Ho Chi Minh City's first night market in Can Gio began operating on the evening of January 26 and is expected to open regularly every three days of the weekend, aiming to attract overnight guests.
Can Thanh Night Market is located on Tran Van Kieu Street, combining a walking street and food stalls. On opening day, there are 108 stalls, mainly selling fresh seafood, Can Gio specialties, fast food and soft drinks.
Visitors can visit some booths displaying OCOP products (local products) such as Can Gio mango, bird’s nest products, packaged seafood, and coconut honey. Next to the food stalls are handicraft and souvenir stalls.
Tourists visit the night market on the evening of January 26. Photo: Can Gio District People's Committee
Mr. Truong Tien Trien, Vice Chairman of Can Gio District People's Committee, said that on the evening of January 26, the street had more than 1,400 visitors, more than 300 visitors from outside the area, and the stalls were full of customers. The opening of the night market is one of the first moves of Can Gio District in developing a night-time economic model.
After being put into operation, the night market is expected to open from 3pm to 11pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. This is not only a place for local people to have fun but also a destination for tourists from all over. In addition to promoting local tourism, the night market also creates jobs for local people and is expected to be a hub for consuming agricultural products, food, and seafood for farmers and fishermen in Can Gio.
According to Mr. Trien, this coastal district attracts more than 2 million tourists every year to visit and relax. Before the night market opened, most tourist activities ended before 6 p.m. There were no night services for tourists such as dance clubs, bars, karaoke, night markets, only a few establishments serving food and drink mainly for locals. "This leads to the habit of tourists coming to Can Gio for the day or in the morning in Can Gio, in the evening staying overnight in Vung Tau," said Mr. Trien.
Processed seafood area at Hang Duong market, Can Gio. Photo: Huynh Nhi
The weekend room occupancy rate is currently around 70-80%. It is expected that after the night market comes into operation, it will attract more tourists to the district and stay for longer. It is expected that the night market will continue to promote, call for investment in more check-in points, and organize many monthly events on cultural, entertainment, and sports activities.
"We will call for and encourage investment according to regulations to develop types of services for tourists at night such as dance clubs, bars, karaoke, massage, and night entertainment areas for children," Mr. Trien added.
Ms. Ninh Hoa, owner of Ruby Homestay Can Gio, said that on the first day of the night market's operation, this business registered a German beer stall, and "the market was so crowded that there were not enough seats for visitors."
Ms. Hoa hopes that if the number of visitors is as large as the night streets of Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet, and Vung Tau, this will be a "very promising" tourist destination because of its green, clean, and beautiful natural advantages, located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, which attracts domestic and foreign visitors. In the local orientation, Can Gio night street will be developed along the triangle of three tourist destinations: Can Thanh - Binh Khanh - Long Hoa. Currently, the central area already has a night market, and some other locations are being completed.
"Businesses will join hands with the district to form and develop the night market and make it an attractive destination for tourists," said Ms. Hoa.
Can Gio is considered to have great potential for tourism development, and is the only locality in Ho Chi Minh City with forests and seas. In 2000, Can Gio district was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Before Can Thanh night market opened, Ho Chi Minh City had 9 operating night markets. A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that night markets and night food streets are typical tourism products that contribute to the city's night economy. The advantage of the night economy is to attract tourists and create highlights and colors for each locality and region. The more diversified the night economy is invested in, the more likely it is to retain tourists, thereby creating a favorable environment for the operation of accompanying activities and services, attracting investment in tourism types, extending the length of stay and increasing spending of tourists at the destination.
Bich Phuong
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