Nguyen Hue Street To Add Massive Pedestrian-Only Promenade

It may be hard to believe given the current state of the area, but Nguyen Hue Street’s future is paved with granite sidewalks, 3D art and electric trams.

The two-phase, $23.5 million project will turn the area in front of the People’s Committee Building to Ton Duc Thang Street into a 890 meter promenade that will host 3D art events and dancing water fountains.

According to Tuoi Tre, the $3.38 million first phase, scheduled to be completed by March 2015, will include, “a section that is 124 meters long and 63 meters wide of Nguyen Hue Street (from Le Thanh Ton to Le Loi Street) and a part that is 220 meters long and 14 meters wide of Le Thanh Ton Street (from Pasteur to Dong Khoi Street) will be reformed and upgraded.”

Authorities want to keep on schedule in order for the square’s opening to coincide with the installation of the new Ho Chi Minh monument which will replace the current one in front of the office of the People’s Committee.

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But even before any of that happens, the city will introduce electric tram service to the area to reduce noise and traffic pollution. Hanoi introduced a similar scheme around the West Lake and Old Quarter areas in 2012.

The project’s second, $20.2 million phase will kick off in October 2014 and will stretch from Le Loi to Ton Duc Thang Streets.

The 670 meter long and 64 meter wide area will be paved with granite and lined with new trees.

We’re down with any plan that adds open space and subtracts traffic in the city center.