Bùi Viện Street is a small street in Bến Thành, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the city's famous nightlife street with many small bars and beer gardens, specializing in affordable tourist goods and services.
Location
The street starts at Y-junction with Trần Hưng Đạo Boulevard in the east, next to crossroads of Trần Hưng Đạo – Nguyễn Thái Học, intersects with Đề Thám and Đỗ Quang Đẩu then ends at T-junction Cống Quỳnh street in the west. The area including streets of Bùi Viện, Đề Thám, Phạm Ngũ Lão and Đỗ Quang Đẩu is popularized as 'International Crossroads' (Ngã tư Quốc Tế) in the past and 'Backpacker Quarter' (Phố Tây ba lô) in modern times.
History
Before 1949, this was the trail of Tân Hòa village. In 1950, the State of Vietnam named it as Bảo Hộ Thoại Street. Until 1955, the government of South Vietnam renamed it into Bùi Viện Street, named after the Vietnamese reformer and diplomat of the late 19th century Bùi Viện, and it has been kept until now.
In South Vietnam period, the area of Phạm Ngũ Lão, Đề Thám and Bùi Viện street was nicknamed as 'International Crossroads' (Ngã tư quốc tế), as it was home to many print shops and newsrooms, also there was some popular theaters around this area like Nguyễn Văn Hảo, Hưng Đạo (now is Công Nhân [vi] and Trần Hữu Trang Theatre [vi], respectively) with many coffee shops that celebrities or even locals usually come so celebrities can be easy to be spotted here, everyone gossips to each other and journalists can easily collect news here.
In 2017, Ho Chi Minh City was implementing the construction of Bùi Viện Street into a walking street. The entire route is being renovated and upgraded with sidewalks, roadways, lighting systems, and drainage. Bùi Viện Walking Street officially opened on 20 August 2017 and is the second pedestrian street in Ho Chi Minh City, after Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard, vehicles are prohibited on Saturday and Sunday in the time of 7 P.M til 2 A.M of the next day same with Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard. Criticism Despite expecting to be the "Khaosan Road of Saigon", Bùi Viện Street has faced growing criticism for its chaotic atmosphere and deteriorating cultural identity. Once envisioned as a vibrant hub for international tourists, it has devolved into a noisy, overcrowded area dominated by loud bars, encroached sidewalks, lack of the local culture restaurants, and the illicit activities like sale of laughing gas or sex industry (less happens in recent years). The overwhelming sound pollution and lack of authentic experiences have driven away both locals and quality tourists, earning it the unfortunate nickname "poisoning street" (phố đầu độc). Public transport There are several ways to access Bùi Viện Street via public transport, the italics one are on proposed:
Public bus: Route 01, 03, 13, 156V, 36. HCMC Metro: Line 1 (Ben Thanh station, Thái Bình Market station), Line 3 (Từ Dũ station)
See also Phạm Ngũ Lão Street
References