A court in central Vietnam has sentenced a 32-year-old Chinese tourist to one year in prison for violating road traffic regulations after a drunk driving incident last year led to the death of his girlfriend in Hoi An.

The People’s Court of Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam on Thursday handed down the 12-month jail term to Chong Fu Kit following a first-instance trial.

According to the indictment, Chong entered Vietnam on May 7, 2024, with three other Chinese nationals for tourism. The group stayed at a hotel in Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province.

While in Vietnam, Chong rented a motorbike from Nguyen Dong Quan, a 52-year-old man from neighboring Da Nang City, for a four-day period. Although Chong did not hold a driver's license, Quan failed to verify his credentials before leasing the vehicle.

On the afternoon of May 8, Chong consumed five cans of beer. Later that evening, at approximately 10:49 pm, he rode the rented motorbike with his girlfriend, 28-year-old Crus Wing Sze, riding pillion. Neither wore crash helmets.

Chong was traveling at 40-50 kilometers per hour along Lac Long Quan Street in the direction of Hoi An City.

While passing through Cam An Ward, Hoi An, he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a fixed median strip.

His girlfriend sustained a traumatic brain injury and died at the scene.

Chong was injured and later hospitalized with injuries rated at 35 percent.

The court also gave Quan a nine-month suspended sentence for failing to verify Chong’s eligibility to operate the vehicle.

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