Ho Chi Minh City takes stringent action against noise pollution this year

Ho Chi Minh City’s authorities plan to end noise pollution caused by open air karaoke singing, street singers and itinerant musicians this year, said Vo Van Hoan, deputy chairman of the municipal People's Committee at a meeting on March 9.

Hoan noted that a campaign will be launched to raise awareness among local people. In the first phase of the campaign which would last until May, legal instruments will be devised to deal with noise violations.

“This phase would not involve fining people, but simply making them more aware of the issue,” the vice chairman said, adding that people should not sing karaoke in apartments to avoid putting neighbors in sonic torture.

A street karaoke loudspeaker in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tam Duc

“In the second phase, from June to the end of the year, noise violations will be fined in accordance with the city’s regulations and the municipal government is determined to solve the issue by late 2021,” Hoan stressed.

A Vietnamese government decree issued in 2013 imposes fines for being extra-noisy in residential areas or public places between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.

For her part, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Nguyen Thi Thanh My said noise pollution in the city is mainly caused by karaoke services, bars, dance clubs or malls.

While there are fines for causing unreasonable noise, they are too lenient to deter violations, and can only be applied if is excessive noise is made in the banned time frames, My added.

She noted that her department has requested the municipal People's Committee to adopt new measures to deal with noise pollution in the city, like impose heftier fines and expanding the time frame in which excessive noise is banned.

Last week, Ho Chi Minh City mayor Nguyen Thanh Phong said at a meeting that he has received numerous complaints about the noise caused by the portable loudspeaker and wireless microphone, especially after 10:00 pm.

"People work hard all day and it is unacceptable that they come home only to be tormented by excessively loud noise. Local authorities and related agencies should take responsibility for this situation, which should not be considered a normal occurrence," Phong said.

It should be noted that karaoke noise does not just come from the street karaoke service, but also many households, Phong noted, adding that the city’s police would fine people who make loud noises.