Some Hanoi gaming cafes defy 10:00 pm closing rule

Under Government Decree 174, which took effect on July 1 this year, public gaming and Internet service providers must operate only between 8:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. 

Violations carry fines ranging between VND10 million (US$385) and VND15 million ($575).

However, Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper found that several gaming cafes in the Vietnamese capital were still operating well past the 10:00 pm deadline.

Late on Thursday, your correspondents visited a gaming cafe at 106E4 Le Thanh Nghi Street in Bach Mai Ward, posing as customers looking to play games.

The facility remained open at 10:10 pm, with several computers running for customers playing games and browsing the Internet.

The owner said the shop could stay open until midnight if demand continued.

At a PlayStation gaming cafe in an alley off 205 Giai Phong Street, your correspondents also found the business still accepting customers.

An employee said it stayed open until 1:00 am before closing.

In contrast, a gaming cafe at 318 Lac Long Quan Street in Tay Ho Ward, which advertises 24-hour service, was closed when your correspondents arrived at 11:00 pm.

An employee said the cafe had recently been closing at 9:30 pm in response to requests from local authorities.

At 11:20 pm the same day, the Vikings gaming cafe at 713 Hoang Hoa Tham Street in Ngoc Ha Ward was still operating normally despite being well past the permitted closing time.

The large gaming cafe occupies the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors of a building at the address.

Customers have to go down to the B2 basement level before taking an elevator to the gaming area.

The cafe has separate gaming areas spanning all three floors, with each floor covering hundreds of square meters.

Numerous gamers were still playing late into the night, apparently waiting for an instruction to close.

“We stay open until we receive a notice to close,” an employee said.

After Tuoi Tre reported that some gaming cafes were operating after 10:00 pm, local officials in Bach Mai Ward and Ngoc Ha Ward said they would investigate and take action against venues violating the curfew.