Vietnam’s stricter noise rules win support, residents call for reporting hotlines

Under Decree 282, authorities can penalize noise violations at any time of the day, removing earlier restrictions that focused mainly on late-night hours, a change many residents say reflects daily realities.

Bich Duyen, a 20-year-old university student in Ho Chi Minh City, said loudspeaker advertising from shops near her rented room blared from morning to night, repeating the same messages at high volume and leaving her mentally exhausted during exam periods.

“It’s not that people don’t understand businesses need to advertise,” she said, “but the volume and timing should be reasonable.”

Elderly residents say the impact is more severe.

Minh Huyen, 76, who lives in Thu Duc Ward, said a mix of music, movable loudspeakers and street vendors’ calls from early morning until late evening disrupted sleep and daily life.

“People endure it because they are afraid of offending neighbors,” she said, adding that clear enforcement could ease tensions within communities.

Local officials say the new regulation gives them stronger legal backing but practical challenges remain.

Tran Truong Nguyen, head of the culture department in An Xuyen Ward, Ca Mau Province, said local authorities previously struggled to fine violators due to a lack of sound-measuring equipment and trained staff.

“The decree is reasonable because it removes time limits,” he said, “but enforcement still depends on proper measurement and trained personnel.”

Dang Van Nam, deputy chairman of Ly Van Lam Ward in Ca Mau, said most cases are still handled through warnings rather than fines, as measuring noise intensity requires specialized devices and procedures.

“Even when residents provide videos or photos, they are often not enough for penalties,” he said.

Legal experts note that the current framework already allows for strict penalties if properly applied.

Lawyer Nguyen Hung Quan of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association said Decree 282, together with environmental regulations under Decree 45, allows fines of up to VND160 million (US$6,080) for individuals and higher penalties for organizations, along with confiscation of loudspeakers and possible suspension of operations.

Several lawyers and local leaders stressed the need for practical reporting mechanisms.

Nguyen Thanh Dam, another Ho Chi Minh City-based lawyer, said local governments should publish noise complaint hotlines and respond consistently to repeat offenders.

“Without clear channels and follow-through, regulations risk remaining on paper,” he said.

Some wards have already begun implementing such systems.

Nguyen Thi Phuong, chairwoman of Tan Binh Ward in Ho Chi Minh City, said residents can report noise violations via the city’s 1022 hotline, directly to ward leaders or through neighborhood heads, with police responding even outside office hours.