Shabby when 'clothes overflow 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 Vinh City sidewalks. 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 on a 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 themselves up haphazardly, spoiling the urban beauty on Thai Phien Street (Vinh City). Photo: Thanh Tam

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

“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 entire 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 at 4pm, about 30-40 clothing carts take up the entire sidewalk of Tran Phu Street, the area next to Big C supermarket. Sellers and buyers are bustling, passersby park their vehicles on the street, carelessly 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 lane.

Clothing stores 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.

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

The sidewalk of Tran Phu Street, past Big C supermarket, has turned into a pushcart clothing market every afternoon, encroaching on 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, which 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 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