Ho Chi Minh City has announced plans to organize a street food area from this June to support vendors affected by the sidewalk cleanup campaign, and to preserve its street culture.

Miss Tram Anh, a kindergarten teacher living in district 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, is a big fan of street food. Like many other locals, she believes that street food is an inseparable part of the city.

She said “Street food is very unique. I think not only the young but the majority people in this city are so familiar with street food. Street food is always top of my list. Whenever I go out with my friends, I can easily find my favorite places.”

When visiting Ho Chi Minh City, one of the biggest in Vietnam, tourists find a blend of culture originating from south, central and north of the country.

Each region has its own features and they all make for a very diverse Ho Chi Minh. Besides enjoying the landscape and culture when visiting the city, one thing tourists should not miss is tasting the street food there.

Mr Nguyen Xuan Ly, a city tour guide for more than 20 years, said that travel starts and ends with food so she provides a food-focused tour with a mix of popular destinations.

“Foreign tourists are so interested in local cuisine and of course street food in Ho Chi Minh City is so attractive to them and they always love to eat street food when given the opportunity. It’ll be much better to organize a street food area or road sections which are like night markets but located in sidewalks,” Ly added.

Authorities in District 1 started the "sidewalk revolution" early in February in a bid to reclaim the sidewalks for their original purpose and turn the area into a “Little Singapore”.

District 1 has planned to move street vendors to Nguyen Van Chiem Street near Notre Dame Cathedral, Bach Dang Park along Ton Duc Thang Street and along the Saigon River.

Mr Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said “Ho Chi Minh City has chosen some streets to organize a street food area. 

Nguyen Van Chiem Street is one of the streets which has many offices, parks schools, and is very convenient for people to come and shop and eat there. 

It won’t just be a place of business; it will show the city's special culture. 

The area around Bach Tung Diep Park is convenient because there are many residents and tourists.”

VOV5