HCM City pavement purge crumbles
As a project to relocate street vendors hasn't been implemented, HCM City’s pavements are beginning to return to their normal state following the clear-out in February.
Street vendors and parking lots have returned to occupy the pavement. On Hai Ba Trung Street, street vendors hastily collected their goods and ran away when the authorities patrolled the area but returned when they were gone. Fake helmet sellers display their goods just 500m away from the headquarters of Nguyen Thai Binh Ward People's Committee all day.
The responsibility belongs to party secretary, chairman and police chief of all wards. Doan Ngoc Hai, vice chairman of District 1 People's Committee, continued to show determination to clear the pavement. "If nobody can continue the campaign, then I'll ask for the higher-ups to directly go out and deal with the violators," he said.
However, while the authorities are clearing the pavements, they haven't arranged any alternatives for the street vendors.
Thanh, a street vendor in District 1, said, "I know I'm in the wrong but if I don't work then what'll we live on? The authorities promised to arrange places for us but we haven't seen anything yet. Meanwhile, we'll lose money if we don't work. We have to support our children and ill mother."
Minh, another street vendor, also said she couldn't wait for promises.
"Having to work in an existing local market is expensive as I'll have to pay for kiosk rent, security and sanitation charges. I heard that it costs VND1m (USD44) to VND2m a day in a street market in District 1," she said.
District 1 has implemented various measures such as offering free vocational courses to street vendors or helping them get other jobs. A plan to hold markets with by-the-hour pitch rental hasn’t materialised. On April 22, 23 and 29, 30, several market sessions were held at Bach Dang Wharf Park but only once. The organisers said they only piloted the project and didn't know when the sessions could continue.
Street vendors and parking lots have returned to occupy the pavement. On Hai Ba Trung Street, street vendors hastily collected their goods and ran away when the authorities patrolled the area but returned when they were gone. Fake helmet sellers display their goods just 500m away from the headquarters of Nguyen Thai Binh Ward People's Committee all day.
Street vendors and parking lots have returned to occupy the pavement
The responsibility belongs to party secretary, chairman and police chief of all wards. Doan Ngoc Hai, vice chairman of District 1 People's Committee, continued to show determination to clear the pavement. "If nobody can continue the campaign, then I'll ask for the higher-ups to directly go out and deal with the violators," he said.
However, while the authorities are clearing the pavements, they haven't arranged any alternatives for the street vendors.
Thanh, a street vendor in District 1, said, "I know I'm in the wrong but if I don't work then what'll we live on? The authorities promised to arrange places for us but we haven't seen anything yet. Meanwhile, we'll lose money if we don't work. We have to support our children and ill mother."
Minh, another street vendor, also said she couldn't wait for promises.
"Having to work in an existing local market is expensive as I'll have to pay for kiosk rent, security and sanitation charges. I heard that it costs VND1m (USD44) to VND2m a day in a street market in District 1," she said.
District 1 has implemented various measures such as offering free vocational courses to street vendors or helping them get other jobs. A plan to hold markets with by-the-hour pitch rental hasn’t materialised. On April 22, 23 and 29, 30, several market sessions were held at Bach Dang Wharf Park but only once. The organisers said they only piloted the project and didn't know when the sessions could continue.
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