Nha Trang Hotel Staff Probed for Renting Motorbike to Drunk Russian Driver

A hotel employee in the central Vietnamese resort town of Nha Trang is under investigation for renting a motorbike to a Russian national who caused a fatal accident while drunk. The incident highlights lax safety measures regarding vehicle rentals to foreign tourists in Vietnam. Le Thi Hai Anh, an employee at a hotel in Nha Trang, has been placed under a travel ban as authorities investigate her for allegedly handing over a motorbike to Russian national Smoliakov without verifying his driving qualifications or license. The offense falls under Article 264 of Vietnam's Penal Code. Smoliakov was riding the rented motorbike back to the hotel on May 4 when he lost control and struck a woman in her 70s as she was crossing Tran Phu Street, a busy coastal road in Nha Trang. The victim later succumbed to her injuries. Medical tests revealed Smoliakov had a blood alcohol concentration of 268.8 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood, significantly exceeding Vietnam's legal limit. He has been arrested and is undergoing questioning. Further investigation revealed that Anh had rented the motorbike to Smoliakov despite knowing he lacked a valid driver's license and failed to meet other legal requirements to operate the vehicle in Vietnam. Local police have strongly urged businesses that rent motorbikes to foreign visitors to strictly verify their customers' driving credentials. Authorities also reminded rental operators to ensure tourists are legally qualified to drive and understand Vietnam's traffic laws before handing over any vehicles. Motorbike rentals are common among foreign tourists in Vietnamese tourist destinations. However, accidents caused by fake licenses, unfamiliarity with local traffic conditions, and drunk driving remain a concern. This incident underscores the importance of risk management in such rentals. Information Source: VnExpress International