This content is stated in the Directive of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership over urban order management in the city.
According to the Directive, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee assigned the Party Committee and People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to direct the construction of more pedestrian streets in the central area to form common living spaces for people.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has two city-level pedestrian streets, Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien.
Nguyen Hue pedestrian street has been operating since 2015, more than 670 m long, stretching from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee headquarters to Ton Duc Thang street. This is a large public space in the city center, where cultural and festival activities regularly take place and attract a large number of people and tourists.
Bui Vien pedestrian street has been in operation since 2017. This area has long been known as "Western Quarter", concentrating many bars, restaurants and nightlife entertainment activities, attracting a large number of international tourists.
Previously, in 2022, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport (now the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction) developed a project to organize pedestrian paths in the central area.
The first phase is expected to organize pedestrian walkways in the International Square area; Pham Ngoc Thach streets; Cong Xa Paris street (section from Le Duan to Nguyen Du); Le Loi street (from Nguyen Hue to Quach Thi Trang roundabout); Dong Khoi street (from Nguyen Du to Le Loi); along with Phan Chu Trinh and Phan Boi Chau streets.
After that, the pedestrian street network will continue to expand to areas such as Lam Son Square; Nguyen Thiep, Mac Thi Buoi, Ngo Duc Ke streets (section from Nguyen Hue to Dong Khoi).
According to the project, by 2025, the city center may add pedestrian walkways on Ham Nghi street (from Ton Duc Thang to Quach Thi Trang roundabout). Ton That Dam street (from Ham Nghi to Huynh Thuc Khang), Thai Van Lung and Thi Sach streets will be restricted for motor vehicles, prioritizing pedestrian space.
However, although the project has been submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee for consideration, it has not yet been implemented.
In addition to expanding pedestrian space, the Directive of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee also requires not to consider approving fairs and commercial events that occupy roads and sidewalks.
Over the past time, the dense organization of fairs, exhibitions and commercial events on Le Loi and Nguyen Hue streets has caused many consequences, at times causing serious traffic congestion in the central area. Crowded activities also cause noise pollution, affecting people's lives.
Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued a document to rectify this activity. Accordingly, the organization of events on Le Loi and Nguyen Hue streets must be implemented according to the annual plan approved by the city.
The city prioritizes organizing activities at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. Unusual events outside the plan or organized on Le Loi street must be approved by the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
