Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien Walking Streets: Hours and Safety

Go on a Saturday or Sunday evening. Bui Vien runs 19:00 to 02:00, with vehicles banned at weekends on two sections. Nguyen Hue is a pedestrian boulevard; its last weekend ban found was 7pm to 11pm from March 2019. The risks on Bui Vien are pickpocketing, overcharging and aggressive solicitation.

By Vincent Nguyen

Nguyen Hue is a famous pedestrian street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, and Bui Vien is the backpacker bar street a short walk away. Bui Vien runs 19:00 to 02:00, and the last weekend ban found for Nguyen Hue was 7pm to 11pm from March 2019.

Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien walking street hours and vehicle bans

Treat these as the newest published hours, not a current city notice: the Nguyen Hue notice and the Bui Vien plan are older. Arrive from 19:00 and read the street signs.

Nguyen Hue at Tet

During the lunar new year festival Nguyen Hue becomes the Flower Street, for pedestrians. In 2026 it ran 15 to 22 February, with all vehicles suspended.

What to see on Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien

Nguyen Hue

The boulevard stretches from Le Thanh Ton Street, across from City Hall, to Ton Duc Thang Boulevard on the Saigon River waterfront. In October 2014 the city decided to convert the middle lanes into a pedestrian square, and it was completed on 29 April 2015. It is about 1 km long.

Bui Vien

Bui Vien was to become the second pedestrian street after Nguyen Hue, in the same district. It runs from De Tham Street to Do Quang Dau Street. It is in Ben Thanh Ward, which merged the old Ben Thanh and Pham Ngu Lao wards.

Is Bui Vien safe?

Yes for most visitors, if you plan for the risks police name: pickpocketing, overcharging, aggressive solicitation and theft. Keep your phone and bag in front of you and agree the price before you order.

In August 2025 police opened a case against 17 people over sales of laughing gas at two businesses on Bui Vien Street. The suspects said they knew it is a banned item for sale and harmful to health.

In May 2025 a South African visitor had a dispute with the staff of a Bui Vien bar. Police arrested a man who hit the visitor on the head with a beer bottle.

A court in September 2020 sentenced two women to 9 months in prison for pickpocketing tourists on the street. In August 2026 police said patrols would focus on aggressive solicitation, overcharging, theft and online scams.

Who Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien suit (and who should skip them)

• Evening strollers: Nguyen Hue is a pedestrian street running to the river.
• Late-night visitors: Bui Vien runs until 02:00.
• Visitors weighing the nightlife: skip laughing gas, which police treat as a banned item for sale, and agree prices first.
• Tet visitors: transport is forbidden on the Flower Street.

How to get to Nguyen Hue and Bui Vien

Nguyen Hue is listed under Saigon Ward on Google Maps. Metro Line 1 has 14 stations including Ben Thanh and Opera House. VietTimes placed the Opera House station on the road from Dong Khoi Street to Nguyen Hue Street. See Metro Line 1 for fares and hours.

For Bui Vien, take bus 152 or 49. Bus 152 is free until 31 December 2026, and bus 49 charges VND 6,000 - 10,000. If you drive, park at the Fine Arts Museum, the Galaxy Nguyen Du cinema or 23/9 Park. The Google Maps address is in Ben Thanh Ward.

Open Nguyen Hue Walking Street in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Open Bui Vien Walking Street in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

When to go and how long

Go on a Saturday or Sunday evening after 19:00, when Bui Vien is vehicle-free and open until 02:00.

Nearby and how to combine it

Ben Thanh Market is among the sights near Bui Vien. Saigon Skydeck is at 36 Ho Tung Mau and its operator page lists 09:30 to 21:30 every day. See also Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office and the things to do pillar.

One evening: reach Nguyen Hue from 19:00, walk to the river, then continue to Bui Vien.

Before you go

• Plan for a Saturday or Sunday evening after 19:00.
• Keep a hand on your bag and phone, given the pickpocketing case.
• Say no to unwanted offers; police said patrols target aggressive solicitation and overcharging.
• Skip laughing gas, which suspects described as a banned item for sale.
• Agree prices before you order, since overcharging is a named target of police patrols.

Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (Nguyen Hue Walking Street on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), Bui Vien Walking Street on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)) by yuichi sasaki, Brian Loh, Phu Nguyenvan, Nhen Vang, Marcel Koss, Sharon Wegner.

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Not confirmed: The city has not published a standing current notice for weekend vehicle bans on either street, only event notices such as the Tet flower street. The hours here are the newest found: 2024 for Bui Vien and 2019 for Nguyen Hue. Arrive after 19:00 and read the street signs.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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