A coffee seller on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang threw her tables and chairs into a ravine after noticing raiding officials to avoid fines for encroaching on the road.
The local police said April 8 that they questioned a 40-year-old woman they identified as Le Thi Kieu about it, saying her action had tarnished Vietnam’s tourism image.
At around 4 p.m. on March 28 she set up metal tables and chairs to sell drinks illegally on Hoang Sa Street.
When she learned that a task force was conducting raids to ensure urban order was not violated, she quickly gathered and threw them down a mountainside nearby.
The incident was captured by a Serbian tourist, Jess.
“Everything happened so fast… in about five seconds the woman had thrown three chairs,” she said, adding that she filmed the scene out of shock.
The video appeared on social media, and drew criticism for violations of environmental regulations and public order.
The vendor told the police she acted out of fear of being fined.
She retrieved the items from the ravine an hour later.
Authorities issued a reprimand and made her pledge not to repeat the action or again encroach on public roads.
Officials said the incident occurred during a campaign to restore urban order.
Authorities in Son Tra Ward recently intensified a crackdown on unauthorized roadside businesses to regulate traffic, ensure food safety and prevent negative impacts on the tourist experience.
Son Tra Peninsula, known as Da Nang’s “green lung,” spans more than 4,400 hectares and is home to rare wildlife, including the brown-shanked douc langur.
Officials said the campaign is intended to protect the fragile forest–sea ecosystem.
A coffee seller throws tables and chairs into a ravine on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang. Video provided by Jess
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