The intersection of Hang Ruoi and Hang Ma streets is a bustling commercial area, crowded with food stalls that draw large numbers of shoppers and passers-by. Previously, sidewalks were frequently encroached upon, and vehicles spilled into the roadway, leaving the area congested throughout the day.
Following the reorganization of sidewalks, the prohibition of roadside parking, and the removal of encroaching canopies, the street has become noticeably more open, with wider road space and smoother traffic flow.
The Hang Giay–Hang Buom intersection was once crowded with eateries and food stalls spilling onto sidewalks and roadways, causing frequent traffic congestion. Today, the area is open and orderly, allowing residents and visitors to stroll with ease, without dodging vehicles or enduring constant horn noise.
On Hang Duong Street, signs have been installed prohibiting littering or dumping waste on sidewalks and roadways, with violators facing fines of VND1–2 million (US$38-76).
Although the street does not have yellow boundary lines marking the sidewalks, the previous scenes of vehicles, tables, and chairs scattered across the pavement, or people sitting throughout the area, have disappeared.
A section of Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, where an informal market had formed, was previously crowded most of the day with people trading on the roadway and sidewalks, occupying almost all pedestrian space. Now, the sidewalks are open, with vendors sitting neatly behind the yellow lines painted on the pavement.
For several weeks, authorities have been persuading residents to neatly arrange their goods to return sidewalks to pedestrians, while regularly monitoring and reminding businesses along the street.
Previously, in 2017, Hanoi launched a major campaign to restore urban order and return sidewalks to pedestrians.
The campaign was implemented intensively for about six months and achieved many positive results. However, enforcement later became inconsistent, and in many areas, sidewalk encroachment for trading and vehicle parking gradually reemerged.
Photo by Son Tung
