In early October, an unusual scene unfolded in a modern part of the capital: hundreds of thousands of Hanoians were queuing up to collect clean water from a tanker.
According to Government-issued Decree 94/2017/ND-CP, to take effect from October 1 this year, up to 20 types of public goods will be traded and monitored solely under State monopoly with clear direction from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Eradicating the sidewalk economy to clear pavements for pedestrians is not a wise solution. Rather, the Government should consider pavements as “public goods” and plan to manage them in a manner that benefits all stakeholders.
