Efforts are being made to expedite the renovation of Le Hong Phong and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets in Vinh City.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Le Hong Phong streets are two key routes currently under development.Vinh CityThe project involves renovation and upgrading with a total investment of 220 billion VND. After the upgrade and expansion are completed, it promises to bring about significant changes in the inner city area...

These days, the two roads are bustling with machinery, construction workers, and building materials. Businesses along these roads are eagerly anticipating the upcoming Tet holiday, which is also the peak business season of the year.

Ms. Cao Thi Vinh, owner of a restaurant on Le Hong Phong Street, said: "Urban beautification efforts to make streets more modern are something that people support. However, the construction and road digging have actually affected our businesses."

“My restaurant has seen a two-thirds drop in customers compared to before. There’s no parking, so customers have to go elsewhere, not to mention the dusty environment they’re eating in. The end of the year is the season when organizations and groups hold year-end gatherings and celebrations… In previous years, it was always crowded, but this year it’s just unbearable. Meanwhile, the rent is over 100 million VND per year, and we’ve already paid the landlord. We used to have three staff members, but now we only have one because we can’t cover the expenses. I just hope the road will be completed soon so I can do business with peace of mind and recoup the losses we’ve incurred over the past period…,” Ms. Vinh expressed.

It is known that Le Hong Phong Street is 2.1 km long, passing through four wards: Quang Trung, Hung Binh, Hung Phuc, and Truong Thi. Located in the center of Vinh City, the street always has a high volume of traffic. Many agencies, organizations, schools, and businesses are located along this road. These are also the groups most heavily affected during the road construction process.

Ms. Vinh's sentiment reflects the concerns of many businesses along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. A representative from a large fashion shop on the street stated: "The period leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) is when our store imports many new clothing, shoes, and cosmetics to serve customers during the holiday. However, due to the ongoing road construction, customer numbers have dropped sharply. This year's Tet season will likely see lower-than-expected revenue. Our hope is that the city will soon complete the site preparation and sidewalk construction so that we can temporarily conduct business during Tet. Other aspects of the project can be addressed later…"

It is known that Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street has a total length of nearly 1.4km, consisting of two sections. The section from Le Loi to the Le Hong Phong intersection is 289m long, and the section from the Le Hong Phong intersection to the Provincial Post Office intersection is nearly 1.1km long. This is a bustling business street in Vinh City. Therefore, it is understandable that shop owners are anxious about the lack of customers during this pre-Tet period.

According to our findings, many construction projects are currently underway on these two roads, including widening the roadbed, renovating sidewalks, installing curbs, paving drainage ditches, replacing trees, burying power lines underground, and installing drainage systems. Among these, the project of greatest concern to residents is the renovation of sidewalks to provide space for businesses during the Tet holiday.

Regarding this issue, a representative from the Vinh City Project Management Board stated that the renovation of these two streets is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2024. However, the need for business space for residents is a legitimate concern, and the unit is making efforts to expedite the progress.

Regarding Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street, the underground infrastructure and tree replacement are basically complete, and sidewalk paving and surface restoration are underway. The goal is to complete the sidewalk renovation before the Lunar New Year.

Regarding Le Hong Phong Street, due to the large volume of work (almost twice the length of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street), completing the entire surface before Tet is very difficult. Currently, the unit is striving to complete the renovation and paving of sidewalks from the customs island to the Nguyen Van Cu intersection. The remaining sections will be concreted to provide a temporary surface for people to conduct business during Tet.