The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has just issued an urgent directive, assigning the Public Transport and Technical Infrastructure Management Center and the Urban Traffic Management and Operation Center (abbreviated as the Center) to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Culture and Sports, local authorities, functional forces and related units to conduct reviews, inspections, and handle advertising, propaganda, and political propaganda works within the scope of road infrastructure.
According to requirements, billboards (including billboards combined with propaganda information, political propaganda) placed on sidewalks and medians will be classified and processed into specific groups.
For projects approved for construction before January 1, 2025, functional agencies will organize inspections and assessments of the current status, level of impact on traffic safety and structural safety of the project. If necessary, technical inspection will be required.
Based on the evaluation results, if the project fully meets safety conditions, it may be considered to allow continued maintenance according to the issued document, with a maximum extension period of no more than 24 months.
Conversely, if the requirements are not met, the managing unit is forced to self-dismantle and return the sidewalk and median strip to the road management agency, with a implementation period of no more than 1 month from the date of receiving the notice.
For construction projects after January 1, 2025 or projects without permits, expiring the approval period of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Center is responsible for requesting the project owner to dismantle them themselves within 1 month.
In case of non-compliance, coercive measures will be applied according to their authority. If it falls under the management scope of the Center, this unit must develop a plan and process for dismantling, including cost estimates, plans for storing and handling assets, and submit them to the Department of Construction for approval to organize implementation.
For works under the management area of the commune level, the Center coordinates and guides the commune-level People's Committee to build and implement dismantling plans according to regulations.
For the group of propaganda and political propaganda signs without advertising, the Department of Construction requests to continue reviewing and assessing the level of impact on traffic safety and construction structures at sidewalks, medians and intersections. On that basis, functional agencies will consider requesting dismantling or allowing temporary existence.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction requests relevant units to urgently deploy tasks, and at the same time report on implementation results and handling proposals according to each content before July 15, 2026.
According to statistics, Ho Chi Minh City currently has nearly 1,000 advertising works on sidewalks, road corridors and areas related to traffic infrastructure.
In the period 2024 - 2025, Ho Chi Minh City Telecommunications has also installed 85 multi-purpose information stations combined with BTS stations on sidewalks at many central intersections.
According to the Department of Construction, the economic efficiency from advertising activities is not commensurate with the impacts on traffic infrastructure and public space.
Many works occupy sidewalks, not ensuring minimal walkways for pedestrians; some billboards are placed too close to the road surface or do not ensure a safe height.
In addition, many billboards obscure the traffic signal system, affecting the visibility of vehicle drivers.
