Though it spans just about one kilometer, Nguyen Gia Tri Street in Thanh My Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City has become a rental hotspot-thanks to its strategic location, affordable prices, and steady foot traffic from students and young residents.

Previously known as D2 Street in Binh Thanh District, Nguyen Gia Tri is now considered one of the most vibrant commercial streets in the city. Lined with food stalls, cafes, and shops catering mainly to youth, the street hums with activity from morning to night.

Its prime location connects directly to two major thoroughfares-Dien Bien Phu and Ung Van Khiem-and sits adjacent to several universities. This makes Nguyen Gia Tri a prime corridor for commercial development, drawing in both local residents and transient foot traffic.

These advantages have earned it the reputation of being a street where “no shopfront stays vacant for long.”

A field survey confirms that Nguyen Gia Tri’s retail scene is indeed thriving. High-visibility locations with wide frontages and proximity to intersections are typically leased quickly and rarely stay empty.

Nguyen Hai Lam, a real estate broker specializing in commercial rentals in Binh Thanh, said the street is the most active service and retail corridor in the area. Despite its proximity to the city’s core, rental prices here remain significantly more affordable.

Retailers say Nguyen Gia Tri offers a rare balance between rental cost and business performance-especially for small and mid-sized food and beverage models. Small units, in particular, are snapped up quickly.

According to Lam, average rental prices on Nguyen Gia Tri have risen by 10–20% compared to last year. Currently, the only spaces left are larger units, typically over 120 square meters.

For example, a two-story property with 325 square meters of usable space and street frontage is renting for 127 million VND (approximately USD 5,200) per month. Another ground-floor unit with a 10-meter frontage and 600 square meters of space is being offered for 275 million VND (around USD 11,300) per month.

Lam explains that limited supply and surging demand for street-front units have kept the market tight. New spaces rarely come up, making the area extremely competitive for prospective tenants.

Trần Tien Cong, a business owner specializing in subleasing commercial properties, told VietNamNet that rental space on Nguyen Gia Tri is hard to come by. Over time, the street has developed a bustling ecosystem of youth-oriented businesses, especially affordable street food tailored to students.

According to Cong, a “crowd attracts crowd” effect has made the street even more desirable. New brands often choose Nguyen Gia Tri precisely because of its built-in customer base, rather than trying to create foot traffic elsewhere. As a result, spaces rarely stay empty-some even get inquiries before current tenants vacate.

“This street has one of the highest concentrations of students and young people in the city, thanks to its proximity to major universities,” Cong explained. “This demographic has frequent and high demand for dining, shopping, and daily services. Their steady presence allows businesses to quickly reach the break-even point, making shopfronts here extremely sought after.”

Anh Phuong