According to records, on major roads such as Hai Ba Trung - Phan Dinh Phung (Cau Kieu ward), Phan Dang Luu - Hoang Van Thu (Phu Nhuan ward) or some points on Vo Nguyen Giap Avenue (section from Saigon Bridge to Thu Duc intersection), people often have to move under the harsh sun.
These road sections lack green trees, in some places there are almost no trees covering them, causing the road surface temperature to rise, and the heat splashing up makes the air even more stuffy. This situation clearly affects vehicle drivers and pedestrians, creating a feeling of suffocation throughout the journey.
Regularly having to go through major roads in the center to deliver goods, Mr. Quoc Trung (resident of Tan Binh ward) shared: "Driving on the street from about 11 am to 3 pm now is really a challenge. There are long sections of road, both sides are just high-rise buildings or construction fences, not finding green trees to shelter from the sun when stopping at red lights. Even though I have shielded carefully, I still feel burnt. At such times, I just hope to have rows of green trees to soothe the scorching heat of the city".
As a student who often has to move between school facilities, Dieu Anh (resident of Xuan Hoa ward) said: "Every time I stop at a red light, I often try to find shade under the trees to feel more comfortable. On some roads, for infrastructure construction, green trees are moved, making the road surface clearer and the sun harder. There are places with shade, but sparse enough to soothe the body. Hopefully after the projects are completed, green trees will be replanted soon so that we can be strong enough to overcome this harsh weather.
Recently, to prepare a clean site for handover to Metro Line 2 project, dozens of workers of Ho Chi Minh City Green Parks One Member Limited Liability Company have deployed pruning, transplanting and cutting down a series of green trees along Truong Chinh street. This is a key item to serve the construction of S10 underground station - an important link of the entire route.
Although it is known that the dismantling of green trees is a mandatory requirement to prioritize key public works, this cannot help but make many people regret it, especially when the city is entering the peak of hot weather and the need for shade to cool down is becoming more urgent than ever.
Urban experts believe that the percentage of green space per capita in Ho Chi Minh City is currently only about 0.5 - 0.7m2/person, much lower than cities in the region such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok... Lack of shade not only reduces the quality of life but also affects the image of a modern and friendly city.
To overcome this, the city has set a goal to increase the area of public green space and continue to expand parks. People expect these solutions to be implemented soon to restore shade to the roads, helping to reduce heat and create a more comfortable living space.
