Da Nang hospitals keep motorbike parking fees at just $0.03, unchanged for nearly 10 years

The remarkably low charge has surprised many visitors from other provinces, particularly given the modern facilities and infrastructure of the hospitals' parking areas.

Under Decision No. 25/2017 issued by the municipal People's Committee, motorbike parking fees at hospitals are set at VND1,000 per visit during the day and VND2,000 ($0.06) at night.

For motorcycles parked across both daytime and nighttime periods, the fee is VND 3,000 ($0.09) per visit.

Nearly 10 years after the decision was introduced, these rates remain unchanged.

Another notable aspect of the policy is its support for patients and their families.

At many public hospitals, inpatients, outpatients and family members caring for them are eligible for free motorbike parking in accordance with regulations.

At several hospitals in the city, parking fees are clearly displayed for the public.

A person responsible for the parking hotline at Da Nang Hospital told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the facility continues to charge according to Decision No. 25/2017 and provides free parking for patients.

Two hotline numbers have also been publicly displayed, allowing residents to report cases of improper parking charges.

Visitors surprised by nominal parking fees

Tran Trong Khai, a visitor from Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam, was surprised by the parking fee when he arrived at Da Nang Hospital to visit a relative.

Both he and his companion were taken aback when an employee charged them just VND1,000.

Khai said he could hardly remember seeing anywhere else that still charged such a small amount for motorbike parking.

"Even in the mountainous area where I come from, I haven't seen parking fees this low," he remarked.

Le Van Hau, a resident of Quang Tri Province, located in north-central Vietnam, also expressed surprise during a recent visit to a hospital in Da Nang.

He said the parking charge was nominal, while the facilities were modern.

Hau recalled using parking facilities at two major hospitals in Da Nang.

"The parking fee is unbelievably cheap.

“The facilities are modern, with surveillance cameras, electronic parking cards and image checks whenever vehicles enter or leave.”

Despite the low fees, there have occasionally been complaints about the attitudes and conduct of parking attendants at public hospitals.

Some have reportedly charged the nighttime rate during daytime hours or failed to return small amounts of change to customers.

Such incidents have prompted repeated reminders and corrective action from hospital management boards.

From free parking to regulated fees

Da Nang previously introduced a policy providing free motorbike parking at public hospitals in 2011.

However, after years of implementation, the scheme encountered several problems.

Some people reportedly took advantage of the free service by leaving their motorbikes at hospitals for several days or using hospital parking areas as a substitute for parking at home.

This led to overcrowding and raised concerns about safety, including potential fire hazards.

Following a review of the situation, the city revised its policy in 2017, introducing regulated parking fees under the new pricing framework.

The revised policy, however, retained free parking support for eligible patients and family members caring for them.