A young man from Xuân Hương ward in Da Lat has been fined 35 million VND for cutting down a pine tree without permission and sharing the act on social media. The case highlights ongoing issues regarding the management of urban trees in the city.

On September 13, Nguyễn Ngọc Hậu, the Vice Chairman of the Xuân Hương ward People's Committee, confirmed that the local authorities issued a fine to H.N.M, born in 1999, for his actions. The tree was located within a residential area, not on forest land, but its removal still required adherence to urban tree management regulations.

According to Hậu, any resident wishing to cut down a tree must notify local authorities for an assessment, even if the tree poses a risk during stormy weather. The local government, along with forestry officials, evaluates the tree's condition before granting permission to remove it.

H.N.M posted two short videos on TikTok, which garnered over 300,000 likes, showing him cutting down a pine tree approximately 5 meters tall and 35 centimeters in diameter. In the videos, he also demonstrated how to damage the tree to ensure it would die. He stated that the tree was several decades old and intended to use the wood for furniture.

Local authorities became aware of the situation and contacted H.N.M on September 7. Two days later, they issued a violation notice to address the illegal act. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of following regulations regarding tree management in urban areas.