Free restroom: Small initiative, big impact

THE HANOI TIMES — Walking down Hang Than Street (Truc Bach Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi) on her first day in Vietnam, Ayaama Narev (Israel) was delighted to see "Free Restroom" signs at many shops and cafes. She said that public restrooms in tourist areas around the world usually cost a fee, and if they are free, they are pretty bad.

"I experienced free restrooms in Hanoi, and it was great, just like the slogan Make yourself at home. ' I feel more comfortable when traveling in the city," she said.

Since early March, Truc Bach authorities have launched a free restroom program to increase convenience for tourists and make the ward more friendly.

Sipping Vietnamese coffee at a shop on Truc Bach Street, British tourist Murray Morison said free restrooms are a big plus for Vietnam tourism in general and Hanoi in particular.

"I have traveled to many places, and it is really difficult to find a public restroom. First-time visitors to Hanoi who have no information can look at these stickers and use the restroom for free. I hope this model will be expanded throughout Hanoi in the near future," he said.

Nguyen Thu Phuong, 41, one of the first households to join the free restroom program at the invitation of Truc Bach District on Hang Than Street, said, "We fully support it because it is very practical for tourists and at the same time promotes the image of Hanoi tourism.

Before the initiative, her banh com (green sticky rice cakes) shop allowed tourists to use the restroom without being customers.

"For the initiative to last, every resident must be responsible for maintaining public hygiene so that both tourists and the business feel comfortable," she said.

Café owner Nguyen Thi Hoa, 45, felt the same way. Even before the free toilets program, she let passersby use the restroom without charging them or requiring them to buy drinks.

The restroom is located on the first floor, which is convenient for everyone. Not only foreign guests but also locals, taxi drivers, and shippers sometimes used the restroom. All of them felt comfortable when they heard the owner say, "Please come in."

Admitting that she was a bit concerned about the difficulty of controlling customers coming and going, Hoa said she would assign staff to guide them appropriately according to their needs while maintaining a clean and polite space.

"This initiative brings out the friendliness of the local people," Hoa said.

Good to get started, but need to watch out

Le Tat Thanh, Chairman of Truc Bach Ward People's Committee, said the free restroom has been piloted in food and beverage outlets on Truc Bach and Hang Than streets and Ngu Xa pedestrian zone.

Participation is voluntary, with establishments displaying a smiley face and the words "Free Restroom" in green or blue indicating that tourists can use their facilities at no cost.

"So far, there are 25 free restrooms in the ward. We expect 80% of businesses in other streets in the area to join the initiative by the April 30-May 1 holiday," said Thanh.

According to Thanh, shop owners have the right to refuse access to individuals who are intoxicated, show signs of drug use, or may misuse the free restrooms for theft or illegal activities.

"Owners are not obliged to serve indecent customers. We have made it clear to shop owners: be friendly, support them as much as possible, but do not be lenient to avoid unfortunate incidents," said Thanh.

According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Truc Bach, about 300 - 600 tourists visit the ward every day. On weekends, the number of visitors increases to 800-1,000, most of whom are foreigners. To help them easily search and find free restrooms, the district People's Committee will update the database of free restrooms on the district's information portal, website and fan page.

After almost a month, businesses have responded positively to this initiative. Currently, Hanoi has only 300 public toilets located in flower gardens and some main streets. Many of the restrooms are in serious disrepair, ruining the city's aesthetics.

Tran Anh Tuan, a tourist from the northern province of Phu Tho, said there is only one public toilet around Hoan Kiem Lake, which can easily lead to congestion and does not ensure environmental hygiene. Other restrooms are located in alleys and across the street, making it difficult for tourists to locate them.

"Many restrooms are in a state of disrepair and rust, with sinks, sprayers, and flush taps missing or broken. The toilets are dirty and smelly, which makes people and tourists afraid to enter," Tuan said.

The free restroom initiative in Truc Bach ward should be replicated in Hanoi and nationwide, according to some tourists.