Starting in February next year, Vietnam will significantly increase fines for public urination.
Tougher punishment for peeing in public began earlier this year, when Saigon officials attempted to prevent public urination by deploying authorities armed with cameras to catch culprits in the act and fine them VND200,000. In the new year, however, this figure will rise to between VND1 million and 3 million (US$44-133) from February 1, 2017.
While VnExpress reports that higher fines can help, many also believe the country needs more standard public restrooms in order to truly eradicate the problem, according to the news outlet.
Phuong Luong, a VnExpress reader, told the news site: “Frankly, I don’t want to pee in public but I still have to as I can’t find any public toilets, but I also want to be a civilized citizen.”
Saigon only has 200 public toilets to serve the needs of its 10 million residents in addition to the 5 million foreign tourists that visit the city each year, according to the news outlet. Meanwhile, Hanoi has 340 public toilets, however two-thirds of these restrooms are located in residential areas and only 100 are situated along streets or near entertainment facilities.
Beyond public urination, fines against throwing cigarette butts on the ground will also be increased from VND500,000 to VND1 million, reports Tuoi Tre, while those caught tossing garbage onto sidewalks, roads and near drainage systems will face a penalty of VND5-7 million.
[Photo via Dan Tri]
