Saigon's controversial sidewalk-clearing campaign came in for criticism from the city's leader earlier this week.
VnExpress reports that Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the municipal People's Committee, advocated for a gentler approach to the issue of removing vendors from sidewalks.
"Some people sell their goods on the sidewalks to feed their families," Phong said during a constituent meeting in District 1 on Wednesday, the news source shares. "An unsubtle approach can really affect their lives, especially poor people. It's inhumane to push them away."
The campaign, spearheaded by Doan Ngoc Hai, District 1's vice chairman, has had an eventful year. The effort began in February when Hai made national headlines for his take-no-prisoners approach, before his actions were halted for four months.
Hai returned to the streets in August, only to have his power curbed again in October when the district's leaders implemented a new rule forcing his team to submit detailed plans before going into action.
Previously, Hai had generally operated by launching surprise inspections and quickly clearing away vehicles, carts and even parts of buildings.
Phong's comments this week are another blow to the campaign, which has lost considerable steam in recent months. The city chairman also shared that local leaders will conduct an official review of the issue soon, VnExpress adds.
Local residents expressed their frustration over Hai's tactics at the meeting. Nguyen Thi Xuyen, for example, lamented the removal of canvases over street stalls during the campaign: "The canvases protect the vendors from the sun and rain, and they do not bother pedestrians at all," she said. "The person who gave this order is just heartless."
