Billboards, tables and chairs removed as Hanoi cleans up sidewalks

A restaurant on Hang Buom Street in Hoan Kiem District on Thursday is reminded by an official for putting numerous objects on the sidewalk.

Hanoi authorities launched a sidewalk cleanup campaign early this month to return the space to pedestrians. Resistance would result in obstacles, like vehicles and billboards, being removed or seized.

A massage parlor has its billboard removed for obstructing the sidewalks.

Personnel have been patrolling streets of Thanh Xuan Bac Ward, Thanh Xuan District since March 3. Ward authorities have removed 52 sunshades and 129 billboards that obstructed the sidewalks, and also collected over VND40 million ($1,695) worth of fines.

Authorities of Thanh Xuan Bac Ward painted white lines on the sidewalks to re-establish boundaries.

"Painting the lines on the sidewalks is still met with challenges however, as sidewalks on different streets are not consistent," said Nguyen Hoang Diep, chairman of the Thanh Xuan Bac People's Committee.

The sidewalk on the Nguyen Trai Street section running through Thanh Xuan Bac spans 530 m.

Diep said only sidewalks that are at least 2.5 m wide are painted. How the lines are painted would be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on actual terrains and streets.

The sidewalks running next to a market area of Thanh Xuan Bac have also been painted, although some people still choose to walking on the road to save themselves from the trouble of having to avoid the goods.

The mannequins of a clothing shop stand neatly behind the white line.

The Thanh Xuan Bac Ward has 64 buildings, mostly apartment complexes built before the 1980s. Due to high population and building density, there are little pavement areas left.

White lines are painted on a sidwealk of Kim Ma Street of Ba Dinh District, with electric polies and trees obstructing the path.

Despite the white lines painted on Nguyen Quy Duc Street, businesses let chairs and tables go over the lines the moment authorities left the scene.

Hanoi launched a sidewalk cleanup campaign back in 2017. Despite positive results at the time, the sidewalks were again gradually occupied by parking lots, shops and food stalls.