Hà Nội giữ vỉa hè thế nào để người dân vẫn có kế sinh nhai? | Vấn đề hôm nay | VTV24

Key Concepts

• Vỉa hè (Sidewalk): Public space essential for urban mobility and a site of economic livelihood.
• Tái lấn chiếm (Re-encroachment): The cycle of clearing sidewalks only for them to be occupied again shortly after.
• Sinh kế (Livelihood): The economic necessity driving small-scale street vendors to use public space.
• Quản trị đô thị (Urban Governance): The shift from administrative commands to sustainable management and financial planning.
• Tài chính đô thị (Urban Finance): Transforming public space management from a cost-heavy administrative burden into a revenue-generating asset.
• Phạt nguội (Cold Penalty/Automated Enforcement): Using technology and photographic evidence to enforce regulations objectively.

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1. Main Topics and Key Points

The discussion centers on the persistent issue of sidewalk encroachment in major Vietnamese cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang).

• The "Yo-yo" Effect: Historically, campaigns to clear sidewalks have been short-lived, leading to a "re-encroachment" cycle. The expert, Architect Tran Huy Anh, attributes this to the high economic value of sidewalk space compared to private rental costs.
• Shift in Management: Recent campaigns have moved beyond mere administrative orders. They now focus on:
  • Assigning direct responsibility to local police and authorities.
  • Integrating urban planning (parking, designated business zones).
  • Using KPIs to evaluate the performance of local officials.
• Data/Statistics: In Hanoi, within the first quarter, authorities cleared over 75% of spontaneous "pop-up" markets, issued nearly 4,000 fines, and collected over 4.3 billion VND in budget revenue.

2. Important Examples and Real-World Applications

• Da Nang: Implemented a three-phase roadmap to handle and prevent re-encroachment.
• Hanoi: Successfully utilized local police to maintain order, resulting in cleaner streets.
• Ho Chi Minh City (Thai Van Lung Street): Instead of simple "sidewalk leasing," the city is redesigning traffic flow and urban space to accommodate parking and business needs in a way that benefits the community, rather than just treating it as a rental transaction.

3. Methodologies and Frameworks

• From Administrative to Financial: The expert argues that managing sidewalks should transition from an administrative burden to a "financial" model. By properly organizing parking and public space usage, cities could generate thousands of billions of VND, turning public assets into sustainable revenue.
• KPI-based Governance: Evaluating the effectiveness of local officials based on the orderliness of their assigned streets.
• Technological Integration: Using AI and digital tools for "cold penalties" (phạt nguội). Photographic evidence creates transparency, reduces human error, and increases the efficiency of law enforcement.

4. Key Arguments and Perspectives

• The Conflict of Interest: The core issue is the clash between public interest (pedestrian safety) and private interest (economic gain). As long as the profit from encroachment outweighs the cost of fines, the cycle will continue.
• The "Livelihood" Argument: While citizens argue that sidewalk culture is part of Vietnam's identity and essential for the poor, the expert emphasizes that "culture" should not be an excuse for disorder. Proper planning can accommodate small businesses without sacrificing public space.
• Institutional Responsibility: The expert dismisses the excuse of "too many agencies managing the sidewalk." He asserts that local government is the ultimate authority responsible for the street, regardless of which department holds the technical mandate.

5. Notable Quotes

• Architect Tran Huy Anh: "As long as the relationship between public interest (the sidewalk) and private interest (profit from encroachment) remains compromised, the sidewalk story will have no end."
• Architect Tran Huy Anh: "We need to move from an administrative mindset to an urban finance mindset... turning public space into an asset that is managed effectively."

6. Logical Connections

The discussion follows a logical progression:

1. Problem Identification: Why previous campaigns failed (the "yo-yo" effect).
2. Root Cause Analysis: Economic incentives and lack of clear, consistent enforcement.
3. Proposed Solutions: Moving from temporary campaigns to structural planning, technology, and financial management.
4. Future Outlook: The necessity of integrating urban design standards and smart city technology to ensure long-term sustainability.

7. Synthesis and Conclusion

The "sidewalk problem" is not merely a matter of clearing space but a complex challenge of urban governance. The transition from "campaign-style" enforcement to a sustainable model requires three pillars:

1. Strict, consistent enforcement (using technology and clear accountability).
2. Smart urban planning (designing spaces that accommodate both pedestrians and necessary economic activities).
3. Financial management (treating public space as a valuable asset that generates revenue for the city, rather than a free-for-all zone). The ultimate goal is to move beyond the "catch-and-release" cycle toward a civilized urban standard where public space is respected and managed through modern, transparent, and sustainable methods.