This has happened under a campaign launched recently by the city to ask for land donations to expand alleys in the 2021-2025 period.

The widening of the alleys will allow greater access for ambulances, fire trucks etc. as also increase the value of local homes.

The alleys targeted have a current width of about two meters. After the expansion, each alley will be wide enough to have two cars use it at the same time.

The market value of the land to be donated by the families ranges from VND30 million ($1,300) to VND50 million per square meter.

Quach Sy Tuyen, 55, has lived for more than 30 years in Alley No.41 on Chuyen Dung 9 Street. He has agreed to give the city a land plot of 10 square meters for the alley expansion.

"I lose a part of my property, but in return, it would benefit the community and raise the value of my own house."

The alley, which is 2.7 meters wide now, has for years suffered from flooding. It is very difficult for ambulances to enter the alley, and residents are constantly wary about the risk of fires breaking out in the cramped conditions.

Tuyen said he and other land donors wish that the city helps them financially to rebuild the façade of their houses.

More than 95 percent of 75 families living in the alley have handed over their land and local authorities are completing legal procedures so that the expansion work could be done in the next three months.

"For the 2021-2025 period, the district targets expanding at least 50 alleys," said District 7 chairman Hoang Minh Tuan Anh.

He also said the district will make plans to compensate who give up large amounts of land, but did not elaborate.

Similar land donation campaigns for alley expansion have been launched in different HCMC districts.

In the past 10 years, the city’s Phu Nhuan District has expanded 38 alleys and five streets after 2,100 families handed over 10,500 square meters of land worth more than VND900 billion.

District 3 has expanded 37 alleys in the last five years after receiving 7,300 square meters of land worth VND363 billion from 1,300 families.

The suburban districts of Hoc Mon, Cu Chi and Binh Chanh have also executed such plans.