Traffic police officers check violations related to sidewalk and roadway encroachment on Le Van Viet Street in Tang Nhon Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, January 18, 2026. Sidewalks in central areas including Ngo Duc Ke, Ham Nghi, Ton That Thiep, and Nguyen Du Streets became clearer following enforcement actions. Motorbikes are parked neatly along Han Thuyen Street in Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, January 18, 2026, following a citywide crackdown on sidewalk encroachment. Photo: Huu DuyThe crackdown follows a citywide campaign launched earlier this month to curb recurring sidewalk encroachment, which officials say undermines pedestrian safety and urban order. Ho Chi Minh City previously allowed limited, fee-based temporary use of sidewalks for commercial purposes under local regulations, but new national rules effective in 2025 removed provincial and municipal authority to permit sidewalk use for business activities.
