HCMC – Hanoi is proposing a pilot program to lease sidewalks for business use at fees of up to VND45,000 per square meter per month, according to the city’s Department of Construction.
The department is seeking public feedback on a draft resolution on the management and use of sidewalks for commercial activities and urban economic development, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
Under the proposal, organizations, individuals, and household businesses could rent parts of sidewalks and roadways for temporary business operations.
The highest proposed fee would apply to streets in the central areas such as the former districts of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, and Dong Da, as well as food streets and night markets.
Main streets in Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Long Bien, Hoang Mai, Ha Dong, Nam Tu Liem, and Bac Tu Liem would be charged VND40,000 per square meter per month.
Other streets in those areas and in Son Tay Town would carry a fee of VND25,000, while suburban areas would be charged VND20,000.
Applications from businesses and households would be handled by ward-level authorities.
The draft requires sidewalks used in the pilot program to be at least three meters wide and to maintain a pedestrian path of at least 1.5 meters. Eligible streets must not be located in historical preservation areas or traffic congestion hotspots.
The proposal also requires approval from at least half of the households and businesses along a street before the pilot can proceed. Authorities also proposed installing camera systems to monitor the rented areas.
If approved, the resolution would remain in effect for five years.
Pilot programs on selected streets would run for up to two years and could be extended twice, with each extension capped at two years.
Businesses and individuals would be allowed to rent sidewalk and roadway space for up to one year at a time, with possible renewals.
The Department of Construction proposed rolling out the pilot in three phases, beginning with selected streets in Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards before expanding to areas within Beltway No. 1 and later Beltway No. 3.
