VietNamNet Bridge - Arguing that trading on the beach has been their livelihood for decades, hundreds of people protested and prevented the authorities from banning parties on the beach of Vung Tau on April 26.

The ban on all food businesses on the beach – mostly seafood BBQ provided by local tourism cooperatives – officially came into effect in the southern city of Vung Tau, in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on April 26.

The ban was issued as the coastal city is seeking a better environment for tourists.

The pleasure of eating freshly-cooked seafood with a beer on the 1,200m beach had become the norm for tourists visiting this southern city.

Reports by the Vung Tau People’s Committee reveal there are some 100 businesses, under the management of the two largest tourism cooperatives Vung Tau and Thuy Van, which rent beach chairs and provide cooking services to the beachgoers.

According to local tourism authorities, tourists can now have their meals at restaurants or bistros near the beach. Cooperative members who want to continue their businesses can move to the busy Vung Tau tourism market instead. More trash bins will also be placed along the beach soon.

Tourists are still allowed to bring cooked food and non-alcoholic drinks to the beach. Those who do not clear their trash will be fined.

On April 26 the authorities began deploying officers at the entrance to the beach to inform visitors not to bring raw food or alcohol to the beachfront and to clean the beach.

At the beach managed by the Vung Tau tourism cooperative, food traders agreed to remove their stalls and equipment and supported the authorities to clean the beach.

However, at the beach managed by the Thuy Van tourism cooperative hundreds of people tried to prevent the authorities from doing their task.

These people stood in front of the vehicles of the authorities. They said they had provided food services on the beach for years and this is their family’s livelihood.

Facing strong reaction of the people, the task force explained that this is the policy of the city to address the tourism environment, security and order at the beach and asked people to abide.

Later food traders proposed to be allowed to clean the beach themselves. They promised to complete the task by noon of April 27.

Linh Nhat