Vietnamese cities are rushing to install security cameras in an effort to deter crime and ensure the safety of their neighborhoods.

Thousands of surveillance cameras are being installed in public places and residential areas across the central city of Da Nang, paid for by both the authorities and local citizens.

Aside from cameras funded by the city, local officials are encouraging citizens to contribute to a crime-free life and install cameras of their own, said Huynh Duc Tho, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee.

The campaign is aimed at minimizing crime and traffic accidents in the city, as well as raising people’s awareness of the goal of a city with better living conditions, Tho continued.

The action was first proposed by police in Xuan Ha Ward, Thanh Khe District in late 2015 as the rate of criminal activity developed, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hung, chief of police in Xuan Ha.

The suggestion met with positive feedback and support from local leaders as well as civilians, Lt. Col. Hung said.

Upon approval from the authorities, a monitoring system, including a 42-inch screen, transmitters, a server network, and the Internet, were all installed at the police station in the ward, paid for by the city's budget as well as local people, Lt. Col. Hung continued.

“After conducting a survey, we decided to install 32 security cameras in nine residential areas across the ward,” Hung said.

He added that no crime has occurred in the area since the installment of the devices.

During a meeting on March 3, the Da Nang Party Committee approved the proposal of the Department of Police to position an additional 4,220 surveillance cameras, of which 857 will monitor the city’s streets and the rest will be placed in residential areas.

The installment of the cameras along the streets will be funded by the city's local budget while those in the neighborhoods shall be financed by local citizens, organizations and businesses on a voluntary basis.

The total expenditure of the plan is estimated at VND20 billion (US$897,200), of which VND13 billion ($583,180) is expected to be sourced from the private sector.

In order for the action to be effective, the cameras should be of high quality, and provide clear footage of activities on the streets, Chairman Tho said.

According to Colonel Le Van Tam, director of the Department of Police, security in the 10 locations where surveillance cameras have already been installed has been significantly improved.

The camera system has also provided authorities with evidence of traffic violations, according to Le Van Trung, director of the Da Nang Department of Transport.

A police officer in Xuan Ha Ward, Da Nang City, monitors a security camera system in a residential area. Photo: Tuoi Tre

‘Hot’ products in Ho Chi Minh City

Security cameras have increasingly become a favorite product in Ho Chi Minh City, as many residents consider them a reliable tool to prevent theft.

At a store that sells cameras in Binh Thanh District, about 20 such devices were purchased in a single night, according to the observations of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters.  

“The demand for security cameras has increased in recent years, not only from operators of big businesses, but also owners of smaller ones and regular families,” said Ho Xuan Quan, director of a firm specializing in the sale of security cameras.

The average cost ranges from VND1 million ($44.8) to VND3 million ($134.5) depending on the types and resolutions, Quan added.

Vu Trung Hieu, director of another company that runs a similar business, warned about fake products being sold in the market.

Counterfeit devices are being offered at a price 30 percent lower than that of genuine ones, Hieu said, adding that the image quality provided by these fake cameras deteriorates quickly.

He recommended that buyers select reputable dealers and technical units when considering the placement of cameras at their homes.

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