The 2024 Road Law and the 2024 Road Traffic Order and Safety Law, effective from January 1, 2025 (the Law), have made adjustments to the previous Road Traffic Law to be more suitable to reality.
Accordingly, people are still allowed to temporarily use roads and sidewalks for other purposes, but must have permission from competent authorities.
Over the past years, the use of streets and sidewalks to hold weddings and funerals at home has become more and more common, so it is urgent to issue new regulations on organizing activities on the streets.
Still building a tent blocking the road
According to Lao Dong reporters, in the early days when the Law took effect, there were no cases of people setting up tents for weddings on some streets in Ho Chi Minh City. However, in alleys and lanes, images of tents blocking people's paths still appeared.
Having worked as a delivery man for over 5 years, Mr. Duong Quyet Tien (28 years old, living in Tan Binh) said that he had to deliver goods to customers at his neighbor's house many times because he could not overcome the "obstacle" of the wedding hall.
“Once I delivered a refrigerator to a guest house and there was a wedding tent blocking the way. Not knowing what to do, after discussing it for a while, the guest told me to leave it at the neighbor’s house and bring it in tonight,” said Mr. Tien.
At the time of talking to the reporter, Mr. Tien was also "stuck" with an engagement party theater right in alley 416 Lac Long Quan (Ward 5, District 11, HCMC).
"I think it's not good to organize the event on the whole street like this, so we should leave a small path for people to walk around, everyone will be happy," said Mr. Tien.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Loi (living in District 11) said that knowing it was a happy day, people were understanding and allowed to encroach on the road a little, but they had to do it neatly and leave a path for vehicles to pass.
“Vietnam has specific regulations on setting up wedding tents, and also clearly states the penalties for setting up tents that encroach on the road like this, but many people still deliberately violate the regulations. In my opinion, the penalties should be increased so that similar problems do not recur and affect people's lives,” said Ms. Loi.
Create conditions for people but must comply with regulations
In November 2024, a wedding tent was built on Trung My Tay 17A Street (District 12, Ho Chi Minh City) occupying half of the road, stretching more than 100m, causing traffic difficulties in the area, causing frustration for many people traveling through this section of the road.
Mr. Thai Viet Hung (43 years old, living in District 12) said that the theater was built near a school and some government agencies, and played loud music, affecting people living in the area.
“I think setting up a tent right on a busy road like that is very unsafe. The party host certainly won’t be able to foresee dangerous traffic situations, so prevention is the best. You shouldn’t set up a tent in the middle of the road, but should choose a restaurant to hold the event, which is both safe and cozy,” said Mr. Hung.
The People's Committee of Trung My Tay Ward (District 12, Ho Chi Minh City) said that the locality has received information related to a household setting up a wedding tent in the middle of the road. At the same time, the unit has also directed to invite the related household to the Ward People's Committee to work immediately afterwards.
According to a representative of the People's Committee of Trung My Tay Ward (District 12), this household asked permission from the ward and the ward police to set up a tent to hold their child's wedding. However, the tent was set up too large, extending nearly half the length of the road, obstructing traffic.
“The local government always creates conditions for people to comply with regulations. However, the locality has not yet provided specific instructions for people to comply so as not to affect traffic. In case of violations, there will be penalties according to the law," said a representative of the People's Committee of Trung My Tay Ward.
