Street vendor fined for forcing girl off sidewalk in Hanoi

The vendor was fined VND2.5 million (US$96).

L.T.K., a 51-year-old resident of Son Dong Commune, was found to have unlawfully encroached on part of the sidewalk in front of 36 Pham Hung Street to sell drinks on the afternoon of July 4.

She reportedly took advantage of a period when patrol officers were absent to set up her vending area.

The incident came to public attention after a video was posted on social media showing K. confronting a young woman who was waiting on the sidewalk for a ride.

“You can't stand here to catch a ride,” the vendor told the woman, claiming it was her spot for selling goods.

The confrontation escalated into a brief physical altercation during which K. was seen kicking the woman's suitcase.

The argument was quickly defused by bystanders and neither party reported the incident to police officers.

An officer said that the Tu Liem Ward Police agency was formed following the merger of five former wards, as part of the national merger policy.

The agency encourages the public to report violations, pledging to strictly handle confirmed offenses.

Under the merger strategy, which took effect on July 1, 52 provinces and cities were combined into 23 new administrative units, while the remaining 11 localities remain unchanged.

This merging resulted in 34 provincial-level units, including 28 provinces and six centrally governed cities (Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho).

The strategy features a two-tiered local government model, which includes the provincial level and the grassroots level consisting of communes and wards.

After the merger, Hanoi has 126 communes and wards.