The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just issued a document directing the management of construction, installation and handling of advertising signs, propaganda information signs, and political propaganda in the area of road infrastructure protection.
Ho Chi Minh City will not consider approving the new construction of advertising signs and other works combined with advertising on land reserved for road protection and maintenance.
The Department of Construction, Department of Culture and Sports and People's Committees of localities are assigned not to resolve dossiers requesting the construction of these works in order to prioritize the use of sidewalks for pedestrians, traffic signal systems and technical infrastructure works.
For existing billboards on sidewalks or medians, the city requires review, inspection and handling according to each specific case.
Works that have been approved before January 1, 2025 and meet traffic safety and structure requirements are allowed to continue to exist, but the extension period does not exceed 24 months. In cases that do not meet the conditions according to regulations, they must be self-dismantled within one month from the date of receiving notification from the functional agency.
For projects built after January 1, 2025, without permits or with expired approval periods, investors must dismantle them within one month. If they do not comply, functional agencies will organize coercion according to regulations. The city requests to complete the handling of these cases in the third quarter of 2026.
For propaganda and political propaganda signs that do not combine advertising, the city does not encourage new installations on sidewalks and medians. Existing works will be assessed for safety to consider dismantling or allowing temporary existence.
Regarding the multi-purpose information station model combined with mobile base transceiver station (BTS), the Department of Science and Technology is assigned to take the lead in reviewing all stations installed in the area to propose appropriate handling plans. New installation cases must complete procedures according to regulations.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Culture and Sports to urgently complete and advise on the promulgation of Regulations on advertising management activities in the city to strengthen management, ensure traffic safety and effectively use public space.
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.
Some pile foundations are still overlapping with water supply, electricity, telecommunications, drainage, lighting and green tree systems, causing difficulties for the management and operation of urban infrastructure.
