The administration of Da Nang, a city in central Vietnam, recently issued a directive requiring 10 food and souvenir kiosks situated along its coastline to vacate their premises by the end of September, but only three have complied as yet.

The directive affects kiosks situated near East Sea Park and the area south of My Hanh Restaurant at the end of Pham Van Dong Street in Phuoc My Ward, Son Tra District.

A Son Tra Peninsula Management Board representative reported that seven kiosks had yet to comply, with some remaining open and others closing but not vacating their spaces. 

The management board has used loudspeakers and notices placed in front of the kiosks, which sell food and souvenirs, to urge the vendors to cease operations and leave the premises.

The kiosks were first approved in 2012 as part of a pilot program launched by the Da Nang People’s Committee to boost tourism and develop tourist areas through private funding.

Under the program, businesses were permitted to design, invest in, and operate kiosks, each on a 75-square-meter plot.

Regulations regarding the use of public assets at the beach were never enacted, allowing the vendors to operate the kiosks rent-free for nearly 12 years, from March 2012 to September 2024.

Now, despite the city’s eviction directive, many kiosk operators are resisting the fiat.

One kiosk owner explained that over the past 12 years, those vendors have invested heavily in building, repairing, and maintaining their kiosks, particularly during the early stages of operation and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"After 12 years of hard work building up these kiosks and attracting tourists, it's heartbreaking to have to dismantle them and vacate the premises," the owner said, adding that he hopes the government will allow him to stay and that he would be willing to pay rent.

Last year, the Son Tra Peninsula Management Board acknowledged the contributions of these businesses to the development of Da Nang’s coastal tourism industry in an interview, noting that they submitted requests from the kiosk operators to the municipal administration.

However, to ensure that public assets are managed and used in accordance with regulations, and to prevent waste, Da Nang issued an official directive terminating the pilot program and requiring all kiosk owners to leave by September 30 to make way for a public auction.

The management board noted that kiosk operators had previously signed agreements agreeing to voluntarily dismantle their kiosks and vacate the premises within 30 days if the Da Nang People’s Committee issued a directive to reclaim the space or relocate the kiosks.

“Moving forward, the management board plans to continue working with local authorities to encourage the remaining vendors to cease operations and return the premises in accordance with the law,” said the representative.

If businesses and individuals still do not comply, the board will report the matter to the Department of Tourism and the Da Nang People’s Committee, which will authorize forced removal.

Authorities have also issued a warning to a kiosk that displayed an 'Open for Business' sign next to an official notice stating 'Temporarily Closed.'

If the situation persists, the management board will remove the kiosk.

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