The decision was communicated in an official dispatch from the HCMC People’s Committee to the ministries of Finance and Transport.

Certain districts in downtown HCMC have been designated for sidewalk and roadside fee collection.

However, the city authorities have encountered difficulties because the operational mode and temporary usage of these areas are not specified in regulations on the management and use of public property.

The southern city is seeking guidance on whether it needs to develop an operational plan and obtain approval from relevant authorities before granting permission to individuals and households interested in using roadsides and sidewalks.

On September 19 last year, the HCMC People’s Council issued a resolution approving a list of fees applicable to the use of certain sidewalks and roadsides in the city, with effect from early 2024. The fees range from VND20,000 to VND350,000 per square meter per month.

Sidewalks available for rent must be at least three meters wide, with half of the space reserved for pedestrians. Rent arrangements would only be allowed on roads wide enough to accommodate two lanes of traffic in one direction.

Source: Saigon Times