Spaces under bridges in Ho Chi Minh City turn into parking lots, dumping sites

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters observed on Tuesday that the areas beneath Phu My, Him Lam, and Ong Lon Bridges had been overtaken by unauthorized activities and growing disorder.

The spaces under Him Lam and Phu My Bridges were used as informal parking zones, often overnight, while at Ong Lon Bridge, which spans Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard in Binh Hung Commune, over 80 percent of the space beneath the bridge was unlawfully occupied and turned into a makeshift hammock café.

The underside of Lo Gom Bridge on Vo Van Kiet Boulevard was filled with garbage bags and construction debris, sparking frustration among residents.

The stench and mess have persisted for months, contributing to both environmental pollution and declining urban aesthetics.

Tran Tuan Khanh, a commuter, noted the widespread and increasing use of spaces under bridges for unauthorized activities and waste disposal.

These illegal uses might raise serious fire safety concerns and diminish the image of the city, he said.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction had previously submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Construction and the municipal People's Committee, urging legal reforms that would allow for the better use of under-bridge spaces.

Current national regulations prohibit the use of space beneath road bridges for public purposes.

However, encroachment and unauthorized use of under-bridge spaces continue to occur in multiple locations.

Phu My Bridge, Ong Lon Bridge, Him Lam Bridge on Nguyen Thi Thap Street, Rach Ong Bridge on Tran Xuan Soan Street, and Lo Gom Bridge on Vo Van Kiet Boulevard have been identified as hotspots for illegal use and public safety risks.

As such, the department proposed the ministry report the case to the government and National Assembly so that the current laws can be amended to allow local authorities to manage and utilize under-bridge spaces for community benefit.

The use must ensure infrastructure integrity, fire safety, traffic flow, and public order.

“Properly managed, these under-bridge spaces could serve as legal parking areas or even recreational zones for residents,” the proposal stated.

“This approach would prevent unlawful occupation, improve fire safety management, and enhance the urban landscape."