The illegal parking of countless cars and passenger buses on the streets throughout downtown Ho Chi Minh City is causing serious congestion in the southern metropolis.

Streets such as Pho Duc Chinh, Ly Tu Trong, and Nguyen Trai in District 1, Tran Quoc Thao and Ky Dong in District 3, and Tran Hung Dao in District 5, are lined with vehicles parking in lanes designed for travel, according to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters.

The illegal parking appears to be occurring all day, creating a serious risk of accidents and traffic jams, particularly during rush hour.

At 8:30 am on March 30, scores of automobiles and taxis lined up along Ly Tu Trong Street, occupying part of the roadway and creating tremendous difficulties for commuters.

A similar situation occurred on Ton That Hiep Street in District 1, where multiple ‘no parking’ signs are evidently displayed.

Pho Duc Chinh Street, a smaller thoroughfare in District 1, is a favorite spot for Hoa Mai and Toan Thang Passenger Bus Lines to park, pick up, and drop off passengers. 

Residents living on or near the street have repeatedly voiced their complaints to the two companies, but their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

“I travel to work from District 1 to District 5 every morning and I see illicit parking every day,” said Nguyen Thi Dung, a local resident. 

“Gridlock in the neighborhood is definitely worse because of it.”

Though the city has attempted to employ surveillance cameras as a means of reversing the illegal parking situation, many drivers have began parking in alleyways to avoid detection.

The municipal administration has also tried to cash in on the demand for street parking by allowing it along 23 routes in downtown areas for a certain fee, but many drivers do not bother to use the service.

US$107,500 in fines

According to an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, multiple units have been tasked with solving the issue of illegal parking.

The department claims that over the past four months officers have issued VND2.5 billion ($107,500) in fines to drivers throughout the metropolis. 

However, many offenders have refused to cooperate with authorities, while others have managed to flee before a ticket could be issued, the official elaborated.

Efforts to curb the illegal parking will continue to be ramped up over the course of the year, he added.

The current fine for illegal parking in Ho Chi Minh City ranges from VND350,000 ($15) to VND700,000 ($30).

More traffic cameras are expected to be installed in order to assist authorities in their efforts to penalize violators, the transport official said.

The city is also mulling over a proposal to collect parking fees along more streets in the city, he continued.

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