A business in Đà Nẵng City marking itself as offering its toilets to the public for free. Downtown Hải Châu District has been calling on commercial establishments to partake in this programme. – VNA Photo

ĐÀ NẴNG – Hải Châu District in downtown Đà Nẵng is encouraging businesses and organisations to join the city’s community toilet programme to offer locals and visitors free and easy use of toilets in public.

The programme, started in 2015 and carried out by the Hải Châu Business Association, drew many restaurants, hotels and cafes, but was halted due to COVID-19, and now, while tourism is picking up, there is a lack of public toilets.

The district is asking businesses and organisations to help expand this model.

Lê Tự Gia Thạnh, chairman of the Hải Châu District People’s Committee, told Tuổi Trẻ newspaper the priority would be on businesses in locations with large concentrations of tourists.

The district also planned to create a mobile phone application to help people locate public toilets and install sign boards at tourist destinations and other crowded places, he said.

“This is an important and practical requirement to serve tourism in Đà Nẵng.”

In the past few days members of the local Communist Youth Party have been visiting businesses to solicit their participation in the programme, and many have signed up.

Those offering their toilets are required to prominently display a logo indicating availability to the public.

Sơn Trà District has also been canvassing local restaurants and hotels.

Over the years this model has spread to other cities and provinces around the country.

In March HCM City’s District 1 called on local businesses to open their toilets to the public to alleviate its severe shortage. – VNS