Closing time may soon be a little later than midnight at your favorite hang-out spots thanks to a recent proposal from Vietnam’s Tourism Association.
Ahead of the upcoming Enterprises Conference with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Tourism Association is asking authorities to let recreational businesses – restaurants, cafes, night clubs and karaoke parlors – remain open until at least 2am, reports VnExpress.
According to the association, current regulations, which require most night-time establishments to stay closed between 12am and 8am, do not accommodate the needs of jetlagged foreign tourists. Lifting the midnight curfew will encourage visitors to extend their stays while spending more to boost the country’s tourism economy.
Since last year Hanoi has experimented with a similar scheme by allowing businesses to operate until 2am on three weekend nights.
The relaxation of the curfew, together with a separate plan to offer more visa exemptions to foreign nationals, is expected to help Vietnam reach its goal of welcoming 17-20 million annual visitors by 2020. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the country has received 3.2 million of international arrivals this year, a 20% increase over the same period last year.
[Photo via Trover user RobertM]
