Ho Chi Minh City: Need specific solutions to make the night-time economy "shine" more

Experts and managers believe that many specific solutions are needed to continue to have more truly unique night-time economic products and services, harmonizing interests and promoting tourism development.

Recreational activities, entertainment, cultural and artistic performances, culinary enjoyment... taking place from 6pm the previous day to 6am the next day are collectively called the night economy , contributing significantly to increasing revenue, promoting economic development, especially tourism and service economy in many localities.

In addition to the obvious effectiveness, experts and managers believe that many specific solutions are needed to continue to have more truly unique night-time economic products and services, harmonizing interests, promoting tourism development, and contributing to socio-economic development.

Affirming development advantages

In many localities, especially urban areas with strong tourism and service development, night-time economic models and activities have been showing special appeal.

Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant tourist destination of the country. In recent years, there have been many streets that provide food and shopping services at night or organize cultural and artistic performances, walking spaces, becoming meeting places that attract people and tourists. These are Nguyen Hue walking street, Nguyen Van Binh book street, Ben Thanh market, Ho Thi Ky market, Bui Vien street, Vinh Khanh food street, shopping centers, health care and beauty service facilities...

According to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, there are many tourism products in the area, experiences of visiting the city or exploring culture, watching art performances, and enjoying cuisine at night that have been and are being welcomed by tourists.

The tours are designed with many experiential activities, visiting the City at night, through many wards that still have strong cultural and urban architectural imprints such as Saigon, Tan Dinh, Ben Thanh, Cau Ong Lanh or poetic coastal space, streets in Vung Tau ward, Tam Thang ward, Rach Dua ward.

Bui Vien Western Street - an attractive tourist destination for international visitors, is a highlight of night-time economic activities in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Hong Dat/VNA)

Evaluating night tourism products in Ho Chi Minh City, many opinions affirm that the City has the most dynamically developing economy, is a key tourist center of the country, has a pleasant climate all year round, developed infrastructure, and a variety of products and services. The vibrant pace of urban life at night and the beauty of the River City are the main attractions for domestic and foreign tourists.

According to Master Nguyen Hoang Long (Nguyen Tat Thanh University), night tourism in Ho Chi Minh City is developing and becoming an attractive tourism product in Vietnam.

Some strengths of night tourism products in this city can be affirmed as Nguyen Hue walking street, Ben Thanh market, Bui Vien street and parks, stadiums.

A variety of entertainment activities and events are held in the evenings, festivals, music shows, lion dances, drama, cultural, entertainment and sports events.

Night tourism products in Ho Chi Minh City attract many domestic and foreign tourists, especially young tourists who love unique and new experiences. This is one of the reasons why the City always maintains its brand as one of the vibrant tourist destinations, with a name on the domestic and international tourist map.

Another locality in the Mekong Delta that has begun to have some evening destinations attracting tourists in recent years is Dong Thap province.

Tourist Nguyen Hong Mai from Hiep Binh ward (Ho Chi Minh City) shared that in the past, tourists coming to Dong Thap to stay overnight had difficulty finding activities to experience in the evening, but now it is different.

My Tho noodle specialty. (Photo: Hong Dat/VNA)

With the merger of the old Dong Thap province and the old Tien Giang province into Dong Thap province, visitors coming here in the evening can stroll around the streets, visit some night markets, especially on weekends, enjoy culinary specialties such as My Tho noodles in My Tho ward, Sa Giang noodles and rice paper in Sa Dec and Cao Lanh wards, traditional cakes at the market... Although not yet rich, visitors can find their own unique features when coming to Dong Thap.

Need specific solutions

With the socio-economic development strategy in the new context, many localities are merged to create new development space. Certainly, each locality with tourism and service strengths will have new strategies to develop tourism and service economy, including appropriate solutions to build and effectively exploit tourism products and night services.

Associate Professor Bui Hoai Son (Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education) analyzed many studies that confirmed that tourists spend most of their time at night, and night tourism products always have their own appeal.

Under the shimmering, mysterious light, the relics are told better stories with the support of modern technical means, cultural activities also become more bustling, attractive, attracting more tourists. This is the potential that many localities need to take advantage of and promote.

Tourists experience the nighttime culinary scene on a high-rise building at Nguyen Hue Walking Street. (Photo: Hong Dat/VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City now plays the role of creating a new megacity in the Southeast region, maximizing natural, geographical and infrastructure advantages. The tourism and service sectors are among the key economic sectors that receive investment and development attention.

Master Nguyen Hoang Long (Nguyen Tat Thanh University) said that there are still many challenges that need to be solved to develop night tourism products more effectively in Ho Chi Minh City.

The quality of some services and entertainment activities has not met the needs and desires of tourists, especially international tourists. The population density is high and traffic congestion occurs at some locations, especially during rush hours. This can make it difficult for tourists to move from one destination to another in a short time, affecting their travel schedule.

Therefore, the first solution to develop night tourism products in the City is to strengthen night urban management. Along with that, the City government needs to increase investment in infrastructure, renovate and upgrade street lights, renovate roads and build more public works such as parks, lakes, and entertainment areas.

Developing diverse and unique night tourism products requires creativity and investment such as sunrise tourism activities, night shopping and street art performances.

According to the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, promoting the night economy and creating more attractive experiential activities is one of the development directions of the City's tourism.

In order to diversify tourism products, the City is studying the pilot opening of some museums at night, and can combine traditional art performances, fashion shows...

Luxury cruise ships provide dining and entertainment services, taking tourists to explore Saigon at night. (Photo: Hong Dat/VNA)

In addition, waterway tourism routes continue to be invested in, developing products and services to experience nightlife to attract tourists.

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Nghi (Can Tho University) assessed that the potential and market for products and services related to the night economy of Can Tho still have a lot of room for development. It is necessary to pay attention to the factor of promoting the depth of cultural knowledge values ​​in developing night services, in which it suggests the development of the night economy in Can Tho city - the central urban area of ​​the Mekong Delta, converging a multi-cultural and multi-colored region.

The city should continue to build a night-time economic development model that is suitable to local advantages and practical conditions, meeting the needs of the core tourist market.

The city identifies priority areas and streets for night-time economic development linked to tourism infrastructure strengths, and identifies typical products and services. All levels and sectors need to attract and select experienced businesses and business units to participate in developing tourism products and night-time services; at the same time, have policies to prioritize the development of traditional cultural and artistic programs and activities to enhance the experience for tourists when coming to Can Tho./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-can-nhung-giai-phap-dac-thu-de-kinh-te-dem-them-toa-sang-post1048494.vnp