From May 2024, District 1 (before rearranging the boundaries) is the first locality to pilot the leasing of sidewalks and roadways for business and trading. At that time, Mr. D.M. H (55 years old) - a small trader with decades of experience selling goods on Phan Chu Trinh street, Ben Thanh ward - registered and paid sidewalk usage fees for one year.
By May 2025, he will continue to pay additional fees for the following year. However, by November 2025, Ho Chi Minh City will abolish Decision 32/2023/QD-UBND dated July 26, 2023 on temporary management and use of a part of the roadway and sidewalk in the area. Cases where fees have been paid annually will continue to be used until the license or approval expires.
Each year I pay more than 12 million VND for the business area, calculated at more than 1 million VND per month. This fee is very reasonable for me to sell goods properly, without having to be constantly worried" - Mr. H. shared.
According to Mr. H., at the age of over 50, his health no longer allows him to "run" every time there is a inspection campaign like when he was young. Trading on the sidewalk is not only a livelihood but also a main source of income to raise his children to study. "I hope the city will continue to allow registration for street vendors and business on the sidewalk in suitable areas" - Mr. H. expressed.
One of the issues that concerns small traders no less is the situation of "accidental exposure" due to unconscious business households. Ms. T. (a small trader selling fruit on Phan Chu Trinh street) - who is proud that her stall is always neatly lined with paint - said she is very tired of witnessing many other people encroaching a little further, causing the pedestrian path to narrow.
Ms. T. confided: "The difficulty here is "a few bad apples spoil the whole barrel". I sit on the right line, but the surrounding houses keep encroaching a little, then adding a little more. When functional agencies go to inspect, they cannot only handle each individual individual individually but must solve the whole route at the same time. So even if I do it right, I will be stuck together, eliminated, really very tired and disadvantaged".
Therefore, instead of completely stopping sidewalk leasing, Ms. T. as well as many other small traders want to continue to maintain leasing but accompanied by strict management sanctions. "Hopefully the State will resolve it thoroughly, whoever violates will be severely punished, so that those who do the right things like us can have peace of mind to do business".
When asked about moving to concentrated business complexes, most small traders are hesitant because of the worry of losing regular customers and not being suitable for people's convenient shopping habits.
Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction issued a document guiding localities on the management and collection of fees for temporary use of roads and sidewalks. Notably, in this new regulation, the city has officially removed business services and goods trading from the list of cases allowed to temporarily use sidewalks.
According to the new guidance, sidewalks are only allowed to be used temporarily in the following cases: Organizing socio-political, cultural, and sports activities; Disaster prevention, rescue, fire and explosion handling and epidemics; Serving construction works; organizing funerals and weddings; Parking in necessary cases.
