In Hanoi, the Pho Tay (streets for foreign backpackers) is located at the T-junction of Ta Hien - Luong Ngoc Quyen - Dinh Liet while in Phan Thiet, foreign tourists visit the streets of Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Ham Tien.
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Hanoi has three areas known as Pho Tay but the busiest and most famous is the T-junction of Ta Hien - Dinh Liet - Luong Ngoc Quyen. The whole area is located in the Hanoi Old Quarter.
During the day, the shops here operate normally but at nightfall, chairs and tables are arranged on the pavement and even the roadbed to serve foreign travelers and locals with street food includingdraft beer, nem chua, cheese sticks.
The next point is the area around the Hanoi Cathedral, including Nha Chung, Nha Tho, Ly Quoc Su and Au Trieu streets. Foreign tourists come here for the ancient beauty of Hanoi. There are many European-style cafes here, such as Paris Deli, Moca or La Place ...
The area around the West Lake, especially places near the Sheraton Hotel, Xuan Dieu Street or the Tay Ho Temple, attracts large numbers of foreign visitors. Different from the two above places, the West Lake is the home to many expats living and working in Hanoi. The Pho Tay here has a plenty of luxury restaurants, cafes, and hotels.
Hue
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The Pho Tay in the ancient capital city of Hue is Pham Ngu Lao Street, with a length of 200m. The most beautiful road in Hue runs along the Huong (Perfume) River. Though it welcomes a large number of international travelers, Pham Ngu Lao Street still retains the quiet features of the ancient city.
The street is the busiest at night when visitors gather here to enjoy food and relax after a day visiting the ancient palace and royal tombs.
As the street for foreign tourists, shops here have signboards in both English and Vietnamese.
Nha Trang
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The small roads along the coastline as Hung Vuong, Tran Phu, Biet Thu, Tran Quang Khai and Nguyen Thien Thuat are named “Pho Tay” of Nha Trang City. This area was formed in 1995 with the first restaurant named Cafe Desami on Biet Thu Road.
The centre of the “Phot Tay” is Biet Thu Road, the home to many small souvenir shops with natural and impressive décor and many motels, hotels, restaurants, internet shops, phone shops or motorbike rental shops.
The busiest time of Pho Tay is in the evening but even during this time, the street is still quietand comfortable.
Phan Thiet
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The roads of Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Ham Tien are the Pho Tay of Phan Thiet. This area was formed only after the total eclipse phenomenon occurred in 1995.
Phan Thiet’s Pho Tay is also the home to diverse services for tourists such as hotels, souvenir shops, bars, laundry service, massage, bike rental shops… Unlike Hanoi and Saigon, shops here use signboards in many foreign languages such as Russian, English, French, and Japanese. Many shops are owned by foreigners.
Night is the busiest time here and gift shops stay open overnight. Visitors can find unique gifts anytime. Security is also very good here.
Dalat
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Less than 1km long, the curved and steep street of Truong Cong Dinh is the famous address of foreign tourists in the resort city of Dalat. Like the “Pho Tay” in Nha Trang, this street is quite peaceful but very interesting.
Located next to the offices of travel companies, the street is the home to many cafes, restaurants and bars of artistic style such as My Town, ART ...
The good feature of Dalat’s Pho Tay is the absence of vendors and bargaining or overcharging. The Pho Tay is expanding to the surrounding streets like Tang Bat Ho, Phan Boi Chau and Nguyen Van Troi.
Saigon
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The “Pho Tay – Saigon” is the common name of the area covering the streets of Pham Ngu Lao, Bui Vien, De Tham, Do Quang Dau and the neighboring areas, in Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
This area is the home to a lot of hotels, motels, restaurants, travel centers and travel services for foreign backpackers. "Pho Tay" has become a familiar address and the gathering place of foreign visitors to the city.
The living rhythm in “Pho Tay” is always fast and noisy, especially at night. During the daytime, foreign visitors can travel to other places but at night, they return to “Pho Tay” to relax, entertain and experience the pavement life of Saigon. The night in “Pho Tay” is colorful in lights and the colors of varied culture.
“Pho Tay” does not sleep at night, with a lot of fun, sadness and happiness in the life span of Saigon.
