Ho Chi Minh City to pilot new parking technology

The municipal People’s Committee has agreed upon the pilot plan, which will be carried out by the Department of Transport, the District 1 administration, and the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the military-run mobile network operator Viettel.

The testing will be conducted in District 1 in downtown areas.

Accordingly, modern technology will be applied to the parking services for automobiles along Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh Streets, and a section of Le Lai Street in front of the New World Saigon Hotel.   

The venues offer between 150 and 170 car parking spaces.

The plan is expected to be initiated in September and take place over three months, during which Viettel will provide all expenditure and the technology required.

Following the pilot phase, the municipal People’s Committee will evaluate the results and decide whether or not to multiply the application in other areas of the southern hub.

According to Ngo Hai Duong, head of the Road Infrastructure Management and Exploitation Division under the transport department, the technology will allow residents to use the parking service with just a few simple touches on their smartphones.

Via the application, users can review detailed information of the parking lot, available slots, search for routes leading to the venue, and pay fees in advance, Duong elaborated.

It will also update the entry and exit times of each vehicle to calculate the charges.

A camera system will be installed at these parking venues to facilitate the application as well as provide better management.

The project is expected to help ensure order and safety on the streets, provide accurate fees, and reduce drawbacks in the operation of parking services, Duong stated.

It will also raise citizens’ awareness of regulations on parking vehicles on the city’s streets, the transport official added.