Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard (Vietnamese: Đường Nguyễn Huệ) is a boulevard in District 1, downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Being one of Saigon's oldest thoroughfares, the boulevard has undergone several transformations; it is currently a famous pedestrian street in the city.
The boulevard stretches from Lê Thánh Tôn Street, right across from Ho Chi Minh City Hall, to Tôn Đức Thắng Boulevard (Bạch Đằng Quay, the Saigon River waterfront).
History
The boulevard was originally a canal known as Kinh Lớn (Grand Canal), which linked the former Citadel of Saigon (the ) to Saigon River. In the first two decades after the French conquest of Saigon, the canal remained an important waterway, as the central market was then located on its bank. The two quayside streets along the canal were designated by n° 18, before they were officially named Quai Charner (on the right bank) and Quai Rigault de Genouilly (on the left bank) in 1865. Due to the pestilential odors emanating from the canal, local residents had soon requested that it be filled in. However, it took eighteen years of discussions for this to be achieved in 1886–1887. The resulting wide thoroughfare was henceforth named boulevard Charner.
From 1926, the boulevard had two wide central avenues separated by a thin strip of grass, which was ordered by the former Saigon mayor Rouelle. In 1955, it was renamed Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard by the South Vietnamese government.
Nguyen Hue pedestrian street In October 2014, the government of Ho Chi Minh City decided to convert the middle lanes of the boulevard into a pedestrian square. The project was completed on April 29, 2015. During weekend evenings, the entire boulevard is pedestrianized, all vehicles are prohibited during these nights.
Buildings Numerical odd or even order, odd for West side and even for the East side, starts from Bạch Đằng Quay Address Alternative nameImage Primary user(s) and notesNo. 1 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Ho Chi Minh CIty Customs Department Other gates are on 21 Tôn Đức Thắng and No. 2 Hàm Nghi Boulevard2-4-6 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardHotel Majestic Saigon Expansion (Under construction)Public park, outdoor digital billboard 3–5–7–9–11 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard BenThanh Tourist Office, Cholon Tourist Office13–15–17 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard8 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardVietnam International Financial Centre HeadquartersFormerly known as Osic Building then Vạn Thịnh Phát Office Service Center 10 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Vinatex Building 19–25 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Bitexco Office Building (BOB) Sai Gon Joint Stock Commercial Bank Office 35 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Harbour View Tower ADVisory Company, Bangkok Bank, Payoo Cooperation37 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardHo Chi Minh City State Treasury 55–57 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Amigo Grill Restaurant63 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardSaigon Prince HotelPreviously was Duxton Saigon Hotel 87 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard The Gangs Restaurant99–101 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardSaigon Garden MallStarbucks, The Coffee Beans115 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardSunwah TowerAll Nippon Airways, Air China, Chubb, Citibank Vietnam, Emirates, KPMG, Maybank, Sunwah Group117–119–121 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardBIDV TowerOn hold, currently used for parking 123 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard McDonald's Restaurant127–129–129A Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardFiditourist Office Building133 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardKim Đô – Royal Hotel Saigon135 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardSaigon Tax Trade CentreDemolished; wait for renovation. Temporaily using as public park141 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardRex Hotel / Rex ArcadeBurberry, Cartier, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Paul & Shark, Rolex, Versace 22–36 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Saigon Times SquareThe Reverie Saigon Hotel, The Hour Glass, Deloitte40–42 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard42 Nguyễn Huệ Apartment (Café Apartment)FAHASA Nguyễn Huệ Bookstore44 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardTrung Thủy BuildingVietinbank, Asia Commercial Bank 56–66 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardPalace Saigon Hotel Calibre Charner Coffee, Highlands Coffee68 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardVietcomreal Building68A Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardOscar Saigon Hotel 72 Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard Saigon Securities Incorporation (SSI) HQ74–76 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardViettronimex JSC, Ciao Café and Lounge98–100–102 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardSaigontourist Travel Service OfficeSky Zone Beer Garden110 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardHo Chi Minh MonumentPreviously known as Đống Đa Park 116 Nguyễn Huệ BoulevardUnion Square Saigon Bulgari, Dior, Fendi, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Saigon, Starbucks
Public transportation Buses Being a tourist street, tourist buses are commonly seen on the Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard.
Metro Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1 crosses beneath Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard. The nearest station, the Opera House station has many exits to the boulevard.
Nguyen Hue Flower Street
Nguyen Hue Flower Street, or natively known as Đường hoa Nguyễn Huệ, is the common name of Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard during the lunar new year festival. During the festival, the street is decorated for the occasion and are exclusively for pedestrians. The tradition started in 2004, which previously known as Flower Market Nguyễn Huệ.
During the 20th century, the street is commonly a marketplace for trading flowers during the end of the lunar years. Vendors would come from the port at Bạch Đằng Quay. As such, during these years, the street is a common attraction for citizens to sightseeing and enjoy the Tết atmosphere.
After 2003, the city relocated the flower market to 23 Tháng 9 park. In 2004, the city started the tradition to set up flowers decoration on the street, designated as a sightseeing area during new year times. Since then, the name Nguyen Hue flower street is born. The street during this time is for pedestrians, and transportations are forbidden on the street.
In February 2015, the boulevard was under construction, so the Flower Street event was held on the nearby Hàm Nghi Boulevard. Following the boulevard's conversion into a pedestrian street, the tradition continues, with flowers decorated during the new year time. Motorbike routes continued to be blocked, but this time with additional nearby streets like Lê Lợi. During Tet 2023, in addition to the Flower Street, a book street event was held on Lê Lợi Boulevard.
The Nguyễn Huệ flower street are considered to be a culture and tourist event during the new year time, attract many citizens, tourists, as well as home-coming overseas Vietnamese.
References
See also
Lê Lợi Boulevard Đồng Khởi Street Hàm Nghi Boulevard