Public toilets in 2 big cities, pay to avoid 'holding your breath'

Editor's note:

The current situation of a serious shortage of public toilets, their degradation, filth and unsightliness has existed for many years in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. During the recent holiday, the issue of a place for tourists to "relieve themselves" became urgent, while the problems of lack of land, ineffective calls for social investment, and maintenance and renovation have not received due attention. It is time to pay great attention to the issue of public toilets in big cities, invest heavily and implement with great determination.

Need clean public toilets

Faced with the current situation of public restrooms being either lacking or old, dirty, and shabby, reader Nhu Quan expressed: "The most dynamic city in the country is developing rapidly, but this small utility on the street corner has not yet developed to its full potential."

Phan Van Dung also commented: "Sometimes when I go to these places I wonder if the water is clean or not. Generally, only the poorest people have to go there."

At Ham Nghi Bus Station (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), since 2018, smart public restrooms have been piloted with full amenities: automatic doors, anti-theft cameras, water faucets, dryers, smart fan systems... but so far, only desolation and foul odor remain. Photo: Thanh Hue

Or reader Viet Linh commented: "Hanoi now lacks public restrooms, walking around Hoan Kiem Lake there is only one, and walking on the old streets you can't see any."

Minh Khai Tran commented: "Many public toilets from the subsidy period are still in use, looking out of place in a developing city"...

Images of public restrooms in Hanoi with facilities that no longer meet demand or a strong odor make residents and tourists wary. Photo: The Bang

From that, many readers believe that the city needs to build more and renovate public restrooms to make them spacious and clean, not only to serve tourists but also many people in need.

According to Nguyen Duc Trung: "The public restroom on Hang Giay Street is great, it looks clean. At least we need a few more like this on the walking streets for people's comfort."

The public restroom has a beautiful interior, invested by a business, and charges 5,000 VND/time in lane 38, Hang Giay Street (Hoan Kiem, Hanoi). Put into operation since 2015, but until now this restroom is still like new. Photo: Quang Phong

Similarly, Binh Nguyen wishes: "There is no need for it to be spacious or expensive; the important thing is that the sink is clean and there is enough hand washing water."

Minh Hieu commented: "People are willing to pay 5 thousand to have a clean and convenient public restroom. But now, many people come in, see it, then turn back, or just get to the door and smell a horrible smell."

Do not consider NVSCC as an auxiliary project

According to Xuan Dinh Nguyen: “Don’t consider the toilet as a secondary project. It is the main and very important project. Just imagine that besides the house and the room, what would we do without this project? And it is in a very big city. If your house or apartment has a problem in the toilet area, everyone will prioritize solving it before other items. Don’t think of it as just a socialized project. Consider it a key point. Big cities with strong economic potential must be allocated for investment, and the more socialized it is, the better.”

At the corner of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai - Le Quy Don (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) is a coffee shop kiosk model combined with the operation of a public restroom, receiving a lot of support from the people. Photo: Thanh Hue

The "4-star public restroom" in Tao Dan Park (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) was built in a socialized form with an area of 60 square meters, modern equipment, separate entrances for the disabled, and staff on duty to clean every day. Photo: Thanh Hue

This reader also frankly suggested: “If we consider it as secondary and neglect it, but if we consider it as very important and direct it, then the situation like what happened will not happen. We suggest that many places re-examine it to demolish it and rebuild it or repair it... Try to resolve it in the second half of the year so that this type of project has a new face to serve not only domestic people but also foreign visitors when they come to Vietnam.”

Agreeing with the above opinion, Tran Hieu Nghia said that as long as the city leaders pay attention, their units can deploy it immediately.

Mr. Bui Dung also emphasized: "There needs to be proper attention from city leaders, tourism development needs to be accompanied by new, synchronous quality amenities."

Free "5-star" standard public restrooms at 23-9 Park, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nhu Sy

Nam Q. even suggested: “The city needs to pay attention, provide land, invest in building public restrooms and call for support from social organizations and businesses. Equip modern furniture, have people to look after, clean and maintain. But we should not only think about tourists, but also care about the large number of workers who are making a living in the city. We should only charge 1,000 - 2,000 VND/person/time.”

In addition, according to Nam Q., businesses can be encouraged to sponsor as a social and charitable activity (they can put up a signboard at the restrooms they sponsor). Assign the People's Committees of the wards to be responsible for management. Any place that is unsanitary or degraded will be publicly reminded and criticized in the press and media"...

For now, reader Vu Hien commented: “During the construction or repair of public restrooms, Hanoi should also encourage restaurants and cafes, if allowed, to hang signs offering free cleaning services to visitors. Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City have already had such temporary solutions.

Nguyen Toan Vinh said: "We will have to try very hard to reach the standards of a civilized and polite city, welcoming visitors and satisfying them with small things like this NVSCC."

Dear readers, please follow the full content of the series :

Lack of public toilets has turned many places into 'black spots' for defecation.

In Hanoi, there are still many public toilets that are so dilapidated that the doors are broken and have to be flushed with water. In Ho Chi Minh City, many buildings have not been repaired in time, and some places still lack toilets.

Plan to build 2,000 public toilets fails

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City set a goal of building 2,000 more public toilets from 2016, but after nearly 7 years, it has not been done yet.

Contrasting scenes at public restrooms in downtown Ho Chi Minh City

While many public toilets in Nguyen Hue walking street, Tao Dan park, etc. are quite modern, clean and free, some toilets in the center of Ho Chi Minh City are in a state of disrepair, smelly and abandoned.

Source