Vietnam drinkers head for beer clubs

HANOI Vietnamese authorities say they will enact regulations to control the boom in beer clubs that offer entertainment similar to bars and discos, but prosper outside of the perimeters of current laws.

Local media reported beer clubs are now a booming business in many large cities.

Beer clubs appeared first in Ho Chi Minh City three years ago, providing food and drink alongside music, professional DJs, and performances by so-called ‘promotional girls’.

The concept quickly spread to other major cities such as  Hanoi and Vung Tau. In Hanoi alone, there is already hundreds of beer clubs.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau province’s Vung Tau City vice chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Bach Ngan, was quoted saying the city encouraged the clubs as they are popular with visitors.

“However, the city found it hard to control this area of business as there is a shortage of legal documentation and specific regulations,” she said.

The provincial People’s Committee vice chairman, Dang Minh Thong, affirmed that this model of entertainment service should be encouraged in cities to attract tourists.

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