Vinh City 'unleashes' restrictions on sidewalk businesses.

(Baonghean) - After nDespite years of enforcement and penalties, the encroachment of sidewalks for business purposes continues daily. The city of Vinh has decided to pilot a program allowing households to temporarily use a portion of the sidewalk for business and trading.

Household businesses feel "freed from constraints."

Nguyen Van Huy, a university graduate with a degree in accounting, was waiting for a job when he and his family opened a beer and beverage shop on Phan Dang Luu Street (Truong Thi Ward). The monthly rent for the shop is 10 million VND, and to ensure business operations, they also need to hire three sales staff. According to Huy's calculations, to cover all expenses such as rent, wages, and taxes, the family's shop needs at least 4 million VND in revenue per day. The shop is only 4 meters wide, and customers prefer sitting outside on the sidewalk for a more airy atmosphere, so the family placed tables and chairs outside to increase customer traffic.

Previously, this business was penalized by authorities, with tables and chairs confiscated. But since June 2016, the family has been allowed by the city's People's Committee to temporarily use a portion of the sidewalk for tables, chairs, goods, and equipment for their business. Huy happily remarked, "This feels like a liberation. The business space isn't large, and customers prefer sitting on the sidewalk for a more open feel."

When the city allowed the temporary use of a portion of the sidewalk, a shop on Phan Dang Luu Street added more tables and chairs to serve its business.

That is also the general sentiment of hundreds of businesses along the four streets where the Vinh City People's Committee is piloting the use of a portion of the sidewalk for business purposes, including: Ho Tung Mau Street (Hung Binh and Truong Thi wards), Phan Dang Luu Street (Truong Thi ward); Le Hong Son and Cao Thang Streets (Hong Son ward).

These streets have approximately 270 businesses selling a variety of goods. Each business has signed a commitment with the local authorities to strictly adhere to the policy, using only one-third of the sidewalk for business purposes. City authorities will paint lines to define the areas of the sidewalk designated for tables, chairs, and goods, as well as areas for parking vehicles, while continuing to inspect and penalize violations.

This policy has been met with strong support from most businesses because it allows them to maximize the potential of their storefronts. In a situation where finding employment is difficult, operating a business on a street is seen as an effective livelihood solution for many households, meeting both the supply and demand needs of urban residents.

Strengthen management

This policy may be based on experience gained by Vinh City after many years of managing and learning from the practices of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other cities. Many cities even consider sidewalk businesses as a serious sector with the concept of "sidewalk economy."

The issue is that management needs to be more substantive, consistent, and serious. After being "freed," all businesses along the four streets are confident in their operations, maximizing the advantages of their permitted "street frontage." However, if they revert to their old habits, encroaching on the sidewalks with goods, sidewalk planning and management will revert to their old ways.

For example, along Le Hong Son Street (also known as Hong Son Street), dozens of businesses selling wholesale and retail goods on both sides of the street display their merchandise all over the sidewalks and park vehicles right in the middle of the road, obstructing traffic and detracting from urban aesthetics.

Ms. Hoang Thi H. owns a kiosk along this street and acts as an agent for a brand. Every day, she and her staff strictly adhere to regulations regarding the temporary use of a portion of the sidewalk. However, she complains about the encroachment and complete blockage of the sidewalk by many households:

“Many other households are encroaching in the same way, blocking the pedestrian walkway and even partially obscuring our kiosk. Some households initially complied, like my family, but later also brought out goods, encroaching on the prohibited areas of the sidewalk. We request that the authorities and the ward take strict action to ensure fairness and contribute to building a civilized street in accordance with the city's policy…”

Many businesses along Hong Son Street (Vinh City) have encroached entirely on the sidewalks.

Discussing this issue with Mr. Phan Thanh Son, Team Leader of the Urban Order Management Team, he stated: During the implementation process, the city directed households to sign commitments to maintain general hygiene, not violate regulations on ensuring security and order, and environmental sanitation; to clean up themselves, keep things tidy and clean... If any household violates these regulations, they will be completely banned from doing business.

During the implementation process, the Urban Management Team coordinated with the City Police and the wards to strengthen inspections, reminders, and penalties in some cases. However, the difficulty is that after the authorities leave, the local government has not strictly managed the situation, so the re-encroachment violations still occur, affecting the city's good policy of creating favorable conditions for businesses.

Nguyen Nguyen