Le Loi Street Hue

During your visit to Hue, if you come across Le Loi Street you will experience life vibrating with extra energy. Hawkers and shop owners selling stationery art works and souvenirs adjusting the display of their goods are the general view of this busy street. Passers by going through newspapers, having coffee; taxi drivers asking everyone for ride; foreigners looking for oriental souvenirs to take back home-what a scenario perfectly matched with the traffic hums on this three-lane street.

Le Loi (1385-1433) whose reign spanned almost a century (1428-1527) and after whom the street has been named led a successful resurrection army and fought against the Qing invaders for 10 years.

While purchasing paintings or wooden miniatures you may have a look at the street where hawkers have their trade flourish selling candies, chewing gum and cigarettes. Named Rue No.13 in 1955 and Bonard from 1865 onwards, the 1km-long Le Loi Street hosts stationery wholesalers, camera and souvenir shops.

Starting from Bon Ken (the fountain at the crossing of Le Loi and Nguyen Hue streets) toward Ben Thanh Market, the right side of the street was dominated by some book shops and houses of some of the richest people in HCM City.

Previously there were two lines of small stalls selling fabrics and old books on this street. The crossing with Pasteur Street towards Vinh Loi Cinema formerly called Bonard Cinema during the French is now replaced by the Kim Do Business Centre.

Apart from shopping at this street many people want to go for a stroll which is fun just to walk and look around.

Young men used to sit drinking coffee or eating ice-cream outside at the Mai Huong Ice Cream shop which has now been named Bach Dang Ice Cream shop at the corner of Le Loi and Pasteur streets. Watching beautiful young girls passing by and dreaming of possible romances was enjoyed by the young men.

This is also a place for book-lovers who used to flock in large numbers to the biggest book shop Khai Tri (Mind-Opener) in the street. The shop has now been called Sai Gon Book shop.

Despite the changes, Le Loi Street continue to attract people wanting a place to stroll and do some window-shopping. Sai Gon Tax Trading Centre was a spot together with the bookstores and the cinema.