Hue opens 3rd public plaza for nighttime amusement

On the first day on Sunday night thousands flocked to the place to watch dragon dances and street art performances.

It will be pedestrians-only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

There are over 20 restaurants and food stalls selling Hue specialties here.

Authorities renovated the sidewalks, planted trees and installed surveillance cameras at a cost of VND97 billion ($4 million).

This is the third such plaza after a second pedestrian zone was set up around the iconic Imperial Citadel beyond the backpacker area at the intersection of Vo Thi Sau, Chu Van An and Pham Ngu Lao streets.

Hue was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 until the end of feudalism in Vietnam in 1945.

The town is generally considered sleepy with little nightlife to speak of and just a few bars and cafes.

But it is expected to bustle next month when the VnExpress Marathon Hue takes place from April 14 to 16 with 10,000 runners and 70,000 tourists in attendance.