Local authorities are fed up with the rowdy nightlife that's invaded downtown Hoi An.
This Monday, new rules prohibiting riverside businesses from operating past midnight went into effect, according to Tuoi Tre. Furthermore, restaurants and bars are also no longer allowed to play music at a volume over 50 decibels (about the volume of light urban traffic) past 10pm. All bars in the area must now issue last call at 11:45pm.
“There will be no exceptions,” said Nguyen Van Son, vice-chairman of the Hoi An People’s Committee, according to the news source.
Police are also being instructed to crack down on behind-the-counter sales of laughing gas balloons, as well as taxi drivers working to funnel tourists into late-night watering holes.
The regulations are an attempt to restore a sense of order to Hoi An, the popular town that stretches along the Hoai River. At its center is Nguyen Phuc Chu, a riverside walking street lined with traditional architecture, candle-lit alleys, and a growing row of bars and restaurants, an attraction for both romantics and revelers alike.
But has the city swung too far in favor of the latter? Residents and officials have expressed concern over public perception of their city, and that Nguyen Phuc Chu is losing its tranquil, nostalgic charm. On January 25th, an attack on an Australian tourist by local motorbike drivers added to their concerns.
“The People’s Committee will do anything in its power to rid Hoi An of negative images and bring back the order and tranquility the old town needs,” Son told Tuoi Tre.
[Photo via Tuoi Tre]
