Reports: New $6 Entry Fee has Made Hoi An a Ghost Town

Last week we heard rumors that Hoi An has started to charge a $6 entry fee to tourists seeking to enter the city's old town. According to Kenh14, what we feared has become a reality - Hoi An is now a ghost town.

According to the site, the images below show normally bustling areas of the popular tourist destination that now stand nearly empty. 

Many Vietnamese and foreign netizens are up in arms about the fee saying that the policy is short-sighted and will result in an exodus to tourists. 

However, some Hoi An residents on Twitter played down the effects of the fees:

@timmyruss @misscvietnam After 8pm it often looks dead. Morning Glory strip was busy. Shops selling rubbish never blame themselves. Pot.....

— Sean (@SaigonSean) April 22, 2014

Either way, it's probably safe to assume that the city's vendors and tourist shops are experiencing a drop in income and they may be the ones that force an end to the entry fees.

[Kenh14]