By 31/1, Hanoi authorities had successfully cleared 98 out of 231 informal markets and spontaneous business points across the city. This action is part of a broader city plan to address urban order and traffic safety issues, with the remaining 133 locations scheduled for clearance between 2026 and 2027.

On the afternoon of 30/1, authorities in Tu Liem ward deployed personnel to dismantle shelters and instructed vendors to cease selling goods on Nguyen Dong Chi street. This street, nearly one kilometer long and 3,5 meters wide, connects to Ho Tung Mau and Ham Nghi roads. For a long time, dozens of vendors had occupied it, selling food, vegetables, and seafood. With Cau Dien Primary School located on the street, traffic often jammed during morning and afternoon rush hours due to numerous vehicles stopping for purchases.

Despite prior notification, many vendors had not relocated. When ward police and urban order officers arrived, vendors scrambled to move their goods indoors. Some even hid their merchandise deep within alleys to avoid confiscation.

Urban order officials visited each household, requesting vendors to voluntarily dismantle their shelters and consolidate their goods. In cases of non-cooperation, functional forces had to forcibly dismantle shelters and transport them to the headquarters.

The informal market on Nguyen Dong Chi street was among 75 markets categorized as Group 1, slated for urgent clearance by 30/1, as mandated by the Hanoi People's Committee. This group includes informal markets encroaching on roads and sidewalks, identified as hotspots that severely impact traffic safety and urban order.

Authorities and residents dismantle shelters on Nguyen Dong Chi street. Video: Viet An

Approximately 10 kilometers from Nguyen Dong Chi street, the bustling informal market on Cau Moi street in Dong Da ward has also been cleared. For over a week now, Cau Moi street no longer experiences the business-related congestion during rush hours. Following the market's removal, authorities have put up "no market" signs, repaved the road surface, and added median strips for planting trees.

"Everything is much more spacious than before, and importantly, there are no longer foul odors from waste left by the informal market," shared Nguyen Tri, a resident living near the former market site.

Nguyen Ngoc Viet, Secretary of Dong Da ward, confirmed that Cau Moi market was on the list for clearance by 30/1. In response to the city's directive, the ward held meetings and assigned personnel to disseminate information, encourage voluntary compliance, and station personnel to monitor and address violations.

According to Viet, most vendors at Cau Moi market came from other areas. Therefore, while authorities were resolute in their clearance efforts, they also explained the situation, listened to the vendors' aspirations, and guided them to conduct business in wholesale markets.

Concurrently, the ward tasked specialized departments with reviewing the operational status of markets within its jurisdiction. This review includes the number of fixed and non-fixed vendors, occupancy rates, and the condition of market infrastructure. Based on this information, the ward is developing a plan to arrange and allocate suitable spaces within formal markets, enabling vendors to conduct stable, long-term business in compliance with regulations.

Cau Moi street after the informal market was cleared. Photo: Viet An

In Hoang Liet ward, authorities cleared two informal markets: one located in alley 54/4 Ngoc Hoi street, which had formed on public land between old apartment buildings in residential group number 8 Lien Co, covering an area of approximately 300 square meters; and a temporary market in alley 123 Bang Liet, spanning about 600 square meters.

Meanwhile, in Linh Nam ward, authorities dismantled and cleared shelters, awnings, platforms, and stalls at the informal markets and temporary markets in alley 88 Khuyen Luong street, the area near Thuy Linh Temple and Pagoda, Thuy Linh street, and from house numbers 683 to 749 Nguyen Khoai street. All public land was then handed over to the Linh Nam Ward People's Committee for management.

Tuong Mai ward actively encouraged residents not to buy or sell at unplanned market locations and spontaneous business hubs to ensure urban order, environmental hygiene, and traffic safety. The ward also cleared two unplanned market locations and spontaneous business hubs involving 278 households, erecting fences to prevent re-encroachment after clearance.

According to reports from commune and ward People's Committees, by 31/1, the city had successfully organized 98 out of 231 informal markets and spontaneous business points. The remaining 133 locations will continue to be addressed according to a roadmap for 2026-2027. A primary concern for both ward leaders and residents is maintaining clear roads and sidewalks in areas that were once informal markets. With the approaching Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays, increased purchasing demand could lead to vendors re-encroaching, making 24-hour enforcement challenging for functional forces.

Hanoi currently has 468 markets, comprising: 16 class 1 markets, 59 class 2 markets, 346 class 3 markets, and 47 unclassified markets. Of these, 213 are in urban areas and 255 in rural areas. Six communes and wards in the city still lack markets: Linh Nam, Phuong Liet, Yen So, Hong Son, Yen Bai, and Thu Lam.

Previously, the Hanoi People's Committee issued a plan to implement solutions for addressing informal markets and spontaneous business points. This initiative aims to fulfill directives from the City Party Committee and People's Council regarding the removal of urban order bottlenecks. The plan's objective is to thoroughly clear existing informal markets, prevent the emergence of new ones, and contribute to building a bright, green, clean, beautiful, safe, and friendly capital.

Based on a review, the city categorized informal markets and spontaneous business points into four groups for phased clearance: Group 1 requires urgent clearance by 30/1; Group 2, consisting of markets with under 50 households, must be cleared by 30/6; Group 3, with 50 to 100 households, by 30/12; and Group 4, comprising markets with over 100 households, which are long-standing and complex in nature, must be cleared by 30/6/2027.

Vo Hai - Viet An