After more than a month of reopening, Vietnam has welcomed a considerably large number of international tourists back to the country. Bui Vien pedestrian street in Ho Chi Minh City, which is called "Westerners' street," becomes bustle again after a long break.

Westerners gradually return

From 10 pm, the bars and restaurants on Bui Vien street gradually become crowded. Unlike before the pandemic, most of the guests there are Vietnamese.

Foreigners customers have returned, but not as much as restaurant owners expect.

Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan, restaurant manager, said, after opening, not as many customers came to the restaurant as expected, but it was still an improvement. Although Vietnam has opened for international tourism, the number of Western visitors to the restaurant is still limited.

Most services are now open.

"I think about 20% of Western customers have returned, compared to the pre-pandemic days. Now, most of the customers coming to the shop are Vietnamese. Westerners used to go in big groups, now they only sit for a bit, drink a beer and then leave," she said.

The bustling atmosphere at Bui Vien pedestrian street after 10 pm.

Phan Thi Cam, a bar manager on Bui Vien, said: “Most foreigners who come to the bar live in Vietnam. We have not welcomed many tourists. I hope that after the pandemic, life will return to normal, the economic situation will be stable so that more tourists will come to Vietnam, more customers will come to the bar."

Staff welcomes guests at Bui Vien pedestrian street.

“In the past, this street was full of Westerners. I think that due to the complicated global situation, not many people choose to travel overseas. About 10% of my hotel's rooms are rented by Westerners. Due to the pandemic, all international tourists have returned home, and now they have not been back," said Pham Viet Dat.

"I have waited so long to return to Vietnam," says international tourist

Tarek and Pia, both are German, sat at a small street food stall at the end of Bui Vien Street. They said this was the ideal corner to enjoy the night view because of the quietness and gentle music.

"I am impressed at the crowded and upbeat vibe here. In my country, a cocktail or bottle of beer is 3-4 times more expensive than in Bui Vien. This area is great to relieve stress," said Tarek.

When they were informed that Vietnam opened to tourism on March 15, Tarek and Pia immediately booked a flight to Vietnam. The two have been in Ho Chi Minh City for nearly three weeks.

“Traveling in a Southeast Asian country like Vietnam is comfortable because visa procedures are quickly processed and we are not caught in a big crowd. Even if we are not fluent in English, we can still communicate because the people here are very friendly”, said Pia.

Lily and Martha, British, however, chose to sit at the busiest bar in the neighborhood to sway to the music. Both have been planning to travel to Vietnam for a long time. On the day Vietnam opened for tourists, they booked tickets, prepared documents, and visas, and hit the road.

Lily said the atmosphere at Bui Vien was far different from what she imagined. “Good beer, loud music, colorful lights, it's all great!"

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