The authorities of Berlin have approved and put into use the name “Dong Xuan” for a tram stop in the city.

The emergence of a tram stop bearing a Vietnamese name is not merely a matter of naming.

It is the outcome of a long journey marked by the presence, integration and sustained contributions of the Vietnamese community in Berlin.

More than two decades ago, few would have imagined this development.

At that time, the site now home to the Dong Xuan Commercial Center was nothing more than an abandoned factory.

The tram stop then known as Herzbergstraße – Industriegebiet was closely associated with a defunct industrial zone.

Against that backdrop, the idea of building a Vietnamese-run commercial and service center began to take shape.

After more than 20 years, the former factory site has been transformed.

The Dong Xuan Commercial Center has grown into a distinctive economic and cultural space, attracting local residents and visitors alike.

Alongside this development, the tram stop at its entrance has become increasingly busy, evolving into a familiar stop within Berlin’s urban transport network.

A Berlin tram stop carrying a purely Vietnamese name remains a rare case, with almost no precedent.

From this reality, Nguyen Van Hien, Chairman of the Board and General Director of the Dong Xuan Commercial Center, initiated the idea of naming the tram stop “Dong Xuan.”

The proposal gradually gained support from partners and local residents.

In 2015, a campaign committee was formed to collect signatures in favor of renaming the stop.

Within just two weeks, around 10,000 valid signatures, complete with full names and residential addresses, were gathered.

This response demonstrated broad public consensus in Germany for adopting the name “Dong Xuan.”

The application was then submitted to Berlin’s authorities and underwent years of review under a rigorous administrative process.

In early 2026, an official decision was issued.

The tram stop Herzbergstraße – Industriegebiet was formally renamed Herzbergstraße – Dong Xuan.

Around the same time, in the updated Berlin Urban Development Plan – Stadtentwicklungsplan Zentren 2040, the Berlin Senate included the Dong Xuan Commercial Center in the list of the city’s “special centers.”

This designation recognizes it as a business and service model closely linked to community identity within a multicultural urban space.

Commenting on the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh said the renaming of the tram stop is not only a source of pride for the Dong Xuan Commercial Center.

It also reflects Berlin’s recognition of the role and contributions of the Vietnamese community in Germany.

He noted that the move carries positive significance in promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

From a community perspective, Dr. Nguyen Viet Duc, Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese in Berlin–Brandenburg, views the Dong Xuan tram stop as a “bright spot” in the integration process.

In his view, it represents a place where business activities go hand in hand with cultural exchange, helping make the image of the Vietnamese community more familiar in the everyday life of Berlin residents.

For visitors to Berlin today, the name “Dong Xuan” on the tram map is no longer just a transport marker.

It suggests a destination infused with Vietnamese character, where stories of community, culture and integration are quietly yet persistently told in the heart of Europe.

Hung Ly