Due to regulations, Ho Chi Minh City cannot yet collect sidewalk fees.

The city plans to start charging fees for sidewalks and streets in January, but is hampered by regulations regarding exploitation methods and licensing procedures, preventing implementation.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee stated in a document recently sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport regarding the implementation of fees for the temporary use of roadbeds and sidewalks in the city. Currently, some central districts have compiled lists of roads with wide sidewalks, renovated them, and marked lines in preparation for fee collection.

According to the city authorities, roadways and sidewalks are considered transportation infrastructure assets, but the methods for their temporary exploitation and use are not regulated in the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets and Government Decree 33/2019 . In this case, the Ministries of Transport and Finance need to coordinate with relevant parties to develop an exploitation plan and submit it to the Prime Minister for consideration.

Sidewalks on Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, are marked out and organized for self-managed parking, December 2023. Photo: Gia Minh — Sidewalks on Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, are marked out and organized for self-managed parking, December 2023. Photo: *Gia Minh*

Furthermore, according to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the demand for permits to temporarily exploit and use roadbeds and sidewalks in the city mainly comes from individuals and households. Therefore, the city wants guidance on whether the unit assigned to manage these areas must prepare an exploitation plan and submit it to the competent authority for approval before granting permits.

Previously, the City People's Council issued regulations on fees for the use of sidewalks and roads in the city, effective from the beginning of 2024. Cases where a portion of the road and sidewalk can be used and fees are charged include: organizing cultural activities ( sports , parades, festivals) and parking areas serving cultural activities; business establishments providing services and selling goods; paid parking services; and locations for transferring household waste from urban environmental sanitation enterprises...

The fees applied by the city are based on the average land price in 5 areas, with higher rates in the inner city than in the suburbs. The lowest rate for parking is 50,000 VND, and the highest is 350,000 VND/m2 per month. Other activities will be charged between 20,000 and 100,000 VND/m2.

According to the Department of Transportation's guidelines, sidewalks designated for partial use must be at least 3 meters wide, with 1.5 meters reserved for pedestrians. As for the road itself, after reserving at least two lanes for cars in each direction, the remaining area may be used for activities other than traffic if conditions permit.

Gia Minh

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