Ninh Kieu walking street is bustling again
Ninh Kieu walking street (Can Tho city) officially resumed operations on the evening of November 29, bringing an airy, friendly space, serving people and tourists and creating a tourist highlight for Can Tho city.
The street is about 750m long, organized on Hai Ba Trung Street (from Ngo Gia Tu - Phan Chu Trinh) and surrounding roads.
According to Lao Dong's records at the weekend, about a week after the walking street resumed operations, the atmosphere was quite bustling. From around 7pm, crowded with people and domestic and foreign tourists playing and sightseeing.
Ms. Le Dinh Phuong Uyen, a tourist from Ca Mau, shared: "I have been out on the streets many times and today I feel very happy and bustling. Along with food and fashion shopping services, the street also has many shops with unique music and lighting, suitable for gathering friends on weekends".
Many small traders selling snacks here also said that when reorganizing, the number of customers increased by 10 - 20% on weekends, improving revenue quite well.
Expecting more highlights
Although the number of visitors increased in the early days, many opinions still said that the walking street lacked highlights to retain visitors for longer. The walking street is held from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays), but from around 9 p.m., the entertainment activities have "cooled down" when they have to end early.
"I took a friend from Ho Chi Minh City out and at 9pm - 9:30pm I saw the walking street completely deserted, we had to go to the hotel to rest. I hope the city will have new activities, a unique product" - Mr. Tran Hoang Huy (26 years old, Can Tho City) proposed.
Some tourists suggested that the Can Tho tourism industry should diversify cultural and artistic activities, improve the quality of cuisine and services to gradually put Ninh Kieu walking street on par with other famous walking streets in the country.
To keep the walking street attractive, Mr. Huy said that the locality can organize a mini street food festival on a monthly basis; or a "small floating market" corner for visitors to experience river culture right on the shore.
Tourist Thanh Luan from Da Nang suggested: " Or you can create a check-in space, architectural works or arrange iconic and unique artistic lighting to create highlights to attract visitors and take photos".
Some times when the tide rises in the Ninh Kieu Wharf area in the evening, it also narrows the entertainment space, affecting the experience of tourists.
According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Hoai - Vice Chairman of Ninh Kieu Ward People's Committee, developing a walking street is an important solution to make tourism a spearhead economic sector, promote the image of a civilized - modern Can Tho, while creating momentum for trade, services and attracting investment, actively contributing to the local economy.
Ninh Kieu Ward has also proposed that Can Tho City continue to upgrade infrastructure, landscape and increase the connection of the walking street with neighboring tourist attractions, creating an attractive community living space.
