Da Nang cracks down on misconduct by foreign tourists at popular destinations

A leader of Ngu Hanh Son Ward said on Monday they were investigating and would strictly handle a case involving a shirtless foreign man who climbed onto a car and damaged the vehicle, causing public disorder in the An Thuong tourist area.

In Da Nang, the An Thuong area is widely known as a major hub for foreign tourists with many lively tourism and entertainment streets.

While the area attracts large numbers of visitors and bustling business activities, several recent incidents involving inappropriate behavior by foreign tourists have drawn criticism on social media.

On Sunday, a video circulating online showed a shirtless foreign man behaving aggressively in public.

According to the footage, the man appeared to lose control while walking along the street before jumping onto the roof of a car, shouting and damaging the vehicle.

On Monday afternoon, foreign tourists crowded streets such as Hoang Ke Viem, An Thuong 20, and Tran Bach Dang, where tourism and nightlife activities remain vibrant.

Although many visitors complied with local traffic laws, it was still common to see some foreign tourists riding motorcycles shirtless or failing to wear helmets despite carrying them on their motorcycles.

Local residents expressed frustration at such scenes.

Authorities and residents said cases involving intoxicated foreign tourists causing disturbances, shouting, fighting, and violating traffic regulations, especially riding motorcycles without helmets, have become increasingly common in Da Nang.

Such behavior has upset not only local residents but also members of the foreign tourist community.

A Swedish man who has lived in nearby Hoi An for many years said he was uncomfortable witnessing foreigners disregard Vietnamese laws while traveling in the country.

“We hope Vietnamese authorities will strengthen enforcement so that everyone follows the rules. 

"Vietnam is beautiful, safe, and its people are friendly. It is unacceptable for foreign visitors to break the law,” he said.

N.H.T., the owner of an apartment rental business in Son Tra Ward, said his guests come from many different countries.

Whenever guests check in, he briefly explains Vietnamese laws and local regulations, though some visitors still behave inappropriately.

In addition to traffic violations, some foreign tourists have also been seen bringing dogs and cats onto Da Nang’s beaches without muzzles.

According to residents, some pet owners allow their animals to relieve themselves directly on the beach and ignore reminders from locals.

A leader from Son Tra Ward said local police and authorities consistently take strong action against foreign visitors who violate regulations.

Although some initially refused to cooperate, many later acknowledged their mistakes and pledged not to repeat the offenses after working with police.

Local ward leaders stated that authorities remain determined in dealing with legal violations involving foreigners at tourist destinations, though coordination between agencies can sometimes present challenges.

Coordination by tourism sector

Truong Thi Hong Hanh, director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, said the city’s tourism brand continues to attract visitors from around the world, but some tourists still behave improperly.

She said local police and authorities have handled violations firmly, while the tourism sector plans to introduce additional awareness campaigns and guidelines in the near future.

“We will focus on reminding tourism service providers to inform foreign guests about Vietnamese laws and appropriate behavior when using local services,” Hanh said.

According to official statistics, Hoa Hai Traffic Police Station handled 50 cases involving foreign nationals violating traffic safety regulations in 2023, issuing fines totaling VND237 million (US$8,991).

In 2024, authorities handled 106 cases with fines exceeding VND300 million ($11,382).

In 2025, 17 cases were recorded.

Since the beginning of this year, at least four cases involving foreign nationals violating traffic laws have already been handled.