VietNamNet Bridge – Parking in public places in HCM City will increase by VND1,000-2,000 for motorbikes and by 40-50 per cent for automobiles depending on location if a proposal by the city Department of Finance is approved.

In its proposal to the People's Committee, the department divides motorbike parking fees into three groups based on location and plans to increase them by VND1,000-2,000.

Now, under a fee regime in place since 2006, parking at schools, hospitals, government offices, and apartments costs VND1,000 for motorbikes during daytime and VND2,000 at night.

It is VND5,000 for four-seat cars, VND7,000 for those with four to 15 seats, and VND10,000 for larger vehicles.

Under the new regime, parking scooters will cost VND1,000 more than for motorbikes, and cheaper at schools and hospitals than at supermarkets and shopping malls.

Amusement places, historical sites, hotels, restaurants, and theatres can charge VND1,000 extra.

Parking fees in five outlying districts will be equal to half of the new rates.

Automobile parking will be categorised based on location, and will be highest in central districts like 1, 3, and 5.

For cars with up to 10 seats, during the day the new fee is VND20,000 in the central districts, VND15,000 in nearby districts, and VND7,500 in other places.

But the fee will also depend on the quality of parking lots.

The department had submitted a similar proposal last October, but it was shot down because the city was then busy fighting inflation.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News