简体中文
A recent plan on lifting midnight curfew in Vietnam's capital Hanoi in a bid to lure more tourists has brought about both applauds and concerns among local residents.
Earlier this week, Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung spoke at a recent national tourism conference in central Vietnam that many foreigners consider Hanoi's night life a "specialty," and the city is going to lift its midnight curfew to let tourists have more fun at night.
Entertainment spots will be allowed to remain open overnight soon, Chung revealed.
Currently, all restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and karaoke parlors in Hanoi have to close at midnight though bars and clubs at top-tier hotels and resorts are allowed to stay open until 2 a. m.
The move aims at realizing a resolution of Hanoi Party Committee on tourism development during 2016-2020 period, issued in late June.
Accordingly, the city set to bring tourism a key economic sector with average annual growth of 8-10 percent by 2020. By that year, Hanoi will receive some 30 million person-times of tourists, some 5.7 million of whom are foreign visitors, compared to that of 3.3 million foreign visitors last year.
Lifting curfew hours in Hanoi was immediately welcomed by young people. Most of them expressed joy over the decision which they said should have been made many years ago.
Vu Hung, a student in Hanoi, was quoted by local Phu Nu Online (Online Women) newspaper on Thursday as saying "I totally agree with such an incredible idea. Let the society develop naturally and do not control it. I wish the decision will soon take effect."
Sharing the same view with Hung, Nguyen Tien Chien, 25, from Vietnam's southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City, said in his city, there is no curfew hour. "Not long ago, when I went to Hanoi to join a birthday party of my friends. I was so much surprised as bars, karaoke shops were all closed at around midnight."
Chien said he was wondering why there was such tight regulation in Hanoi. "Thanks God it is going to be removed," Chien said in a relief.
Many tourists in the capital have complained about the lack of night activities, with some saying they have nothing to do other than drinking beer on sidewalks.
However, local officials warned that the change needs better management, like age limit, or else it would backfire.
In an interview with local Tien Phong (Pioneer) newspaper, Do Dinh Hong, director of Hanoi tourism department said the plan is a practical and effective measure to prolong staying time and average expense of tourists.
This will help lure young visitors as well as promote tourism and entertainment activities of local businesses, said Hong.
At the same time, Hong himself raised a question that the lifting of curfew hours may cause "opposite effect," with possible expansion of unhealthy entertainment activities.
Echoing Hong, a reader called Vu Hoang Anh said on Phu Nu Online that the plan needs clear regulation on waste and noise management so that it will not have negative impact on the urban environment as well as daily lives of local citizens.
Another reader namely Vo Van commented on local VietnamNet online newspaper that without careful calculation, "the plan will be a disaster of living habitat for local residents, posing safety and security threat to them and putting the society into chaos. Keep cautious, please."
Hanoi, a 1,000-year-old city, has become a popular travel destination, including being named one of the best value destinations in the TripIndex report by TripAdvisor for the last three years.
In a related move, Hanoi is going to offer free WiFi service, build 1,000 new public toilets and 200 public benches to boost tourism, said Hanoi authorities.
(APD)
