Sloppy as 'clothes flood the sidewalks' of Vinh city

(Baonghean.vn) - Pushcarts made from iron poles with two extra legs and wheels have become mobile clothing stalls appearing all over Vinh city. These types of clothing businesses encroach on sidewalks and even use the road to sell their goods, causing traffic congestion.

Street vendors encroach on the sidewalks of Vinh City. Photo taken on Ngu Hai Street (Thanh Tam)

With a 4m long iron bar attached to 2 legs about 1.5m high with wheels underneath for easy movement, Ms. Tuyet's mobile clothing store in block 14, Cua Nam ward has existed on the sidewalk of Ngu Hai street (right at the intersection with Thai Phien street) for more than 2 years now.

Dozens of clothes of all kinds are hung tightly on the mobile rack, not only occupying the pedestrian lane but also blocking the view of traffic participants when passing through this intersection. This type of selling without a store or business registration has been applied by hundreds of people in Vinh City for a long time. "Sometimes the authorities come to clear and confiscate the goods, I have to pay a fine, then continue selling in the alleys" - Ms. Pham Thi Tuyet said.

Mobile clothing stalls encroach on the sidewalk and cover up sloppily, spoiling the urban beauty on Thai Phien Street (Vinh City). Photo: Thanh Tam

Thai Phien Street, connecting Tran Phu Street to Ngu Hai Street, is about 200 meters long but has nearly a dozen sidewalk clothing stores like Ms. Tuyet's. Not only do they display their clothes and occupy the entire sidewalk for pedestrians, these businesses also stretch tarps and use umbrellas, making the sidewalk on this street even more untidy.

“I often take my grandchild to school at the Viet Duc Cultural House and have to go through this road. They put up a whole row of clothes covering the sidewalk, so my grandchild and I have to walk down the road for a long distance,” complained Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao of Hong Son ward.

Every day, starting from 4 pm, about 30-40 clothing carts occupy the sidewalk of Tran Phu street, the area next to Big C supermarket. Sellers and buyers are bustling, passersby park their vehicles on the street, freely choosing to buy, causing chaos and obstructing traffic.

On Nguyen Trai Street, past Quan Banh Market, there are dozens of carts selling on the sidewalk, taking up the entire pedestrian path.

Clothing stalls occupy the sidewalk of Nguyen Trai Street. Photo by Thanh Tam

Vinh City is focusing on clearing sidewalk encroachments and traffic safety corridors. Accordingly, to resolve the situation of clothing businesses using pushcarts encroaching on sidewalks, obstructing traffic and causing urban aesthetic loss, the functional forces of wards and communes need to strictly handle violations.

The city leaders are also considering a plan to create a market for street vendors to do business, creating a livelihood for many households. If this is done, it will not only solve the problem of encroachment on sidewalks, restore urban order, create jobs and prevent tax losses for street vendors.

The sidewalk of Tran Phu Street, past Big C supermarket, has been turned into a pushcart clothing market every afternoon, occupying the entire pedestrian lane, with many mobile vendors even occupying the roadway. Photo: Thanh Tam

“I used to sell clothes in Cua Nam flower garden. Since the city did not allow me to sell in that area, I have moved to sell on the sidewalk of Thai Phien street. I know that selling on the sidewalk is a violation and I will be evicted and fined, it is tiring. I just hope that the city will plan a place for us to do stable business..." - Ms. Ngoc Anh, a mobile clothing seller shared.

Mr. Tung, a clothing business owner in block 13, Cua Nam ward, said: "In Vinh city, there is Cao Thang street leading to Vinh market, which is usually deserted at night. I think if we plan to turn it into a night market for street vendors, the problem of encroachment on the sidewalk will be solved."

» Vinh City Party Secretary: There will be a plan to arrange for sidewalk vendors

» What do Vinh city residents say about the sidewalk clearance campaign?

Thanh Tam