The public toilet system in Vinh City is illogical.

Public restrooms are difficult to identify.

According to Decision No. 265/QD-UBND dated January 19, 2012, of the People's Committee approving the planning for the construction of traffic junctions, overpasses, parking lots, and public restrooms, Vinh City is planned to have 72 public restrooms. Specifically, 10 main streets running along the city center will have public restrooms. In addition, other areas such as Cao Thang night street, Vinh Ancient Citadel night food market, Hung Dung market, the Provincial Labor Culture House, Vinh Tan Lake Park, Truong Thi market, etc., are allocated at least one public restroom in each area.

The public restrooms within Nguyen Tat Thanh Park, which were leased to a single business owner, are now in a state of severe disrepair. Photo: NH

Public restrooms in Quang Trung Ward. Photo: Dao Tuan

According to a survey, some public restrooms in Vinh City are being misused and are severely dilapidated. In the Ho Goong area, the public restrooms are in serious disrepair and have been encroached upon; in the Quang Trung ward, the long-standing public restrooms are being used as advertising spaces...

The public restrooms at Ben Thuy Gas Station are separately located and open 24/7, but due to the lack of signage, many people are unaware of their availability. (Photo: NH)

Furthermore, the primary purpose of most of the original restrooms was to serve customers parking their vehicles, shopping at markets, or buying gasoline. Therefore, even though they were later incorporated into urban planning for public use, there is an oversupply of public restrooms but a shortage. "I frequently travel the Vinh - Quỳnh Lưu route daily by bus, often arriving early in the city. Sometimes I can't find a public restroom, which has been frustrating. Many people suggest using gas stations or parking lots, but since I don't shop or park, I feel more awkward," said Mr. Hồ Châu, a passenger from Sơn Hải (Quỳnh Lưu).

Public toilets at the old Vinh Bus Station and Cua Bac Market have been removed due to the bus station's relocation, but new ones have not yet been added as part of the plan. Photo: NH

The public restrooms at the five-way intersection in Hung Dung ward (former Customs roundabout) have recently been renovated but are located within the gas station's premises, making them difficult to spot. Photo: NH

The above reality shows that, in Vinh City, although there are public restrooms on main streets and in the city center, people are not easily aware of them. In addition, major areas such as Ho Chi Minh Square, Cao Thang night street, and Thanh Co night market, which are often crowded, currently have too few restrooms and are inconvenient to access.

Shortcomings in investment and operation.

Further investigation revealed that because Vinh City lacked a dedicated public restroom system plan, and only submitted a plan to the Provincial People's Committee for approval in 2012, implementation was quite reactive. Investing in a cluster of existing public restrooms costs no less than several hundred million dong, and besides investment resources, land is also scarce. Therefore, the only solution is to combine existing public service facilities with those of other entities, making their restrooms available for public use.

The public restrooms in the square area have indicator lights for identification but are not connected to the outside. Photo: NH

For that reason, the city has recently worked with parking lot managers, market managers, and petroleum companies to renovate and convert restroom facilities at markets, gas stations, and bus terminals into shared spaces.

However, the operation also has drawbacks, such as the fact that the restrooms at gas stations are not labeled as shared facilities, so not everyone knows about them or uses them. In addition, some restrooms at bus stations, market management offices, and historical sites are located deep within the premises and lack signage, making them difficult for visitors and locals to locate.

The area on the sidewalk of Ho Tung Mau Street near Pho Hoa Cafe will be renovated and additional public restrooms will be installed after the pedestrian street becomes operational. In addition, the city will also invest in another public restroom at 49 Ho Tung Mau Street. (Photo: NH)

Furthermore, according to a recent survey by the City's Urban Management Department, the toilet facilities in the markets are dilapidated and do not meet hygiene standards; 11 out of a total of 31 markets, parking lots, and gas stations still lack toilet facilities as required by regulations. Some areas with high transient population density, such as the Cua Bac Market Bus Station or the Quang Trung Zone C, are supposed to have public toilets according to the plan, but these are currently hampered by planning issues, the relocation of the bus station, and the demolition of existing toilet facilities without replacement.

The gas station on Le Duan Street, Trung Do Ward, has a public restroom, but because it's located quite far from the station, few customers or residents know about or use it, except for those buying gasoline. Photo: NH

In response to the aforementioned shortcomings, the City People's Committee is conducting a survey and preparing to supplement the planning for submission to the province for approval. This will include the addition of public restrooms in the night market and pedestrian streets; simultaneously, the People's Committees of the wards are tasked with encouraging households and businesses operating in the night market and pedestrian streets to commit to providing public restrooms for customers.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Duc - Head of Urban Management Department of Vinh City

According to many residents, to make public restrooms easily identifiable, from the design stage, authorities should require consulting and design firms to include separate lighting and signage systems for public restrooms so that people can easily see and recognize them. Furthermore, in the long term, after upgrading and renovating, the city should establish regulations for the effective operation and management of public restrooms, combined with business stalls at public tourist destinations.

List of public restrooms in Vinh City:

- Vinh Market, Vinh University Market, Cau Kenh Bac Market, Hung Loc Market, Hung Chinh Market, Dong Vinh Market.

- Ben Thuy Petrol Station, Quan Bau Petrol Station, Quan Banh Petrol Station, Mai Hac De Petrol Station, Hung Phuc Petrol Station, Hung Dung Petrol Station, Military Petrol Station of Military Region 4 on Le Duan Street, Le Duan Petrol Station, 26 Nguyen Sy Sach Petrol Station, Hung Loc Petrol Station.

- Parking areas on the road leading up to Dung Quyet Mountain; Central Park, Nguyen Tat Thanh Park, Ho Chi Minh Square area.

Nguyen Hai