Many individuals and households are arbitrarily occupying and renting out sidewalks in Ho Chi Minh City for businesses and parking, leaving pedestrians with no space to walk. 

Thousands of streets in the southern metropolis lack sidewalks, while many sidewalks are being illegally encroached upon and treated as private property.

As a result, pedestrians are inevitably forced to walk on the streets, making urban renovation a significant challenge.

Bustling 'sidewalk rental market'

A quick search online for the phrase ‘sidewalk rental’ along with a desired location will immediately yield thousands of sidewalk spaces available for rent, even though these spaces are not listed as eligible for renting. These sidewalk spaces vary in size, price, and location, covering districts across the city.

Many residents brazenly rent out the sidewalks for business purposes. Not only homeowners but even those renting retail spaces also capitalize on sidewalk spaces by renting them out in certain time slots.

On Facebook, hundreds of groups were created to connect those looking to rent sidewalk spaces with those who need them. Every day, dozens of sidewalk spaces are up for grabs in these groups.

In the group 'Share and rent sidewalk spaces,' one post by N.L.A. states that they have a sidewalk space available for rent on Vu Huy Tan Street in Binh Thanh District, either for the entire day or half a day. 

To attract renters, the post mentions the location is close to Van Kiep Street and just a few hundred meters from Phan Xich Long Food Street, with a rental price of VND3.5 million(US$137.5) per month, requiring a one-month deposit.

Upon meeting the poster, he revealed that the rental space was actually a 1.5-meter-wide section of the sidewalk in front of a business establishment. He explained that he had rented the house for his own business and was offering the unused sidewalk space for rent.

The price is VND5 million ($196) per month if electricity and water costs are included, N.L.A. said, adding that renters can leave their bikes at the location at the end of the day.

He noted that local authorities usually check in the morning but not in the evening, saying, "If there's an inspection, just push your bikes close to the curb and it will be fine."

Contacting another person who rents a sidewalk space on Dinh Bo Linh Street in Binh Thanh District, the person introduced the location as "suitable for selling takeaway coffee and banh mi in the morning." 

This place was further described as being on a main road leading to District 1, surrounded by universities like FPT, HUTECH, and Thanh Da High School, with a negotiable rental price of VND2.2 million ($86.3) a month.

In reality, this was the sidewalk in front of a house. The house owner, L., said he would charge an additional VND200,000 ($7.8) for electricity and water, or would not charge if the consumed volume was small. He confidently noted that local officials did not monitor the area.

In sidewalk rental groups, a Facebook account named Hoang Song Hao specializes in posting ads for sidewalk spaces for rent at prime sites, such as the corners of major intersections in Ho Chi Minh City.

When meeting with a customer, Hao boasted that his company -- a chain of optical stores in Ho Chi Minh City -- managed and rented out over 1,000 sidewalk spaces. 

The business has been around for 21 years, and sidewalk rentals are part of the family's traditional business, Hao proudly shared, emphasizing that his system was widespread across the city.

He assured that "if a renter finds the location unlucky or not performing well, just let me know and I’ll quickly swap it for another space."

As the customer expressed concerns about being checked and fined by the authorities, Hao said, "As long as we do things in an orderly manner, it's fine."

When a customer, Thu Hong, expressed interest in renting a sidewalk space on Pham Van Dong Boulevard, one of the busiest routes in Ho Chi Minh City, Hao immediately recommended a location for rent in front of an optical store on Tan Son Street in Go Vap District, which also served as Hao's office.

Pointing to a banh mi cart placed on the sidewalk in front of the optical store, Hao explained, "This person rents the sidewalk from my office; she quit a job at a company to sell banh mi. 

“We offer morning, afternoon, or full-day rental slots. The price is VND3-3.5 million [$117.7-137.5] per month. The price is VND5 million [$196] if the sidewalk is used for the entire day." 

The rental price includes electricity and water costs, Hao said.

