To make public toilets 'as comfortable as home'

(Baonghean.vn) -While Vinh city is struggling with the lack of public toilets, Vinh City Youth Union has come up with the idea of ​​utilizing the toilets of coffee shops to coordinate the construction of public toilets.

Implementing the direction plan of the Vinh City Party Committee Standing Committee on building a civilized urban city in Vinh in 2017, Vinh City Youth Union has coordinated with the Provincial Youth Union to install public toilets for people at coffee shops. Up to now, Vinh City Youth Union has installed signs at 3 public toilets.

The sign is mounted in front of the shop, in a position that is easy for passersby to see. Photo: Phuong Thuy

Vinh City Youth Union has piloted the installation of public toilets at 3 locations. Specifically, at 2 coffee shops on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street and 1 coffee shop on Le Mao Street. Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - owner of the pilot coffee shop installing public toilets on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, said: "Being one of the first shops to install public toilets with the coffee shop, I feel very happy because I have contributed a small part to the city and the convenience for the people. We will try harder to coordinate and upgrade the toilets to ensure cleanliness for users."

Directions to the public restroom of a coffee shop on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. Photo: Phuong Thuy

The arrangement of this public toilet is supported by many people. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue in Hung Dung ward said: "When the government has regulations on fines for public urination up to millions of dong, we very much welcome the information about attaching public toilets to coffee shops in Vinh city. We hope to have more public toilets to limit the situation of public urination, contribute to environmental protection, and preserve urban beauty."

Inside, the toilets are clean and fully equipped at the pilot cafe on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. Photo: Phuong Thuy

"Sometimes, going around the city without finding any public toilets makes us feel very stuffy. When we heard that from now on, Vinh city will have many clean and fully equipped public toilets without having to go far, we were very excited" - Mr. Nguyen Van An in Hung Binh ward shared.

Located in easy to find locationsBut many people are hesitant and unfamiliar with using public toilets.Photo: Phuong Thuy

However, many people are still hesitant and unfamiliar with public toilets at coffee shops.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hue in Ha Huy Tap ward said: "If we strictly enforce the punishment for urinating and defecating in public, we need to focus on investing in building public toilets. But I still feel embarrassed when I don't drink coffee but just go to the shop to use the toilet."

"I am a very clean person, sometimes public restrooms are not guaranteed, so even though I am in a hurry, I still try to go home to "relieve myself", Mr. Nguyen Trong Nam in Ben Thuy ward shared.

Phuong Thuy