VietNamNet Bridge – Several photos capturing the motorcade of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the pedestrian street of Hoi An ancient town on August 8 were posted on social networks, causing mixed reactions. Quang Nam Newspaper talked with insiders to learn the truth.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc talked with foreign tourists in Hoi An.

On August 8 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and some cabinet members went to Hoi An in Quang Nam province to attend a tourism conference. 

Later some photos featuring the PM’s motorcade running on the pedestrian street of Hoi An were posted on social media. Some made negative comments about them.

A reporter from Quang Nam Province’s newspaper talked with the tourism conference organizing board to find out why the vehicles ran on the walking street.

According to the organizers, under the initial plan, the PM would be picked up at the Da Nang International Airport and taken to the Palm Garden Hotel. 

However, on the way to the hotel, PM Phuc wanted to take the opportunity to meet with Hoi An people, who have been successful in preserving cultural heritage and developing tourism. 

The PM’s motorcade stopped at Le Loi - Nguyen Thai Hoc intersection. PM Phuc and other members left their cars to walk to Chua Cau (Bridge Pagoda) and walk around Hoi An streets.

"The PM's delegation did not sit in cars visiting the old town. The PM and all members walked for nearly 1km to visit some shops and talk with local residents and tourists. Some travelers and local people took pictures with the PM on the road," said Dinh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam.

Explaining why the PM’s motorcade ran on the pedestrian street, a provincial police official said as the roads are narrow and crowded, the motorcade could not turn because it would cause traffic disorder. Therefore the motorcade ran directly into the old quarter to wait for the PM at another place.

"We did not break the law, because Article 22 of the Law on Road Traffic does not prohibit police vehicles from leading the way into restricted roads or crossing red lights," the police official said, adding that if the PM’s visit to the ancient town had been planned earlier, the local police forces would have had a better plan.

Dinh Hai said in this case, the local authorities should admit its mistake in organizing the trip.

"The Prime Minister's visit to the old town was great encouragement to Hoi An people," said Dinh Hai.

At the national tourism conference in Hoi An, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed the need for community-based tourism development associated with conservation of intangible cultural heritage, with Hoi An as a typical example.

Linh Nhat