Potential for developing the night-time economy at Vinh regulating lake.
With its large area, lush green spaces, and the large number of people strolling, exercising, and playing there every day, Vinh City's regulating lake is showing potential for developing a vibrant night-time economy. Some have suggested attracting investment to the regulating lake to create a tourist attraction, increase revenue, and reduce the current uncontrolled, spontaneous business activity. Is this feasible?
The city's "green lung".
The regulating lake is the largest reservoir in Vinh City, with a total area of 53 hectares and a water surface area of 40 hectares. It is located at the end of the North Canal, in the low-lying area bordering Hung Loc commune, Hung Hoa commune, and Hung Dung ward. The regulating lake plays an important role in mitigating urban flooding, improving the ecosystem and environment, and enhancing the city's ability to adapt to climate change.
Furthermore, the development of the regulating lake park along with surrounding functional areas contributes to completing the architectural space and creating a beautiful landscape for Vinh City. In 2017, the regulating lake was officially put into use, and is known as one of the city's "green lungs".
According to our reporter's observations, the regulating lake is currently one of the most attractive destinations for people in Vinh City. During the day, a large number of people flock there to stroll, exercise, and fish. At night, the cool air, less traffic, and upgraded lighting system make it a popular meeting place for many people; food and beverage services are also thriving.
However, management at the retention pond still faces many shortcomings. According to regulations, retention ponds are public works with the function of improving the environment and serving people for recreation and entertainment; commercial activities are not allowed within the pond's premises, especially in the park area or on the green lawns.
However, in reality, the situation of spontaneous businesses setting up stalls and tables and chairs, occupying the lake area for commercial purposes, is widespread. This has caused many negative consequences, especially environmental pollution, loss of security and order, and damage to the urban aesthetics of this ecological site. The indiscriminate dumping of garbage around and in the lake itself is a frequent occurrence.
According to our investigation, the Vinh City regulating lake is currently managed by multiple entities, requiring close and seamless coordination between them. The water surface and the operation of the lake's facilities and functions are managed by Vinh Urban Infrastructure Management and Development Joint Stock Company; the green spaces, parks, and lawns are managed by Vinh City Parks and Greenery Joint Stock Company; and state management functions, including ensuring security and order, are jointly overseen by the authorities of three localities: Hung Hoa commune, Hung Loc commune, and Hung Dung ward. The focus is primarily on Hung Hoa and Hung Loc communes, while Hung Dung ward only manages a small area from the Kenh Bac bridge downwards.
The local authorities are responsible for state management of a portion of the reservoir area. In reality, the encroachment of land around the reservoir for business purposes has been quite common in recent times. The local authorities have conducted awareness campaigns, issued warnings, and imposed fines, but re-encroachment continues. The most challenging aspect is the high demand for food and beverages from people visiting the reservoir; where there is supply, there is demand, so resolving this situation harmoniously remains a difficult problem!
Mr. Cao Van Cuong - Vice Chairman of Hung Loc Commune People's Committee
Calling on businesses to invest.
Mr. Duong Xuan Tham, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Hoa commune, said: "Since the reservoir was put into operation, it has become a familiar destination for many people in Vinh city and surrounding areas. On some weekend evenings, the local authorities estimate that about 1,000 people come here to have fun, stroll around and enjoy the cool breeze, creating a lively and bustling scene."
The current challenge is the high demand for services from the public, while business and trading activities within the lake area are illegal, and the commune has already launched campaigns to clear and deal with illegal businesses. However, in the long term, given the great potential of the lake, the commune hopes that the city can attract and connect businesses to invest in developing the night-time economy around the lake, as there is clearly still significant room for development.
Mr. Duong Xuan Tham - Vice Chairman of Hung Hoa Commune People's Committee
Sharing the same view, the Hung Loc commune authorities stated: Business activities within the lake area are against regulations; however, the surrounding area is still very large, with the Hung Loc commune's management area alone covering over 5 hectares. If businesses invest in developing various service types here, it will create a tourist attraction, provide recreational space for residents, preserve the landscape around the lake, reduce the current situation of business encroachment, and generate additional revenue for the city.
Ms. Bui Thi Thuyet, a resident of Ben Thuy ward, Vinh City, who frequently visits the regulating lake with her family, commented: Compared to Cao Thang night street or the pedestrian street in Vinh City, the regulating lake has many advantages, with its spacious and cool environment, especially in the harsh weather conditions and intense heat of Nghe An. Many residents hope that the city will pay attention to investing in and developing the regulating lake so that it becomes one of the tourist destinations in the area.
Developing the night-time economy is one of the tasks that the city is particularly concerned about, and in practice, it has implemented models such as night streets, pedestrian streets, and food streets. For the area around the regulating lake, the potential for developing the night-time economy is enormous, possessing a large, airy space where people gather in large numbers every evening, especially on weekends, resulting in high demand for services, particularly food and beverages.
Given these potentials, the city has also developed ideas for promoting the night-time economy in this area. In the future, it will call on businesses to invest in entertainment and recreational services around the regulating lake to capitalize on the strengths of this area and create a new destination on the city's tourism map.Mr. Tran Quang Lam – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh City
