Project proposal for Vietnamese city to become more walkable

Ho Chi Minh City officials are on a mission to make the Vietnamese city more walker friendly. In a proposed new pedestrian street project, the city will block 22 streets to traffic on weekends. The project will be spread into three phases between 2022 and 2025.

In the first phase from 2022 and 2023, streets around the International Square roundabout will be marked out for pedestrian traffic. These streets will be closed to cars during specific hours. In the second phase from 2023 to 2024, the city will open other streets to pedestrians. In the last phase from 2024 and 2025, other streets will be added.

The HCM city department has now sent the City People’s Committee a proposal for expanding the project. City agencies plan to review the project’s access, demand, connectivity, and community support.

Ho Chi Minh City’s long-term goal is to cut down the number of cars entering the downtown area, helping boost the quality of people’s living environment. The city also aims to bring in more tourism, trade, and services in its area with historical architecture.

Ho Chi Minh City is notorious for being crowded, with its narrow roads and sidewalks. The city is also very lacking in public transport, forcing people to drive to work. In 2017, the Vietnamese outlet Tuo Tre News reported that busses and taxis only met 9.3% of the city’s commuting needs.

SOURCE: Vietnam News | Tuo Tre News