Karaoke noise has become a hot topic in Vietnam recently, as many cities and provinces are trying to take down the noise pollution. How are they doing it?

The central city of Da Nang seems to be the most recent locality which took a bold move in the fight, with penalties for loud karaoke and music ranging from VND100,000 (US$4.3) to VND1 million ($43).

Among the cases, those who make loud noise in residential areas and public places from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am the next morning will face a fine of VND100,000-300,000 (US$4.3-13).

Fines of VND500,000-1 million (US$22-43) will be considered for acts of gathering and causing public disorder.

Meanwhile, in the second week of March, Ho Chi Minh City decided to launch a sweeping campaign to eradicate violations of regulations on noise control in the city by the end of this year, with the first phase focusing on educating against noise pollution among the community while the second phase will impose strict administrative penalties on violators.

At the meeting announcing the decision on March 9, Vo Van Hoan, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, pointed out that noise pollution regulations have not been enforced well.

Amidst the issue being extensively discussed in local media recently, the city’s hotline 1022 has become an outlet where people in the southern metropolis can report loud karaoke parties and other types of noise pollution in their neighborhood.

Upon those reports, local authorities have taken action to deal with violators.

To report to 1022, which is the city’s portal launched in 2019 to receive and respond to reports from local residents and businesses, people can directly call the hotline 1022, or access the application named 'Tong dai 1022,' the website https://1022.tphcm.gov.vn or the Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/1022.tphcm.gov.vn. They can also send an email to 1022@tphcm.gov.vn.

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang is also taking the issue seriously.

In early March, An Giang’s authorities announced a ban on ‘mobile karaoke,’ a kind of entertainment in which people can easily sing karaoke via a bluetooth-connected microphone or speaker and a smartphone app, in the whole province as it causes a high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The ban was also effective in karaoke parties at home, with those running rental mobile karaoke equipment business being subject to punishment, said Truong Ba Trang, deputy director of the provincial department of culture, sports, and tourism.

The official added that local residents were not banned from organizing parties with singing, however, noise should not exceed the regulated levels.

Authorities at commune and district levels were assigned to supervise the prohibition, Trang said.

“The chairperson of the People’s Committee in a commune will be the first to be held accountable when mobile karaoke takes place in their locality,” he emphasized.

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