These proposals are contained in the draft amended Decree on Cultural Activities and Public Cultural Services being forwarded to concerned authorities for the purpose of gathering public opinion. If approved by the government, the decree will take effect in September.
Public opinion is being solicited until the end of this month on the website of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) at www.cinet.gov.vn.
Le Anh Tuyen, head of the ministry’s Legal Department, says the proposed ban on dancing in karaoke lounges is aimed at limiting illegal acts.
“This ban is to prevent social evils, including the use of ecstasy in these places, and it was proposed after police found instances of people using ecstasy in karaoke lounges.”
However, he said violators would face no fine if they were dancing without using ecstasy or there was no prostitution involved.
Early in 2005, police busted drug dens operating under the guise of karaoke lounges and dancing clubs in several cities and provinces.
That year, the prime minister had issued regulations on the activities of these services. A year later, a decree was passed to guide enforcement of the regulations.
The latest draft document suggests keeping a regulation that bans the opening of karaoke lounges within 200 meters of schools, government offices, cultural heritage sites, hospitals and religious facilities.
Tuyen said many lounges in Ho Chi Minh City have violated this provision but they had opened before the regulations and were temporarily allowed to continue.
Two more hours
All karaoke lounges and dancing clubs are currently allowed to be open until midnight and they will have to abide by this rule. Under the amended decree, however, these facilities in four and five-star hotels can remain open until 2 a.m.
Tuyen said this proposal was supposed to promote tourism and reduce the negative impact of the economic downturn.
“HCMC has also suggested extending operation time of many karaoke lounges and dancing clubs to attract more tourists,” he said.
A recent poll by the ministry found 77 percent of respondents saying they want these services to remain open after midnight.
One thousand customers of major tourism companies were polled for the survey.
Tuyen said it was impossible to extend opening time for karaoke and dancing facilities at three-star hotels because of management problems.
“Concerned authorities would have to manage around 175 three-star hotels if they were allowed to open until 2 a.m.,” he said.
Hanoi and HCMC have around 18 cultural inspectors each while other cities and provinces have only a couple of inspectors, he said, adding that four-and five-star hotels were supposed to be better equipped to manage these services than smaller establishments.
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BRIEF OF THE DRAFT AMENDED DECREE
Karaoke room
Must be at least 20 square meters - Must have transparent glass doors which allow clear view of the room from outside
No lock from inside
Must have light of at least 40 Watts per 20 square meters
No alcohol use, no dancing
Dancing club
Must be at least 80 square meters
Must be operated by trained personnel in culture or arts
Must clearly display notice of regulations on opening hours, age requirements (18 or above) and permitted attire.
Must have light of at least 40 watts per 20 square meters |
Reported by Y Nguyen |
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