The port city of Haiphong is getting its first weekend-only pedestrian street in the city center, starting August 28. The central green strip running from Quang Trung Street to Tran Hung Dao Street and Opera House Square will open to pedestrians, lined with 22-30 stalls selling local specialties and OCOP-certified products. It's the first pedestrian street since Haiphong and Hai Duong merged, and also serves as the city's experiment with a "night economy." For residents and travelers visiting Haiphong on weekends, it becomes a new spot to enjoy street food and cultural events in one place.
Friday and Saturday nights, the area in front of the Opera House becomes a pedestrian street
The street opens every Friday and Saturday night. The venue is the green strip along Quang Trung Street to Tran Hung Dao Street and around Opera House Square, lined with stalls of a unified, modern design. What's sold is mainly local food, specialty products, and OCOP (One Commune One Product)-certified goods, alongside cultural performances, entertainment, and esports/tech experiences aimed at younger visitors. Free Wi-Fi is available, and payment supports QR codes. The opening ceremony on August 28 begins at 6 pm at Opera House Square, with a military band parade and lion and dragon dances.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Start date | August 28, 2026 (opening ceremony 6 pm, Opera House Square) |
| Location | Quang Trung Street to Tran Hung Dao Street / around Opera House Square |
| Held | Every Friday and Saturday night |
| Vendors | About 22-30 stalls (local specialties, OCOP-certified goods, and more) |
| Facilities | Free Wi-Fi, QR code payment, unified-design stalls |
The first since the merger, and an experiment in the "night economy"
This pedestrian street is the first attempt since the Haiphong-Hai Duong merger. A deputy director at the city says, "It's a pilot run to evaluate and refine a night economy model and build a distinctive tourist destination." Getting people walking at night and extending their stay through food and shopping — Haiphong, a port city, is going after the same goal that made Hanoi's old quarter and Ho Chi Minh City's Nguyen Hue pedestrian street into established tourist fixtures, just later to the game. Putting OCOP-certified goods front and center also makes this more than a plain food-stall street — it's designed to showcase local makers.
How residents and travelers can use it
Haiphong has long served as a gateway to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island, yet nighttime options have been limited. The weekend pedestrian street fills that "nighttime gap." The OCOP stalls make it efficient for souvenir hunting, letting you compare locally-only foods and crafts side by side.Vietnamese food earning high praise overseasa place where you can now sample a port city's seafood and local dishes street-stall style — that's worth building into your itinerary. The trend of making regional cultural events a travel destination in themselves also shows up intraditional performances limited to the holidaysand similar events.
Practically speaking, since QR payment is supported, it's reassuring to carry both a little cash and a payment app. Right after opening, crowds are expected, so if you want to explore at a relaxed pace, a weekend a few weeks later is the better bet.
Points to know before visiting
- It's only held Friday and Saturday nights. The road reverts to normal traffic on weekdays, so don't mix up the days.
- Payment supports QR, but cash may be quicker at some stalls. Keep small bills on hand.
- OCOP stalls are good for souvenirs since many are shelf-stable processed foods and crafts. Check the conditions for carrying fresh items home.
- The opening ceremony (8/28) will be crowded. For a relaxed visit, weekends from the following week on are more comfortable.
- Build it into a stay before or after Ha Long Bay or Cat Ba Island to make the most of a port-city night.
- Start times for cultural performances vary by day. If there's something specific you want to see, check the day-of announcement.
The competition among regional cities to capture the "night economy"
Pedestrian streets are becoming a common tool for Vietnam's regional cities to grow their "night economy." Daytime sightseeing alone doesn't easily extend stay length or spending. The goal is to get people walking at night and extend their stay through food, shopping, and entertainment. Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake area and Ho Chi Minh City's Nguyen Hue Street became tourism cores because they were designed around this "night circulation," and Haiphong, arriving later, is going after the same formula. Building in free Wi-Fi and QR payment from the start reflects an eye toward both younger locals and inbound visitors. For residents and travelers in the port city, it means one more weekend nighttime option in an area that's been thin on them.
Summary
Haiphong's pedestrian street carries three defining traits: it's the first since the merger, weekend-only, and built around OCOP. A spot where you can enjoy a port city's local food and cultural events in one go fits easily into a resident's weekend or a traveler's stay before or after Ha Long Bay. Nighttime Haiphong now has one more reason to explore on foot.
Sources
· DTiNews, "Haiphong to open city-centre pedestrian street" (August 22, 2026)
https://dtinews.dantri.com.vn/lifestyle/haiphong-to-open-city-centre-pedestrian-street-20260821164427668.htm
