In Da Nang, clearing sidewalks demands consistency, not one-off campaign

Nguyen Ha Nam, director of the municipal Department of Construction, stated that maintaining sidewalk order, environmental sanitation, and urban aesthetics must be treated as ongoing responsibilities.

“Clearing sidewalks cannot be a one-time effort, but must lead to real changes in how people think and act to improve the face of the city,” he said.

Before Da Nang introduced regulations banning sidewalk trading, the encroachment of public walkways for private business was commonplace in major cities nationwide.

Food stalls, coffee shops, or even establishments with spacious interiors often spilled tables, chairs, and equipment onto sidewalks.

Having run his coffee shop for over 20 years on Dong Da Street, one of Da Nang’s prime commercial arteries, T. said that limiting service to indoor space would not only reduce capacity but also deter customers who prefer the open-air experience.

“Most customers like sitting outside for the view and the atmosphere. If we don’t use the sidewalk, we lose business,” he explained.

Truong Thanh Dung, chairman of Hoa Cuong Ward, reported that 198 households in the ward lack fixed business premises.

While some are low-income vendors relying on sidewalk trade for their livelihoods, many others are property owners extending their operations into public space.

The ward has set an ambitious goal of returning 100 percent of sidewalks to pedestrians.

Authorities have launched an intensive campaign to persuade residents to remove obstacles such as potted plants, awnings, and temporary structures.

Households have been given five days to comply voluntarily, after which enforcement measures will follow, Dung said.

Similarly, in Hai Chau Ward, a busy hub for tourism and commerce, some 200 households lack permanent business locations.

As such, local officials have been conducting daily outreach, urging compliance while reinforcing the broader policy direction.

First-time violators are reminded and asked to sign commitments before stricter penalties are applied.

The city’s approach combines enforcement with urban planning adjustments.

Alongside public awareness campaigns, Da Nang plans to repaint and reorganize sidewalk space using a simplified ‘single-line’ marking system.

This designates an outer strip for motorbike parking and reserves an inner lane ranging from one to three meters wide for pedestrians.

Beyond sidewalk clearance, the campaign also targets broader urban improvements, Nam said.

Authorities are reorganizing traffic signage, removing illegal advertisements, and restructuring waste collection points, as part of a more comprehensive effort to address long-standing issues in urban planning, including drainage, flooding, architectural coherence, and transport infrastructure.

Yet officials acknowledged the complexity of the task.

“This is a difficult issue because it directly affects people’s livelihoods, especially those without fixed business locations,” Dung said.

In the short term, local authorities are arranging temporary spaces to help displaced vendors continue operating.

Longer-term solutions are being explored to create designated business areas that balance economic needs with public order.

Hanoi’s sidewalks cleared

As observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, sidewalks on many downtown streets in Hanoi have been cleared.

Sidewalk encroachment has noticeably declined following stricter oversight.

Makeshift markets have largely disappeared from several streets.

On Hang Ma Street in Hoan Kiem Ward, encroaching awnings have been completely removed, and painted lines now clearly separate parking areas from pedestrian pathways.

Around West Lake, where sidewalk misuse was once widespread, most businesses are now complying with regulations.

Still, in parts of Hoan Kiem Ward, violations persist, with some stores continuing to display goods on sidewalks.