Sidewalk eateries remain rampant in Da Nang despite ban
Friday, May 05, 2023, 20:56 GMT+7
A host of sidewalk vendors and eatery operators in Da Nang, central Vietnam were found to have ignored local authorities’ sidewalk vending ban and continued their business operations, forcing pedestrians into the streets.
Such sidewalk encroachments mainly take place along inner-city streets, especially the most visited ones for foreign tourists.
As the peak travel season is drawing near, the municipal authorities have ramped up enforcement against sidewalk eateries and vendors by imposing a sidewalk vending ban on 42 streets.
In spite of the ban, many sidewalk eateries and other businesses maintained operations on these streets.
Among the 42 streets subject to the prohibition, sidewalk vending is allowed along Bach Dang and Nguyen Tat Thanh Streets between 6:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
However, a number of parking service providers and business operators have encroached on the sidewalks on these streets day and night.
Also, several cold drink shops on Bach Dang Street set up tables and chairs on the sidewalk to satisfy customers’ demand for enjoying the Han River view.
Some businesses offer both drinks and parking services on the sidewalk at an area near the Han Market, forcing tourists and local residents to walk on the roadway.
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| A coffee shop sets up tables and chairs on the sidewalk of Bach Dang Street in Da Nang, central Vietnam in the daytime, even though sidewalk vending is only allowed on the street in the evening. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
During her visit to the Han Market, Ha Yoon, a South Korean tourist, was almost hit by a car while walking on the sidewalk curb and pulling her luggage on the roadway, as the footpath was blocked by sidewalk businesses.
“As I’m not familiar with the motorbike-dominated traffic condition, I’m so scared of walking on the street in this area,” Yoon told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.
Though the local competent forces already marked parking zones on the sidewalk, many business operators still encroached on these parking zones to display their products for sale.
In March this year, a supervision team of the municipal People’s Council asked the administration of Hai Chau District to team up with relevant agencies to restore sidewalks and crack down on sidewalk encroachment.
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| Visitors are forced into the roadway due to sidewalk encroachment on Tran Phu Street in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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| A visitor has to carry his luggage and walk on the roadway of Bach Dang Street in Da Nang, central Vietnam because some eateries and shops encroach on the sidewalk. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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| The Han Market in Da Nang, central Vietnam has been renovated to better serve tourists, but the sidewalks encircling the market are occupied by local household businesses. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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| A cold drink store encroaches on the sidewalk of one of the 42 streets subject to a sidewalk vending ban in Da Nang, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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| Besides inner-city streets, many other most-visited streets for tourists in Son Tra and Ngu Hanh Son Districts in Da Nang, central Vietnam face sidewalk encroachment. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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