The southern metropolis has more than 10 million residents and welcomed over 30 million visitors in 2022. The city targets at receiving 35 million visitors including five foreign tourists this year. However, there are only some 200 public toilets in the city. According to the QS Supplies by Nikkei Asia released in February 2023, the quality of public toilets in HCM City ranked 67th out of 69 tourist cities worldwide.



It is difficult to find public toilets in the city, especially for children and disabled people. Meanwhile, many are being used for other purposes.

A public toilet in Le Hong Phong Street in District 5 has been turned into a living place by a local family.

Another in District 4 turned into a convenience store.

Many other toilets have been abandoned and badly deteriorated.



To address the shortage of public toilets in the city, municipal chairman Phan Van Mai has just demanded concerned agencies to review and repair those that have deteriorated and build new ones to meet the demand of local residents and tourists.

Authorities of inner districts would continue to call on owners, managers, and operators of post offices, gas stations, supermarkets, stores, shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, and coach stations to allow visitors to use toilets on their premises. Moreover, signs should be put up so that visitors can easily find public toilets.