Overview of the Meeting
The delegation conducted an on-site inspection of a non-prize entertainment video game business at Star Galaxy Center (Galaxy Star Joint Stock Company) located at 87 Lang Ha, Thanh Cong Ward. All entertainment video game machines had approval seals from the Department of Culture and Sports. The business provided instructions in Vietnamese on how to play the games, with separate areas designated by age groups.
The delegation inspects and works with a non-prize entertainment video game business
Reporting at the meeting, Head of the Ba Dinh District Department of Culture and Information, Le Thi Khanh, stated that the Ba Dinh District People’s Committee consistently emphasizes state management of advertising and karaoke services, alongside promoting compliance with government regulations among businesses. They enhance inspection and supervision efforts to promptly prevent and address violations related to advertising and karaoke services, ensuring that unlicensed advertising boards and karaoke establishments do not persist in the district. Regular briefings, investigations, and surveys of advertising and karaoke service activities are conducted. Periodic training on state management is organized, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Sports, to improve management effectiveness at the grassroots level.
Currently, Ba Dinh District has 16 karaoke businesses, of which 4 are licensed and operational, 3 are completing necessary conditions, and 9 have ceased operations and shifted to other business models due to failure to meet fire safety requirements.
Regarding advertising activities, the district has 97 advertising boards and frames, including boards on residential buildings, LED boards, and single-column boards. Of these, 88 boards have product advertising notifications from the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports; 5 are steel frames inviting advertisements; 3 boards have expired licenses; 1 board is unlicensed, and there are nearly 5,000 signboards.
There are 2 non-prize entertainment video game businesses in the district.
To ensure effective state management of advertising, signboards, karaoke services, and non-prize entertainment video games, contributing to a civilized and modern urban landscape, Ba Dinh District People’s Committee has directed relevant units, the district police, and 14 ward People’s Committees to maintain interdisciplinary inspection teams. In 2024, 13 inspections will be conducted on karaoke businesses. The district will also organize campaigns to address violations of urban construction, urban order, signboards, and advertising boards, removing over 410 banners and posters from trees and utility poles, tearing down unauthorized advertising, handling 201 non-compliant signboards, and dismantling 25 illegal podiums and ramps. The district will continue to remove unauthorized advertisements and conduct environmental clean-up campaigns on Saturday mornings to maintain a green, clean, and beautiful urban landscape. However, issues such as oversized or unlicensed advertising boards, expired permits, and unprocessed renewals still persist.
The inspection team suggested that the district should ensure that karaoke businesses complete fire safety conditions before obtaining necessary permits for security, order, and cultural services. For advertising activities, socialization efforts must comply with regulations, and public service advertising for political events should be prioritized. For other advertisements, businesses must seek permission from the Department of Culture and Sports. The team also suggested that in 2025, with many important political events taking place in Hanoi, Ba Dinh District, as a central district, should pilot new, modern lighting and propaganda technologies to enhance urban order and discipline.
Head of Cultural Management (Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports) Le Thi Hong Hanh – Head of the Inspection Team speaks at the meeting.
Le Thi Hong Hanh, Head of Cultural Management at the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports and Head of the Inspection Team, acknowledged the achievements of Ba Dinh District, which has been at the forefront of state management in the cultural sector, including advertising, signboards, karaoke services, dance clubs, and non-prize video game businesses. She hoped that the district would continue to build on these results. The team also emphasized the need for regular inspections and supervision of karaoke and dance club businesses that meet the required conditions, as well as non-prize entertainment video game services. In terms of advertising, the district should promptly issue coordination regulations between related departments and wards, particularly focusing on areas delegated by the city. Large advertising boards should be reviewed to ensure compliance, not obstructing evacuation routes or emergency access. According to new regulations, rooftop advertisements are only permitted in the form of text, images, and symbols, with all advertising products required to be reported.
Vice Chairwoman of Ba Dinh District People’s Committee Pham Thi Diem speaks at the meeting.
In response to the inspection team’s feedback, Vice Chairwoman of Ba Dinh District People’s Committee Pham Thi Diem confirmed that state management of advertising, signboards, karaoke services, dance clubs, and non-prize video game businesses has been closely aligned with the city’s directives and guidelines. The district has directed close coordination between the Department of Culture and Information, Urban Management, the district police, and other relevant departments in inspecting karaoke operations. Withdrawing business licenses from non-compliant establishments has been challenging due to its direct impact on livelihoods, making it difficult to persuade business owners to cease operations. Achievements in managing karaoke services require coordinated efforts from various departments. Moving forward, the district will review and establish coordination regulations between departments and wards to enhance the effectiveness of state management.
To Nga