Ho Chi Minh City Proposes Minimizing Road Name Changes Amid Duplication Issues

Ho Chi Minh City is grappling with an administrative challenge involving 782 roads that share identical names or numbers after recent mergers of administrative units.

The city has identified 35 instances of duplicate road names and 747 instances of duplicate road numbers across various wards and communes. The majority of these duplicates involve numbered streets, a situation that arose primarily during the expansion and consolidation of administrative divisions. This duplication creates complexities in addressing and managing the city's infrastructure.

“

The current regulations do not address the use of numbers instead of road names in urban areas.

To address this issue, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports has proposed a strategy that prioritizes minimizing road name changes. This approach aligns with directives from the City People's Council and People's Committee, aiming to maintain stability in residents' lives and balance urban management needs with the preservation of historical and cultural values. The current regulations do not explicitly cover the use of numbers for street names in urban areas, a practice that has become prevalent due to administrative changes.

The department recommends retaining existing names for roads that are well-known, historically or culturally significant, or deeply ingrained in the community's identity. Changes will only be considered for roads with less historical meaning, those that are culturally inappropriate, or those that cause negative social impacts. For duplicate names within the same ward, priority will be given to older, larger, or more historically significant roads. Smaller roads with fewer residents or less historical connection may be considered for renaming, but final decisions will rest with the competent authorities. Some wards have already submitted proposals for renaming, which will be reviewed by a specialized council.

“

We prioritize retaining road names to ensure stability in people's lives, while harmonizing urban management requirements with the preservation of historical and cultural values.