Aha Coffee Trucks are becoming a growing problem in Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, as they brazenly occupy sidewalks and streets for business. Images of Aha Coffee Trucks “stationed” in public spaces, causing urban unsightliness and obstructing traffic, have been reported by numerous media outlets.
Aha Coffee Trucks: Business Philosophy “Transforms” Sidewalks into Private Property
According to an article in Hanoi Traffic Newspaper on October 17th, the Aha Coffee Truck at 101C6 Giang Vo regularly occupies the entire sidewalk and street to park and conduct business. There are even signs of violations of construction order.
Aha Coffee Truck cafe at 101C6 Giang Vo, Hanoi, occupying the sidewalk.
Aha Coffee Truck cafe at 101C6 Giang Vo.
It’s not just the Aha Coffee cafe in Giang Vo; many other Aha Coffee Truck locations in Ba Dinh district are adopting a similar business philosophy. They are readily “transforming” sidewalks and streets into parts of their own space to generate illicit profits.
Aha Coffee Trucks: Not Just Occupation, But Also Illegal Construction
Beyond occupying sidewalks and streets to set up tables and chairs and create parking areas, Aha Coffee Truck cafes are also blatantly building additional steps, attaching fixed seats, and installing meter-long corrugated iron roofs on iron frames that extend out onto sidewalks and street corners.
Motorbikes parked all over the sidewalk and street corner due to Aha Coffee Truck cafe.
Motorbikes parked all over the sidewalk and even at the street intersection due to Aha Coffee cafe.
Steps illegally built, encroaching on the sidewalk by Aha Coffee Truck cafe.
Steps built illegally encroaching on the sidewalk.
These violations seriously affect urban order and traffic safety for residents. The blatant disregard for the law by Aha Coffee Truck cafes demonstrates a contempt for the law and the indifference of functional authorities.
Are Authorities Not Taking Strong Enough Action Against Aha Coffee Trucks?
The Vice Chairman of Giang Vo Ward People’s Committee stated that local authorities regularly inspect and remind violators, but the sidewalk encroachment situation recurs when functional forces are absent. Although the Aha Coffee Truck cafe at 101C6 Giang Vo has been fined twice with penalties ranging from 2 to 2.5 million VND, these measures are not deterrent enough.
Many opinions suggest that stronger sanctions are needed for repeat offenders, such as: enforcement, forced dismantling/remediation, or revocation of business licenses… to definitively resolve the sidewalk and street encroachment situation of Aha Coffee Trucks.
In conclusion, the situation of Aha Coffee Trucks encroaching on sidewalks and streets is a problem that needs to be thoroughly addressed. Functional authorities need to take stronger measures to ensure urban order and traffic safety for residents.
