A Tết (Lunar New Year) festival held at Lê Văn Tám Park in HCM City's District 1 in January. — VNA/VNS Photo Mỹ Phương

HCM CITY — Aiming to become a city of events, the southern metropolis HCM City plans to organise a series of events every month throughout the year that will last from one to two weeks, according to municipal People's Committee chairman Phan Văn Mãi at the 21st session of the Party Executive Committee of District 1 for the 2020-25 tenure held on March 9.

Mãi said if District 1 is identified as the service district, it must plan to host events and provide entertainment for tourists and residents every night and day.

“Events are not only fun, but also an opportunity for economic and service development in the city,” he said.

He requested that the district choose key locations for a pilot programme that manages encroachment on pavement and roads, reserving some streets for local vendors to set up their food stalls and create conditions for them to operate as part of walking streets.

“This is an activity to ensure urban order and manage roads and sidewalks to provide space for community activities and reasonable economic activities,” he said.

In the second quarter, District 1 will focus on collecting fees for the temporary use of sidewalks and roads, while ensuring absolute safety and security for the city centre.

Chairman of District 1’s People’s Committee Lê Đức Thanh said the district’s state budget revenue reached VNĐ5.3 trillion (US$210 million) during March, achieving 30.6 per cent of the target.

The district has 87 roads eligible for partially using sidewalks according to Decision No. 32 of the municipal People's Committee and has arranged parking spaces without fees on sidewalks on 71 streets. — VNS