The policy of developing specialised trading streets in Da Nang was formed nearly 10 years ago, but until now, it has only “taken the shape’ in terms of the level of investment and development. Different from other provinces and cities, not only are Da Nang's specialised streets gathering places for family-run trading establishments specialising in the sale of goods of the same type, but they also emerge as attractive tourist attractions in the downtown city.

Le Duan fashion specialised street in Hai Chau District is one of the beautiful routes, attracting tourists arriving in Da Nang. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

Highlights of commercial activities

On December 31, 2014, Da Nang opened the first two specialised streets, the Le Duan fashion street and the Huynh Thuc Khang breakfast street. The birth of these trading streets served the premise for Da Nang towards the goal of establishing 20 similar ones across local districts such as the streets of fine arts, bonsai and electronics.

In Da Nang, in addition to the Tet flower market (usually held on April 30 Street on every Tet holidays), the people who love flowers and ornamental plants in the city also know a flower street that operates all year round. It is Nguyen Dinh Tuu flower street in Thanh Khe District.

Initially, flower and ornamental plant traders chose an empty land on Ha Huy Tap street, next to the Hoa Khe Ward People's Committee as a gathering point. Later, the so-called ‘flower town’ was expanded further, creating regular jobs for more than 100 employees, and at the same time, forming a market to supply flowers and ornamental creatures to customers in Da Nang and neighbouring provinces and cities.

Currently, this flower route houses about 70 family-run establishments trading in flowers and ornamental creatures.

Also located in Thanh Khe District, Ham Nghi Street, a famous as an electronics street, has made its mark as 62 out of the 145 households along this street (accounting for 40%) dealing in electronic and digital goods.

The construction of specialised streets contributes to economic development, ensures social security, and solves the problem of urban order.

Le Duan Street stands out from others is its open sidewalk, modern lighting system, led lights illuminating the pedestrian part of the road on sidewalks and traffic surfaces, public utilities on the sidewalk such as benches, signposts, trash cans and decorative lighting systems. All of them are appropriately arranged, serving the shopping and sightseeing needs of tourists and residents.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vi Vi, the owner of Marc fashion store on Le Duan Street said, “At the end of 2014, when the city put into operation Le Duan specialized fashion street that stretched along a section between its intersections with Tran Phu and Ong Ich Khiem streets, many fashion brands have gathered here, attracting a relatively large number of customers. It can be said that Le Duan fashion street is a highlight for the city's commercial activities.

Worthwhile development efforts

From 2015 to 2020, Da Nang has in turn implemented 10 other specialised streets and 8 tourist service streets and shopping centres along spacious routes such as Bach Dang, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Tat Thanh, Vo Van Kiet, Pham Van Dong, Ho Nghinh, Ho Xuan Huong and Hoang Sa - Truong Sa.

However, according to residents, tourists, travel agencies, cultural experts, some specialised streets, after a few years of operation, have not really made their own marks.

Meanwhile, a fashion trader touting for business on Le Duan Street said that, since the route’s operation, the premise rental price here has skyrocketed to 30%, even 40%, causing many financial difficulties for businesses. Many stores managed to to stay open to maintain operations.

However, over recent years, the influence of the COVID-29 pandemic drove the business situation on this downtown street into decline as many establishments could not hold on due to the high rents, and they had no choices but had to sell as many products as possible at dirt cheap prices and shut down later.

Therefore, in order for the street to be worthy of being a fashion street, it is necessary to have specific regulations on the conditions for the participation of traders, as well as to have policies to support trading establishments, especially during a period of difficult economic conditions due to the impact of the COVID-19 pathogen.

Besides, special heed should be given to attracting more typical products, decorating both sides of the street in a brighter and more beautiful way, attracting more tourists at night here.

“In the coming time, the Hai Chau District administration will continue to promote specialised streets in many forms, and on the other hand, encouraging business establishments to develop attractive new fashion items targeting tourists. Fashion products highlighting bold traditional cultural elements or bearing souvenir imprints of Da Nang and Viet Nam at large. In addition, more support will be given to fashion business establishments in organising shows and events so as to introduce new products, and promote their fashion brands and labels, along with policies to attract businesses to organise activities related to the fashion industry on Le Duan Street", said Ms. Phan Thi Thang Loi, Vice Chairman of Hai Chau District People's Committee.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG – Translating by A.THU