Vietnam's Da Lat shuts down lakeside pedestrian street because of congestion, low foot traffic

The project was launched to create a new tourism attraction and act as a buffer zone before visitors reached the crowded Da Lat Market area.

However, officials said public participation remained limited, while the weekly road closures from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm every Friday through Sunday caused traffic jams and overloaded nearby streets.

The Tran Quoc Toan walking street, inaugurated on June 7 last year, stretches about 1.6 kilometers from the Dinh Tien Hoang–Tran Quoc Toan intersection to the Tran Nhan Tong–Tran Quoc Toan junction near Da Lat Flower Garden.

During its trial phase, the pedestrian zone hosted a variety of cultural and recreational activities, including music and dance performances, martial arts shows, art and craft displays, and roller-skating exhibitions.

With Cu Hill on one side and Xuan Huong Lake on the other, the street was envisioned as a scenic promenade connecting Da Lat's night food zone, Lam Vien Square, and Da Lat Market, forming a cultural and culinary corridor for tourists.

Despite these plans, the initiative failed to attract enough visitors, while weekend traffic congestion worsened in the surrounding area.

According to the ward's administration, the closure is a necessary adjustment based on data collected during the pilot period, aiming to balance tourism development with effective urban traffic management during peak weekend hours in downtown Da Lat, one of Vietnam's most popular highland destinations.