Renters are supported with storage for carts, tables, and chairs. Hao does not require a deposit. In exchange, once the rental space is taken, renters must pay a VND1.75 million ($68.6) commission, equivalent to half of the monthly rent.

Thu Hong had to pay more than VND5 million for the first month's rent and commission to Hao to secure a sidewalk space in front of the S.G. optical store on Pham Van Dong for afternoon-to-night business hours.

On the first day, the owner of the S.G. optical store kindly helped Hong set up electricity and water for the business.

When Hong voiced her concerns about blocking pedestrians and being fined, the response was, "Do you see the shops around here? They fill the entire sidewalk with tables and chairs in the evening. It’s normal."

Struggling to reclaim sidewalks

For years, reclaiming sidewalks for pedestrians in Ho Chi Minh City has been a persistent challenge. While districts frequently launch crackdowns on sidewalk encroachments, these efforts tend to be short-lived. Before long, the problem resurfaces, with vendors and makeshift structures reappearing as quickly as mushrooms after the rain.

In reality, sidewalks and roadways across Ho Chi Minh City -- both major streets and small alleys -- have been carved up like pieces of cake. Business encroachments, illegal parking lots, and prolonged construction projects have not only worsened the city's appearance but also fueled traffic chaos and severely infringed on the rights of residents, especially pedestrians.

A clear example of this situation is Nguyen Trai in District 5, Nguyen Du and Cong Quynh Streets in District 1, Pham Van Dong Boulevard and Hiep Binh Street in Thu Duc City, and Nguyen Gia Tri and Van Kiep Streets in Binh Thanh District.

Many eateries, drink stalls, and mobile carts occupy the entire sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to walk on the roadways that are already congested with dense traffic. 

This has become so common that many people assume sidewalks belong to businesses and walking on the roadway is the norm.

Sidewalks in Ho Chi Minh City have not only been taken over by businesses but have also turned into makeshift parking lots.

In districts like Tan Binh, Go Vap, and Binh Tan, sidewalk encroachment remains a persistent issue. On narrow, high-traffic streets such as Phan Huy Ich, Quang Trung, and Luy Ban Bich, shops and eateries have fully occupied the sidewalks, using them for vending and parking.

The city currently has 4,869 roads that are at least five meters wide, yet 2,271 of them either lack sidewalks entirely or have sidewalks that are completely encroached upon.

Traders have occupied every inch of sidewalk space to sell goods, set up tables, chairs, and equipment, and open parking lots for motorbikes.

Quang Vinh, a university student in Ho Chi Minh City, shared that every day he walks from his rented room to the bus stop, but he has to weave through crowded sidewalks filled with motorbikes and restaurant furniture. 

Sometimes he has to walk on the road, in the middle of heavy traffic, and is worried about traffic accidents, Vinh said.

Tran Duc Huy from Binh Thanh District said he had repeatedly complained to sidewalk vendors on Ung Van Khiem Street about their occupation of the sidewalk, making it impossible for pedestrians like him to pass. The response he heard regularly was that the sidewalk in front of their house belonged to them, and they could do whatever they wanted.

It is illegal to rent sidewalk space without permission

A representative from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that using sidewalks for business, parking, or other purposes without a permit is a violation under the Road Traffic Law.

Landowners who wish to use or lease sidewalk space must submit a request to the local government. Only after approval is granted can such usage be considered legal.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have implemented a plan to regulate and lease portions of sidewalks in select areas to maintain urban order while ensuring pedestrian access. However, this model has yet to be widely adopted, particularly in Binh Thanh and Go Vap Districts, where many residents continue to use sidewalks for business.

According to the Department of Transport, the initiative aims to restore order, enhance urban aesthetics, and promote a civilized, modern city while fostering a sense of public responsibility and ensuring traffic safety.

Roadways are designated for vehicles, while sidewalks should primarily serve pedestrians and accommodate necessary infrastructure, including traffic signs.

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