Ho Chi Minh City officially opens Cho Lon night quarter

The People’s Committee of the ward held a ceremony to officially open the venue last night.

Since its trial run began in December last year, the night quarter has grown into a vibrant hub featuring 38 food and beverage stalls and a children’s play area.

The venue attracts an average of around 800 visitors per day, reflecting rising demand for evening leisure options in the city.

Spanning some 1,510 square meters, the night quarter is organized with a mix of food trucks and carts, arranged into designated functional zones.

The space stretches across the sidewalks of Nguyen Huu Than, Thap Muoi, Le Tan Ke and Tran Binh Streets, directly in front of Binh Tay Market.

Tran Binh and Le Tan Ke Streets serve as parking areas for visitors.

On Nguyen Huu Than and Thap Muoi Streets, eight-meter-wide sidewalks are divided into functional strips: 1.5 meters adjacent to residential homes for self-managed parking, 1.5 meters for pedestrian use, 3.5 meters for vendor stalls, and another 1.5 meters along the curb for customer access.

Tran Duc Tho, vice-chairman of the Binh Tay Ward People’s Committee, said that the Cho Lon night quarter represents the first centrally-organized initiative of its kind in the area, capitalizing on the ward’s long-standing culinary strength.

“The night quarter was designed to integrate tourism, cuisine and the vitality of heritage spaces,” Tho said.

“It contributes to developing the night-time economy,” he noted.

The surrounding area has long served as a bustling commercial and service center, with a dense network of small traders.

On nearby Hau Giang Street, there are around 600 business establishments, more than half of which are food-related, the official said.

These conditions have made gastronomy a natural focus for the ward’s night-time development strategy.

Crowds of residents and visitors filled the night quarter on Friday night, sampling dishes and enjoying the lively atmosphere.

Vo Thuy Tram, a 15-year-old resident of Minh Phung Ward, said she returned for a second visit because of the variety of food and the energetic ambiance.

“The area feels much more vibrant now,” she said.

“I’ll definitely come back and bring more friends.”

Alongside the launch of the night quarter, Binh Tay Ward has also introduced a cultural and culinary space within the grounds of Binh Tay Market, positioning it as a new tourism offering.

Binh Tay Market, a landmark with nearly a century of history, celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2025 and has been recognized as a city-level architectural and artistic heritage site since 2017.

Local officials said that extending activities into the evening is intended to breathe new life into the historic site, transforming it from a daytime trading hub into a dynamic, round-the-clock destination.