New Ho Chi Minh City bus stop quickly becomes targets of graffiti

Images of a bus shelter on Pasteur Street that had been defaced with graffiti were posted on social media on Friday, drawing widespread attention.

According to observations by Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, the back of the shelter's bench was covered in dense black paint markings. 

The graffiti stretches across almost the entire length of the seat, leaving what was designed as a modern bus stop looking shabby.

The shelter on Pasteur Street in central Ho Chi Minh City serves routes 3 and 18.

The vandalism comes as Ho Chi Minh City is stepping up efforts to upgrade its bus infrastructure. 

From July 1 to August 26, the city installed four newly designed shelters along several central streets, while adding greenery at 19 locations and lighting systems at 26 bus shelters.

Investment in and renovation of bus stops and shelters is intended to provide passengers with cleaner, more convenient public spaces and improve the quality of the city's public transport system.

However, graffiti on the shelter not only detracts from the urban landscape but could also add cleaning and repair costs. 

The incident also highlights the need to raise public awareness about protecting public property, particularly as the city is devoting significant resources to improving the appearance and quality of its bus network.