View photo

A test-flight to examine the passenger transport capacity of a helicopter route between downtown Ho Chi Minh City and local airports has been approved by local authorities. The Southern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH South) is scheduled to test a helicopter route between the Saigon Times Square building at 22-30 Nguyen Hue Street in District 1 and two local airports in southern Vietnam today, June 9. Unlike the first test flight on May 5, which evaluated a new helipad on the Saigon Times Square’s rooftop, this test will assess the helicopter’s capacity for passenger transport. The flight was approved on May 30 by the Department of Operations under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's. Managers of the Saigon Times Square building are currently negotiating a long-term contract with VNH South to offer VIP transport services to the Times Square leadership team and guests of the Reverie Saigon Hotel, located inside the building. The chopper...

  Bui Vien backpacker street is saved for pedestrians only from July 15. Photo by VnExpress/Van Trai     Revel in vehicle-free bliss and party into the night in the city's most popular tourist district. Saigon's famous backpacker enclave around Bui Vien Street in District 1 will be reserved exclusively for pedestrians from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from July 15. Stages for live music performances are being put up along the street, the city government announced on Thursday, saying that it will install cameras and deploy security guards to monitor the area. During this time, vendors will be allowed to display their merchandise on the sidewalks, but not on the road. Free wifi and public toilets will also be available. Tran Vinh Tuyen, the city’s vice chairman, said authorities would do their best to make the pedestrian street attractive to both local and foreigner visitors. The tourist area in District 1’s Pham Ngu Lao...