Ho Chi Minh City launches crackdown on sidewalk, roadway encroachment

The campaign, led by the city's Traffic Safety Committee, focuses on clearing encroachments on sidewalks and roads, restoring public space, and stepping up enforcement against transport businesses operating in violation of regulations in 2026.

Deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said restoring urban order, including the management of sidewalks and roadways, must be treated as a long-term and continuous task, directly tied to the accountability of local leaders.

Ho Chi Minh City has come under growing pressure following its merger with former Ba Ria–Vung Tau and Binh Duong Provinces in July last year to create a megacity of more than 14 million people, with over 12 million motorcycles and about 1.4 million cars.

Despite previous efforts, the illegal use of sidewalks and roadways has persisted in many areas, sometimes for prolonged periods, affecting urban aesthetics and posing traffic safety risks, Cuong said.

Authorities attributed the problem to weak coordination, inconsistent enforcement, and shortcomings in management at the ward and commune level.

Cuong said city departments and local governments must improve regulations governing sidewalk and roadway use, strengthen public awareness campaigns, and step up inspections and penalties in a consistent and transparent manner.

He said chairpersons of ward- and commune-level administrations would be held directly responsible if violations were allowed to continue in their jurisdictions.

Nguyen Dinh Duong, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security, said the force had been ordered to identify hotspots and repeat offenders and to address violations decisively, while ensuring enforcement remains transparent and proportionate.

He said authorities would also work with residents and businesses to support lawful business arrangements and parking facilities, and encourage voluntary compliance before applying administrative penalties.