To make public restrooms 'as comfortable as home'

(Baonghean.vn) -While Vinh City is struggling with a shortage of public restrooms, the Vinh City Youth Union has come up with the idea of ​​utilizing the restrooms of cafes to create public restroom facilities.

Following the directive of the Standing Committee of the Vinh City Party Committee on building a civilized urban city in Vinh in 2017, the Vinh City Youth Union, in coordination with the Provincial Youth Union, launched a campaign to install public restrooms for citizens at cafes. To date, the Vinh City Youth Union has installed signs for 3 public restrooms.

The sign was placed in front of the shop, in a location easily visible to passersby. Photo: Phuong Thuy

The Vinh City Youth Union has piloted the installation of public restrooms at three locations: two cafes on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street and one cafe on Le Mao Street. Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, the owner of the cafe participating in the pilot project on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, said: “Being one of the first cafes to install public restrooms makes me very happy because I have contributed a small part to the city and provided convenience for the people. We will try even harder to coordinate and upgrade the restrooms to ensure cleanliness for users.”

The signpost leading to the public restroom at a cafe on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. Photo: Phuong Thuy

The placement of these public restrooms has been supported by many residents. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue from Hung Dung ward said: “When the government introduced regulations imposing fines of millions of dong for urinating in public places, we were very pleased with the news of attaching public restrooms to cafes in Vinh City. We hope to have more public restrooms to reduce indiscriminate urination, contributing to environmental protection and preserving urban aesthetics.”

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

"Sometimes, walking around the whole city without finding a single public restroom feels very frustrating. When we heard that from now on, Vinh City will have many clean and well-equipped public restrooms without having to go far, we were very excited," shared Mr. Nguyen Van An from Hung Binh ward.

Located in easily accessible locations.However, many people are hesitant and unfamiliar with using public restrooms.Photo: Phuong Thuy

However, many people are still hesitant and unfamiliar with the use of public restrooms in cafes.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hue from Ha Huy Tap ward said: "If the penalties for urinating and defecating in public places are strictly enforced, then investment in building public restrooms should be prioritized. But I still feel uneasy going to a cafe just to use the restroom, not for coffee."

"I'm a very clean person, and sometimes public restrooms aren't up to standard, so even when I need to, I try to go home to relieve myself," shared Mr. Nguyen Trong Nam from Ben Thuy ward.

Phuong Thuy