Sidewalks in HCM City are now clear, orderly, and well-arranged thanks to regular dialogues between local authorities and residents, fostering mutual public trust. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — A major shift from administrative enforcement to community dialogue and digital transformation has successfully restored order on sidewalks and public trust across HCM City.

Managing public order and environmental sanitation has long been a complex challenge for this mega-city of over 14 million residents.

Previously, large-scale enforcement campaigns and heavy administrative fines only scratched the surface, with violations recurring almost immediately after law enforcement units left the scene.

Authorities walking alongside citizens

In the inner-core urban areas, managing sidewalks has always been a major flashpoint where the livelihood of local vendors frequently clashes with municipal requirements.

However, a recent survey in Phú Nhuận Ward demonstrates a fundamental transformation.

Sidewalks are now clear and orderly, and even deep alleys within residential clusters have been thoroughly cleared of long-standing spontaneous trash dumps.

The secret lies in the grassroots government’s citizen-centric approach.

Instead of relying solely on rigid sanctions, local officials now visit every alley and household, listening to the specific challenges of each business owner to find mutually beneficial solutions.

Nguyễn Thị Như Ý, chairwoman of Phú Nhuận Ward’s People's Committee, said one of the ward’s greatest achievements is leveraging a model that stays close to the people, works alongside them, and truly understands them.

“We focused heavily on dialogue and public dissemination to elevate self-awareness among businesses and households."

For cases requiring the temporary use of sidewalks for livelihoods, the ward government proactively initiates discussions to deliver reasonable, practical, and compassionate solutions, maximising conditions for household economies to thrive.

Dương Văn Lầu, director of Hùng Minh Security Services Company, said local authorities have closely engaged with businesses, organising frequent dialogue sessions to guide them through structural adjustments.

The civilised approach to sidewalk management has cultivated a clean, open street environment, making customers feel comfortable and safe.

“This peace and order serve as a core condition for businesses to focus confidently on production and development.”

While the central core faces intense sidewalk pressures, fast-urbanising areas like Bình Dương Ward and boundary zones face challenges rooted in municipal waste management and fire safety within newly formed residential clusters.

The overlapping workload has required grassroots civil servants to exert extraordinary efforts, often working overnight.

To fundamentally solve this problem, local authorities deployed the "Trash-Free Ward" action plan, embedding civilised urban lifestyles directly into every household.

Concurrently, officials have intensified field inspections, strictly penalising violations concerning illegal waste discharge and fire safety hazards.

Nguyễn Thị Hồng Yến, head of the Economic-Infrastructure-Urban Department of Bình Dương Ward, said despite limited civil service staffing, the extraordinary dedication of the team has enabled the unit to outstandingly fulfill its duties, firmly maintaining construction and urban order across the area.

Residents in HCM City’s Bến Cát Ward receive direct guidance on digital administrative procedures, online document submission, and VNeID account setup at a dedicated public instruction desk.— VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Duyên

Golden key of digital transformation

Alongside a high sense of responsibility, the strategic application of technology has successfully compensated for significant personnel shortages.

A system of surveillance cameras combined with direct interaction platforms has turned every citizen into an effective "digital eye" monitoring urban order.

Phú Nhuận Ward has actively coordinated with supporting units, such as local security forces to issue reminders, and militia forces to regulate traffic during peak hours.

The ward has successfully restored 200 surveillance cameras in residential neighborhoods to manage public order, environmental hygiene, and localised security efficiently.

This synchronisation between local personnel and digital tools is also yielding positive results in Phú Giáo Commune.

The locality has built the "Green Phú Giáo" app, allowing citizens to instantly report pending issues, illegal waste dumping, or environmental pollution.

Simple issues receive instant automated or staff replies, while complex cases trigger the immediate dispatch of officers to handle the situation on-site.

Đinh Văn Dương, Party Cell Secretary of Hamlet 9 in Phú Giáo Commune, said the 'Green Phú Giáo' app has proven highly effective, significantly shortening the time it used to take to report violations from the village to the commune level.

“Now, with just a few taps, real-time photos are transmitted directly to official agencies.”

The local party cell can also track progress to ensure timely responses, bringing a clean environment to our residents, he said.

In Tân Định Ward, digital transformation and administrative modifications have substantially enhanced the local living environment.

Trương Văn Lượng, a long-time resident of Tân Định Ward, said after merging and operating under the new governance model, the urban landscape has visibly upgraded.

Urban management officers work actively and politely, guiding residents to arrange vehicles neatly and maintain public hygiene with an open, explanatory approach that replaces past authoritative attitudes.

Đỗ Thị Ánh Tuyết, vice chairwoman of the Tân Định Ward People's Committee, said residents only need to access the rapid response platform to provide images and details of pressing civic issues.

“The system instantly processes the data and dispatches functional forces to resolve the issues on the spot.”

After nearly a year of operating the two-tier governance model, clear roadways, neat sidewalks, green-clean-beautiful surroundings, smooth administrative processes, and an assured business community serve as the most convincing proof of the city's administrative progress. — VNS