Is Quang Trung Street suitable for Vinh City to choose as a pedestrian street?

Mr. Pham Xuan Can has conducted numerous research studies on Vinh, publishing books such as "Ancient Vinh," "Urban Culture and the Reality of Vinh City," and a series of research papers on street names, culture, and place names in Vinh City. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In my opinion, pedestrian streets have three main functions: they serve the entertainment and relaxation needs of urban residents; they serve economic activities (shopping, dining); and they are places to showcase the cultural identity of the city, providing an environment for people to participate in creative cultural activities.

To fulfill these three functions, a pedestrian street must meet the following criteria: The street must be wide enough, with sufficient space for both the road and sidewalks, without obstructing traffic; the street must already have existing or favorable conditions for commercial activities; and the street must have a precedent or foundation for pedestrian use.

Therefore, the city should carefully consider selecting suitable streets for pedestrian zones. Currently, there are many streets in the city that are convenient for walking but are far from the city center, limiting the development of commercial activities: the new North Canal Bridge - Quan Bau route; Le Mao Street or Truong Thi, Phan Dang Luu, Phan Sy Thuc streets (along Goong Lake). There are also streets suitable for commercial activities but are hampered by traffic issues, making them unsuitable for pedestrian zones, such as Tran Phu, Phan Dinh Phung, Tran Hung Dao…

Quang Trung Street is suitable for becoming a pedestrian street. Photo: Lam Tung and other sources.

In my opinion, Quang Trung Street is quite suitable for a pedestrian zone: It has wide sidewalks, sufficient for organizing cultural and artistic activities; both ends of the street offer alternative routes for vehicles; and when the pedestrian zone is planned at a specific time, Quang Trung Street could be converted into a one-way street. Especially noteworthy are the attractive tourist attractions along this street: Diệc Pagoda, the City Gate historical site, cinemas, supermarkets… and supporting facilities such as hotels, guesthouses, and night markets serving tourists. Ho Tung Mau, Hong Bang, and Nguyen Van Cu streets are also quite suitable, but not yet perfect because their sidewalks are somewhat narrow, limiting the space for organizing pedestrian zone activities.

Some streets have wide open spaces but are limited in terms of commercial activity and are far from the city center. Photo: Thanh Phuc

On the other hand, when constructing pedestrian streets, it is also necessary to consider creating attractions to draw tourists, as Vinh City has historically lacked entertainment and recreational options. Therefore, it is essential to create a unique identity for Vinh's pedestrian streets, distinct from any other pedestrian streets in the country.

That street could host performances of folk songs, <i>ví</i>, <i>giặm</i>, call-and-response singing, etc., allowing everyone to participate and become a creative force; the sidewalks could be decorated with unique and distinctive handicraft products from Nghe An; there would be stalls selling Nghe An specialties; and a food court with characteristic food and drinks: peanut candy, rice crackers, bitter tea; clam stir-fry with rice crackers, rice cakes, banana blossom salad, etc.

However, it is also necessary to consider the complex issues that arise when organizing pedestrian streets, such as security and order, environmental hygiene, and the impact on the lives of residents along the street, in order to develop the most reasonable and optimal plan.