Dozens hospitalized after physical confrontation with security guards on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc
Friday, April 28, 2023, 13:35 GMT+7
A group of locals in Phu Quoc City off Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam on Wednesday fought with security guards working for a company over disputes relating to the rentals of spaces at An Thoi Port in the island city.
Several individuals were hospitalized following the incident.
Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Phu Quoc City People’s Committee on Thursday morning discussed the incident, saying that local residents opposed the rentals of spaces at An Thoi Port charged by a joint venture between Namaste Investment and Development JSC and Saigon Port JSC.
In particular, some 300 people gathered at the port at 4:15 pm on Wednesday to voice their opposition.
The group and security guards working for Namaste Investment and Development JSC later got involved in a fight, during which 10 people were injured.
Three individuals with serious injuries were transported to the medical center of Phu Quoc City.
One was suffering from a brain hemorrhage and was rushed to a hospital in Can Tho City, a neighbor of Kien Giang.
“The confrontation affected the transport of tourists on Phu Quoc Island. Local authorities have questioned 17 security guards of the company,” Hung said.
The Phu Quoc City People’s Committee will report the case to the People’s Committee of Kien Giang Province to seek specific directives for port management in order to prevent similar cases.
The city also asked the local police to inspect and handle instances of individuals causing social disorder at An Thoi Port on Wednesday.
Namaste Investment and Development JSC and Saigon Port JSC won a bid to exploit assets and infrastructure facilities at An Thoi Port for some VND950 billion (US$40.6 million) and began exploiting the port from April 19 this year.
Business households had earlier leased spaces at the port at VND500,000 ($21.4) per month each but they are now subject to a monthly rental fee of VND60 million ($2,564).
They are also required to pay rental fees three months in advance.
The rental for dinghies and speedboats are VND2.5 million ($107) and VND5-7 million ($213-299), respectively, per month.
Tourists entering the port now have to pay VND35,000 ($1.5) each. The fee was not collected in the past.
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