Vietnam's Mui Ne cracks down on illegal stalls, street vendors

Authorities have dismantled illegally erected tents and banned street vending at public beaches, including Ong Dia Rock Beach (Phu Thuy Ward) and Mui Ne Fishing Village (Mui Ne Ward).

Nguyen Huu Thong, secretary of the Phu Thuy Ward Party Committee, said Ong Dia Beach attracts large numbers of visitors year-round. 

In the past, authorities uncovered multiple cases of street vendors misleading tourists by selling fresh seafood of poorer quality than advertised.

The crackdown also aims to prevent illegal encroachment on public beaches and improve the appearance of the Mui Ne National Tourism Area, one of Vietnam's best-known coastal tourism destinations.

Thong said such practices not only pose food safety and hygiene risks but also damage Mui Ne's reputation as a tourist destination. 

Removing street vendors would also help keep public beaches clean and open, creating a more pleasant space for both visitors and local residents, he added.

Once the Ong Dia Rock Beach public park project is completed, the ward plans to designate specific areas for residents to sell their goods, allowing them to earn a living while improving the visitor experience and making the area easier to manage, Thong said.

Authorities in Mui Ne Ward face similar challenges. 

Although the ward has repeatedly cracked down on unregulated street vending and fraudulent seafood sales, these practices resurface from time to time.

Le Thanh Son, chairman of the Mui Ne Ward People's Committee, said authorities had repeatedly urged residents to remove makeshift shelters and canopies used for informal seafood stalls along public beaches. 

However, many vendors continued to occupy public spaces and sell low-quality products.

In response, the ward has stepped up enforcement by deploying additional personnel to dismantle illegal structures and restore a cleaner, more open beachfront.