Ha Noi is facing a shortage of parking spaces in the lead up to
the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, a problem that traditionally leads to
overcharging and traffic chaos.

Motorbike parking on Ha Noi’s Dinh Le Street. The city is facing a chronic shortage of parking space ahead of Tet. (Photo: VNS)

Deputy
chief inspector of the Ha Noi Department of Transport Tran Dang Hai said the
city currently had about 960 parking lots that can meet only 10 per cent of
demand.

The
department’s statistics in April 2010 revealed the city had 360,000 cars and 3.6
million motorbikes.

“The
demand for parking has increased four-fold over a decade ago,” he said.

“The
numbers of both vehicles and buildings are increasing, contributing to the
problem.”

During
holiday periods, large numbers of people visit sites such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Ha
Noi Zoo and the Old Quarter.

Nguyen
Tuan Hop of Dong Da District said he had to pay VND50,000 (US$2.5) just to park
his motorbike near Hoan Kiem Lake on the first day of the New Year.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Minh Thang, a driver for an agricultural pharmaceutical
company, said it usually took him so much time to look for a parking place that
he would often leave his car on the pavement.

Tran Van
Duc from Hoai Duc District said he was charged VND15,000 for parking his
motorbike near the Ha Noi Zoo where the regulated price is supposed to be only
VND5,000 ($0.25).

Nguyen
Tuan Anh who lives on Nguyen Khac Can Street in Hoan Kiem District said his
street was jammed with people trying to park.

To
address the problem, the Ha Noi Department of Transport has drafted a plan to
manage parking lots during the Lunar New Year holiday.

“The
department will have a meeting with district People’s Committees about measures
to better manage parking fees,” Hai said.

A week
before the Tet holiday the department will open a hotline which can be called to
complain about parking lots charging more than the regulated fees.

The
department has submitted a scheme for creating parking lots in parks, and the
Old Quarter during the holiday period to the municipal People’s Committee. The
regulated prices for motorbike and bicycle keeping will be between VND2,000
($0.1) and 5,000 ($0.25).

This
year inspectors from the department will take turns to check the lots, including
those that have previously not increased parking fees for cars and motorbike.

“The
inspections weren’t implemented strictly, but so many parking lots ended up
overcharging customers without being fined,” inspector Hai said.

Overcharging parking attendants face fines of VND6-10 million ($300-500).

“If an
attendant proves to be a repeat offender, he could have his business licence
withdrawn,” he added.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News