Nguyễn Huệ Street

The boulevard stretches from Lê Thánh Tôn Street, right across from Ho Chi Minh City Hall, to Tôn Đức Thắng Street.[2]

The Grand Canal

Photo of Boulevard Charner on a postcard

The boulevard was originally a canal linked to Saigon River, then known as Kinh Lớn (Grand Canal). [4]The boulevard connects the Saigon River with the old Citadel of Saigon, natively known as Thành Bát Quái.

Due to being heavily polluted, the city governors decided to fill the canal. At the end of the 1860s, the filling construction started. In 1887, the canal was completely filled in and transformed into a boulevard named Boulevard Charner. In 1955, it was renamed Nguyễn Huệ Boulevard.[5]

Nguyen Hue pedestrian street

Nguyễn Huệ Street in 2017

Nguyễn Huệ street at night

In October 2014, the government of Ho Chi Minh City decided to convert the entire boulevard into a pedestrian street. The project was completed on April 29, 2015.[3]

(South east to North west, numerical order)

Nguyễn Huệ Street being decorated with flowers and miniature landscapes in 2020. This is an annual festival since 2004 to celebrate Tết.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street, or natively known as Đường hoa Nguyễn Huệ, is the common name of Nguyễn Huệ Street 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 on Saigon River. 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 setup 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.

After 2015, the boulevard was converted into a pedestrian street. The tradition continues, with flowers are decorated during the new year time. The motorbike routes continued to be blocked, but this time with additional nearby streets like Lê Lợi. In addition to the flower street, a book street event is being held at the same time nearby, with 2023 book street taking place on Lê Lợi street.

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.

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