Two of downtown Saigon’s tourist-heavy areas will be getting free WiFi, courtesy of the local government.
According to Zing, District 1 officials have put forth the addition of complimentary WiFi in a proposal to transform Bui Vien into a walking street on weekend nights. The same free WiFi was also incorporated into a proposal for a weekend market along Bach Dang Wharf overlooking the Saigon River.
In the plan set forth by the District 1 People’s Committee, Bui Vien would be closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday and Sunday evenings from 7pm to 2am, the news outlet reports, while the proposed market at Bach Dang Wharf would operate on weekends as well, selling Vietnamese food and other local products.
The Bach Dang weekend market would cost VND4.5 billion (US$197,430) to set up and operate over a five-year period, Zing reports. Local firm Phan Thanh Trading Service Company would be responsible for managing the market’s operation, which would include 120 booths as well as a team of 20 security personnel, reports VnExpress.
The news outlet also added that the Bach Dang weekend market would be a temporary affair, as city officials are also eyeing the site for underground construction projects, though it's not clear yet what, exactly, will go beneath Bach Dang Wharf. In the meantime, however, authorities hope to make the weekend market a major tourist attraction in the city.
According to Dan Tri, District 1 officials aim to have the Bui Vien walking street up and running before the April 30 holiday.
[Original image via Asia Web Direct]
