Night food street
Night porridge stallsAs part of the market and specialized street planning project of Vinh City People's Committee, the night food street at Dao Tan parking lot will open at 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2008, with space for 80 stalls (30 food stalls and 50 beverage stalls). This is the first pilot street for 2-3 streets that will open in communes and wards in 2008.
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| Night porridge counter |
Next to Vinh Stadium - the "hotbed" of Nghe An football, the night food street has fresh, cool air. Currently, 78/80 stalls have registered their business at the city's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Thus, food, drink and refreshment businesses at locations in front of 12-9 Cinema, along Quang Trung Street, at Vinh Market, and on sidewalks will be gathered here to return open space to the city...
The food street includes business owners in 5 wards: Cua Nam, Hong Son, Quang Trung, Vinh Tan, Doi Cung, and is assigned to Cua Nam ward for management. The city's policy is not to collect investment fees for electricity, water, drainage ditches, and toilets. There is no fee for business premises in the first year and no fee for sanitation, environment, or security for 3 months. Households elect their own managers of the market. The business owners must sign a commitment to ensure food safety and hygiene (60/78 households have signed the commitment) and comply with the regulations in the market. Business households must strictly follow the regulations: Operating from 5 pm the previous day to 7 am the next day. Ms. Phan Thi Ly, residing in Cua Nam ward, who used to sell porridge at night at 168 Phan Dinh Phung street, now moved to the night market, said: Many days while selling, the ward's regulations team came out to clear the sidewalk for pedestrians, customers who were eating got upset and never came back. It will be more secure here. However, she is also worried because the area for the food stall is only 36 square meters, how to have a boundary with the stall next door, so as not to have disputes and conflicts. Ms. Le Thi Hong in block 11 Quang Trung who sells drinks and dried squid in the evening is worried because the electric wires for the stalls are not fixed, still scattered on the ground, not ensuring safety, if it rains, they have to cover with tarps, which will make it difficult for business because the area for the drink stall is only 16 square meters. Moreover, selling all night may create conditions for some bad elements, so security and the code team need to work all night.
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| Regulatory signs |
Mr. Doan Huu Tho, from the Cua Nam ward's code enforcement team, is concerned: The businesses concentrated here are on the sidewalks, most of them are in difficult circumstances, so they cannot avoid conflicts because of food and clothing. The code enforcement team is not disciplined, has not been trained and lacks experience. There needs to be a contract and supplement from some communes and wards with business households and the 113 force. Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thanh, Head of the city's Department of Industry and Trade, said: This is the first pilot area, and 2-3 more food areas will be opened to bring all the food, drink and refreshment stalls that are selling at street corners and sidewalks to the night markets, returning the urban space. Stalls registered to sell in this area must sign a commitment to ensure food hygiene and safety and have regular inspections by the City Health Center.
In the future, beside the towering high-rise buildings, the bright lights, the colorful supermarkets and shops and the clean, beautiful and airy streets, Vinh city will have more night food streets. This is also a "tourist" spot with its own identity to introduce the culinary culture of Nghe An.
Article and photos: Ha Linh
