A sandy beach in Nha Trang has had too many parasols and chairs that little space remains for sports and public recreational use, suggesting that the local government has failed to frame rules for beach appropriation for over half a year.

Nha Trang is the capital city of Khanh Hoa Province, located in south-central Vietnam.

Umbrellas, chairs, beverage stalls and locations for lifebuoy and swimsuit rental sprawl intrusively on the coast stretching more than 10km along the tourist city’s Tran Phu Street.

Local residents who want to take morning physical exercise were forced to find room amongst the furniture to flex their arms or move around.

Four- and five-star hotels on the street receive the priority to place parasols and chairs for their own guests at certain specified sections.

But those who are not the hotels’ customers must pay VND100,000 (US$4) to the establishments before using the convenience items for an entire part of the day.

Some individuals, who appear to have claimed their temporary ‘beach right,’ also put their own chairs and parasols along the beach and charge customers the same price.

Chairs are put so densely at some portions of the sun-kissed beach that swimmers may nearly touch the feet of sitting beachgoers after coming ashore.

The Nha Trang authorities said in late January that they would submit a proposal to the provincial administration regarding regulations on the provision of beachside umbrellas by hotels and the formation of public sports and recreational areas along the beach.

According to the plan, the four-kilometer-long seafront section stretching from the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee building to the Ana Mandara hotel will be refashioned, with only higher-rated hotels permitted to place chairs and parasols there.

Four-star hotels are allowed 12 umbrellas and 24 loungers, whilst five-star facilities, 15 umbrellas and 30 loungers. All of these pieces of equipment are required to be placed in designated areas.

Parasols and chairs must be uniform in design, color and pattern to ensure visual harmony; and hotels are required to daily remove the equipment after 5:00 pm.

They will also be prohibited from marking their borders with flags, the proposal said.

However, none of these requirements have been in place as the suggestion remains under consideration, more than six months from the time the government said it would be submitted.

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