The Da Nang government has recently given a nod to a design plan for the An Thuong tourist quarter, located in My An Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, with a total cost of 55 billion VND. The move promises this venue a more magnificent look, hereby facilitating it to become an attractive new local attraction serving as a big draw card for tourists from both home and abroad in the coming time.

Investment poured into the An Thuong tourist quarter facilitates it become an attractive new local attraction in the coming time. Tourists are seen travelling along an internal road there.

On the basis of studying about the design and operation of nightlife areas dedicated to tourists in Viet Nam and other countries worldwide, the An Thuong site will be similar to the South Bank, a beautiful riverside stretch in the heart of London, the UK.

Of the total cost, 30 billion VND will be from the city budget, whilst the remainder will come from investment by the general public.

In particular, work items funded by the city budget include the creation of surface roughness of streets, new kerbs, plastic mats at parking areas, new underground power systems, and water collection systems.

Meanwhile, appeals will be made for investment by tourism service providers into the tiling of cubic stones along the pavements and some internal routes in order to create a walking area, and the placement of 50 public benches, 4 instruction boards, 260 cameras and 50 trash bins and related urban utility items at the venue.

According to the Ngu Hanh Son District administration, to date, 81 out of the 84 tourism service providers have registered to invest in some work items, especially the tiling of cubic stones.

This project is bounded by 4 main streets, namely Hoang Ke Viem to North, Ngo Thi Sy to the South, Chau Thi Vinh Te to the west, and Vo Nguyen Giap to the east. Once operational, the quarter will become the city’s ‘Pho Tay’ (Street of Foreigners) which offers various drinking and eating services, and attractive night-time entertainment activities for foreign visitors.

According to Mr Truong Bang Linh, the Director of the Management Board of Transport Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance Projects, some work items to ensure traffic safety in the An Thuong venue have been completed so far.

Included were the creation of sufficient rumble strips to alert inattentive drivers of potential danger and the installation of warning signs requiring a maximum allowable speed of 30 kph for motor vehicles travelling along internal streets in this tourist quarter, and a ban on the use of horns there.

In particular, parking bays has also been created to the north of Phan Tu Street, meeting the parking demands in this location.

Infrastructure construction and tourism services in An Thuong should be promoted to meet the diversified demands of tourists

Under orientations to boost its socio-economic growth, the An Thuong site will be expanded towards the north, and it will link to Nguyen Van Thoai Street, hereby tripling the current surface area and bringing the number of internal streets dedicated to locals and tourists to 22.

Ms Nguyen Kim Ngan, the owner of an eatery selling ‘pho’ (Vietnamese noodle soup) on Hoang Ke Viem street, eagerly said: “The An Thuong Tourist Quarter shows off great tourism development potential”.

She explained, in reality, the Ha Noi-based Ta Hien Street, dubbed as an “international intersection,” packed with foreign tourists and expats, is only less than 100m in length, whilst Bui Vien Street, the so called “backpackers area” of Ho Chi Minh City, has only one road, and also, the South Bank, one of the best places to visit in London, consists only 8 routes. In comparison with these domestic and foreign tourist-pack venues, An Thuong boasts higher road numbers with 22 in total.

Another advantage is that the city’s Street of Foreigners lies near beautiful beaches. Given these strengths mentioned above, An Thuong is drawing a growing number of travellers throughout the day.

Another trader, Mr Nguyen Tien Hoang, the owner of Palazoo Hotel located on Tran Bach Dang Street, excitedly said, An Thuong is expected to see more restaurants catering international cuisines. Such ‘Little Korean’, ‘Little Italian’ and ‘Little Japanese’ areas will be promised for this tourist-packed location.

Mr Nguyen Hoa, the Vice Chairman of Ngu Hanh Son District People's Committee said, preparations is now on track in order to ensure that work will start on the An Thuong project late this year.