. Saigon beer is the best,” she said.

Vu Ngoc Khiem of Bình Thạnh district said, “Thisis more fun, definitely a more exciting place to hangout for foreign visitorsand even locals like me.”

Located in Pham Ngu Lao ward in District 1, the city’s new pedestrian street isexpected to offer local residents and tourists a range of entertainmentactivities.

Since the middle of July, authorities inDistrict 1 have piloted a vehicle ban from 7pm to 2am on weekends, while alsocarrying out upgrades to pavements along the street.

While eateries, cafes, clothing stores, andsouvenir shops are open to customers in the morning and afternoon, restaurants,bars, and pubs bring a more exciting atmosphere to the street from the eveninguntil midnight.

Some 146 businesses are operating on Bui Vien street, said Nguyen Thi ThuHuong, Vice Chairwoman of the District 1 People’s Committee.

Among them are 23 hotels, 25 eateries, 15 cafes,33 souvenir, handicraft, and clothing stores, 14 pubs, 9 beer bars, 12 salons,8 travel agents, among others.

Opening specialised streets has been an emergingtrend in the city, improving trade and services as well as creating distinctivetourism products for the city.

In 2015, Nguyen Hue Boulevard, the city’s firstpedestrian street, opened to visitors and has become a popular venue for bothlocals and tourists at the weekend.

Nguyen Van Binh, the city’s book street, hasalso been a popular stop for local bookworms and visitors.

According to Vice Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen, local authorities will do their best tomake the pedestrian street attractive to both local and foreign visitors.

HCM City is one of the country’s most populartourist destinations. It welcomed 2.43 million foreign tourists in the firsthalf of this year, a 12 percent increase from the same period last year,according to city authorities.-VNA