High-speed electric mini vehicles raise safety concerns at Vietnam's public parks

Large crowds on Sunday evening gathered at a park on Van Tien Dung Street in Hoa Xuan Ward, where families came to relax and children drove electric mini vehicles.

The spacious park often hosts more than five businesses offering food, beverages, and recreational activities, with electric vehicle rentals among the most popular attractions.

Nearly every rental operator offers dozens of miniature electric vehicles, including motorcycles, tricycles, and cars designed for children of different ages.

While many of the vehicles are equipped with LED lighting, horns, and built-in sound systems, some of the motorcycle-style models can travel at speeds between 30 and 40 kph and are handed directly to children to operate on their own.

Residents said that the high-speed vehicles have already led to dangerous situations.

Hoang Thi Thuy, who frequently brought her grandchild to the park, said she now avoids the area because of the speeding electric motorcycles.

“One time, several children riding too fast hit my leg while I was pushing my grandchild in a stroller,” she recounted.

“I no longer take my grandchild into that part of the park. We stay on the sidewalks or grassy areas instead," she said.

Among the vehicles available for rent, some can be controlled remotely by adults, while others are intended for children aged six and older to drive independently.

Several children frequently accelerate at high speeds and attempt drifting maneuvers similar to those seen in movies.

Meanwhile, many parents remain seated nearby using their mobile phones, leaving children to operate the vehicles without close supervision.

Adding to the concern is the absence of designated riding zones or physical barriers.

As a result, the vehicles can easily leave pedestrian areas and drive onto roads.

Similarly, electric vehicle rental services have also expanded rapidly at Nam Hoa Xuan Park in Ngu Hanh Son Ward.

Because the neighborhood remains sparsely populated, children often drive the vehicles at high speed throughout the park and even onto nearby streets.

Tran Thi Tuyet Nhung, a resident of the ward, said it is common to see children venturing well beyond the park.

“Although traffic is relatively light, cars and motorcycles still use these roads,” she noted.

“It only takes one unexpected situation for a child to panic and cause a collision,” she said.

Another hotspot is the public square in front of the administrative center of Hoa Khanh Ward on Nguyen Sinh Sac Street, where electric vehicle rental businesses have become increasingly common.

The large open square accommodates multiple commercial activities, so parents often keep a close watch on their children out of concern that an electric vehicle driven by another child could suddenly strike pedestrians.

Many rental operators reportedly collect payment before handing over the vehicles, paying little attention to the driver's age or providing even basic safety instructions.

On July 7, the Da Nang Department of Construction issued an official directive instructing local authorities and relevant agencies to strengthen oversight of children's electric ride-on vehicles operating unsafely in parks, squares, and other public spaces across the city.

The directive requires communes and wards to strictly enforce urban management regulations.

It also makes chairpersons of the wards and communes directly accountable if violations involving urban order, sidewalks, or public spaces are allowed to persist.