Complaints from visitors have arisen due to the disturbance caused by karaoke singing in Hoi An City, as several locations across the world-famous destination in central Vietnam decline to enforce regulations on amplified singing, thus compromising the tranquil ambiance of the city.

In the latest case, on June 12, the developer of the Casamia urban area project located in Vong Nhi Village, Cam Thanh Commune, Hoi An, was compelled to issue individual notifications to its residents, requesting them to refrain from using high-volume karaoke loudspeakers during late hours to avoid excessive noise disturbance.

‘Truly distressing’

Situated in proximity to the UNESCO-recognized Hoi An Ancient Town and the serene Cam Thanh coconut forest, the Casamia Hoi An urban area is renowned as a tranquil high-end residential enclave within Hoi An City.

Its developer’s notifications came after a group of villa tenants recently played karaoke music, employing powerful speakers that resonated loudly from afternoon until late evening.

Despite some neighbors’ reminders and local police officers’ arrival at the scene, the tenants persisted in singing karaoke.

The issue recurred on June 11.

“They continued singing until 9:00 pm,” said a tenant who reached out to the Casamia management board for intervention, but the situation did not improve. 

“My wife was unwell and lying for a rest, while my children were in tears due to the excessive volume. 

“Despite closing all the doors, the noise persisted as they had the speakers turned up too loud. 

“It’s truly distressing.”

Ineffective ban

Within residential areas or villas situated adjacent to the rice fields in Hoi An, a notable occurrence has involved accommodation owners indulging their guests by providing speakers for karaoke purposes. 

This has led visitors to Hoi An expressing their disappointment and bewilderment, as the serene ambiance that can be considered as the city’s signature feature is disrupted by unwanted noise.

“A year ago, we greeted the news of Hoi An’s decision to prohibit the use of loudspeakers in tourist attractions and accommodation areas with great joy,” said a tourist. 

“It seemed like the right step to preserve the tranquility. 

“However, last weekend, we were disheartened to discover that nothing had changed. 

“As the night progressed, our neighboring tenants grew increasingly noisier, shattering the peaceful and serene ambiance that initially drew us to Hoi An.”

In April 2022, the Hoi An City People’s Committee made an official declaration stating the prohibition of using high-volume speakers beyond designated hours in tourist accommodations. 

The committee further mandated accommodation owners to inform their guests about this regulation, while local authorities were instructed to intensify their supervision, reminders, inspections, and enforce strict penalties to ensure compliance.

The karaoke ban garnered widespread support from residents, visitors, and even accommodation owners, as the majority concur that preserving the fresh and tranquil atmosphere is essential since it is the essence of Hoi An. 

However, there has been a resurgence of noise, undermining the peaceful ambiance once again.

According to Le Thi Thuy Diem, deputy chairwoman of the Cam Thanh Commune People’s Committee, numerous grievances persistently reach her office from both tourists and residents concerning the disruptive presence of establishments that permit vacationers to engage in loud singing.

Tong Quoc Hung, head of the Hoi An Bureau of Culture and Sports, which was tasked with dealing with noise rule violators, said that his personnel was not enough to timely handle all the cases.

“We have not sanctioned any cases as our primary approach has been to deter, remind, and request a commitment from the individuals involved to refrain from repeating such behaviors,” Hung said.

Nguyen Van Lanh, deputy chairman of the Hoi An City People’s Committee, who asserted that the city authorities have continuously maintained vigilance in monitoring the noise issue, explained that task forces primarily comprising cultural officers like Hung’s lack the necessary power in deterring potential violations while the mobilization of the police officers requires complicated legal frameworks.

“We have extensively worked with various relevant units, and currently, our approach primarily involves checking, reminding, and raising awareness, but unfortunately, we are unable to address the issue in a more effective or decisive manner,” Lanh said.

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