When the toilet is no longer a 'secondary structure'

Become a relaxing space

For a long time, toilets were not given importance in both urban and rural areas. When building houses, toilets were often placed far away, especially in rural areas.

At that time, in addition to being a place to go to the toilet, the toilet was also a place to produce fertilizer, often located in hidden, damp places. Although it was called a toilet, it was the most unsanitary place compared to other structures in a family.

Nowadays, life is developing strongly, people's thinking also changes, so the toilet is considered more important than ever.

Mr. Nguyen Ha is building a 4-storey house in Nhi Chau ward (Hai Duong city) and is entering the finishing stage. Each floor is designed with a toilet of 10 - 15 m wide.²depending on usage needs.

Mr. Ha said that on the 1st, 3rd and 4th floors, the cost of each completed bathroom is about 100 million VND, including a water heater, heater, fan, wash basin and accessories. On the 2nd floor, there are 2 bedrooms, so there are separate bathrooms and toilets, including the Master bathroom, which is fully equipped and has a bathtub, pictures, and sound system. According to Mr. Ha, the bathroom and toilet on the 2nd floor alone cost about 200 million VND, accounting for about 20% of the cost of building a floor.

"Having worked abroad for a long time, and returning to the country to work for foreign agencies, my wife pays a lot of attention to bathroom and toilet design. My wife and I do not pay too much attention to high-end sanitary equipment, but the design must be high-end and suitable for use. The bathroom is not just a place to bathe and wash, but can also become a relaxing space for the homeowner after each working day," said Mr. Ha.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tam's family in Dinh Son commune (Cam Giang) has just completed a house after many years of saving. Mr. Tam said that when looking at the design, many people commented that the bathroom and toilet areas accounted for a large amount of construction costs, but after more than a year of use, they have really come into play. Mr. Tam said: "The toilet is not just an auxiliary structure as previously thought, but also shows the homeowner's vision. My children have grown up, when friends come to play and use the toilet, they all praise it, making my children proud. Not only a place to use the toilet, the toilet is now designed to be modern and clean, making it no longer a nightmare like before."

For a long time, toilets in both residential and public areas have not been invested in, making them a real horror every time you have to enter them. This is also where diseases arise, polluting the air and water environment... With its importance, many localities have had to have specific instructions when building and using toilets.

Invest carefully

Not only in residential areas, restrooms in public places are getting more and more attention. In many restaurants and eateries, restrooms are always cleaned by staff. "If the restrooms in restaurants are not guaranteed, customers may not come back to the restaurant again. Therefore, most of them are paid a lot of attention by the restaurant owners," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, a customer at KihAru restaurant (Phu Tho street, Hai Duong city). According to Ms. Tuyet, the female restroom area is scientifically arranged and clean. In this area, there are also hair dryers, hair ties, earrings... for female customers. Although the restaurant is small and simple, the scientifically designed restroom area shows the owner's sophistication and respect for customers.

In the rural areas of Hai Duong, toilets are now being built to fit the landscape. There are no longer images of shabby toilets hidden in the corners of gardens and being a source of serious pollution like before. Right in the rural areas, many sanitary equipment stores from high-end to popular have been opened, showing that the concept of toilets has changed greatly.

Although toilets in schools and hospitals in Hai Duong still have many shortcomings, they have received more attention than before.

At the end of 2023, the People's Committee of Hai Duong province approved the aid to implement the project "Building a new toilet for Quang Trung Primary School, Quang Trung Commune, Tu Ky District, Hai Duong". Hoa Trang Fleur Blanche Organization (France) provided aid to build the above project with a value of more than 300 million VND. Also in 2023, Sumidenso Vietnam Co., Ltd. sponsored Nghia An Primary School (Ninh Giang) with 11,000 USD to build a toilet...

In the set of criteria for new rural communes in the period of 2021 - 2025 in Hai Duong province issued by the People's Committee of Hai Duong province, toilets are also one of the criteria that must be implemented.

This shows that toilets have been and are being invested in and built to suit modern life and the increasingly improved quality of life of people today.