Hanoi Cracks Down on Sidewalk Encroachment, Struggles to Balance Public Order and Street Economy

(CNA, Hanoi, 18th, by reporter Tseng Ting-hsuan) Recently, Hanoi police in Vietnam have been gradually intensifying their crackdown on the long-standing issue of businesses encroaching on sidewalks to improve the city's image. While most citizens say the sidewalks are now safer and cleaner, it could accelerate the disappearance of street culture and hit the 'sidewalk economy.' Some suggest creating dedicated pedestrian zones for vendors to set up stalls. Since February of this year, the Hanoi city government has moved from persuasion to strict enforcement, vigorously tidying up sidewalk spaces, with results gradually becoming apparent. In recent weeks, many sidewalks in Hanoi have become cleaner, street food stalls' tables and chairs have been put away, and the chaotic parking of motorcycles has slightly decreased, making it easier for pedestrians to walk. The streets in the city center are still bustling with traffic, and restaurants and cafes are thriving. However, the sidewalks are much wider, and the plastic chairs and food stalls that used to obstruct them have largely disappeared. Pedestrians no longer need to navigate an 'obstacle course' through stalls and street-side tables and chairs. For many citizens, this change is welcome, as the dangerous situation of pedestrians being forced onto the road has improved, and the streets are cleaner. Tuan Anh, who works at a coffee bar in Hanoi, told CNA, 'There's more space to walk. Before, I often had to walk on the road, which was quite dangerous. It's more convenient and safer now. I wasn't used to it at first, but I've come to feel that this policy is helpful for Hanoi.' Ngoc, who once lived in Taiwan, also expressed support for the new regulations. 'Passersby used to think of Hanoi as a crowded place, but after the reform, the roads will be easier to walk on. Business owners will gradually cooperate with the government's and the chairman's reforms, and Hanoi will get better and better,' she said in fluent Mandarin. A coffee shop employee in the Old Quarter told a reporter that only the area directly in front of the entrance belongs to the owner. Now, customers can only sit on the bench in front of the door and can no longer place small tables on the sidewalk as before, or the shop could face a fine of 2.5 million VND (about NT$3,000). The Hanoi government's tough measures have not only mobilized a large police force but also used new technologies, especially artificial intelligence surveillance systems, to address the long-standing problem of sidewalk encroachment and improve the city's image. The Hanoi police told the Sài Gòn Giải Phóng newspaper that by the end of April, 32 of the city's 126 wards and communes had set up camera surveillance centers at local police stations. In addition, they conducted over 1,000 patrols and issued more than 6,000 tickets, either directly or indirectly, based on surveillance video evidence. Although order has been restored, some people say they are not used to the gradually emptying sidewalks and disappearing food stalls, as eating, resting, and chatting on the sidewalks are part of Vietnam's street culture and a unique urban landscape. 'Their lifestyle depends on the roadside,' Ngoc said. 'Tourists who come to Hanoi also want to see the stalls, eat outside, and experience the outdoor enthusiasm. It's a bit hard to get used to the reform now.' Tuan Anh said that there used to be many vendors and shops on the sidewalks, but they have been slowly cleared away. 'It felt a bit empty at first, but if you look at it in the long run, I think it will become safer in many ways.' The coffee shop where he works also had to remove its tables and chairs from the sidewalk due to the policy, but he believes they should comply. 'This is for the benefit of everyone and the overall landscape, to allow Hanoi to develop better.' Behind the safer walking spaces lies the anxiety and unspoken hardship of vendors. The proportion of informal mobile vendors in Vietnam is very high, and many shops have very small indoor seating areas, their livelihoods having long depended on sidewalk space. A noodle shop owner, who wished to remain anonymous, lamented that his customers have decreased and his income has dropped by nearly 50% in the past month due to reduced space for customer parking or outdoor dining. Most vendors said they were not comfortable commenting on the policy. An employee of a beverage shop in Hanoi told VnExpress that their customer numbers have dropped by 70% due to limited indoor space. How to strike a balance between urban order and citizens' livelihoods is a tricky issue. One solution is to establish regulated sidewalk commercial areas where vendors can operate legally and pay fees, with the revenue used for city facilities and public services. Additionally, building more parking lots to reduce sidewalk parking is an urgent matter. Urban planners and residents suggest classifying streets by function, such as setting up vendor zones or pedestrian streets in suitable areas. Ngoc mentioned that Taiwan's approach could be a reference. 'Like Taiwan has night markets, and they also have regulations like ours, or they allow stalls in pedestrian streets,' she said, but the specific approach should be planned by the state. Ngoc Anh, from Ho Chi Minh City, also stated, 'Hanoi's streets are much cleaner now, and it's safer for pedestrians. However, I think that while introducing new policies, the government should also find ways to help local people and give them space to set up their stalls.' She told CNA that eating on the sidewalk is indeed a characteristic part of Vietnamese culture. Therefore, in Ho Chi Minh City, the government has uniformly planned street food areas where people can walk and enjoy local snacks in a proper manner, and vendors' hygiene is managed, making it safer for both locals and foreigners.