Man fined for dog abuse in Vietnam tourist spot after viral video

A man in the central highlands resort city of Da Lat has been fined for beating a dog with a stick in a popular tourist square, after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The case highlights growing awareness of animal cruelty in Vietnam and increased surveillance through social media. The video, which circulated on September 2, showed the 38-year-old Ho Chi Minh City resident repeatedly striking the dog on the neck and head at Lam Vien Square in Da Lat. Following public reports, police identified the man from the footage and summoned him for questioning the following morning. The man stated he hit the dog because it did not follow his commands and acknowledged that his actions had damaged Da Lat's image as a tourist city. On September 4, police issued a fine of VND1 million to VND3 million ($38 to $114) under Decree 211/2026, which penalizes beating or cruelly mistreating animals. The decree, which took effect on August 5, replaced a 2021 regulation. According to the Da Lat Ward police chief, the man paid the fine at a bank that day and signed a pledge not to repeat the conduct. He also claimed the dog was a personal pet and not used for commercial purposes. However, police revealed that the man had recently moved to the Da Lat area and had been charging tourists for photos with the dog during times when officers were not on duty. An unlicensed trade in pet photographs has been ongoing for years at Lam Vien Square, where tourists pay to pose with large dogs. Videos from August 2024 also showed Alaskan Malamutes being struck at the square and their housing sites, leading to police questioning one photography service operator. Officials have stated that charging tourists for photos with pets at the square violates regulations, yet the practice persists. Police are advising visitors to refrain from photographing or hiring the animals and plan to increase patrols and utilize the security camera network for earlier detection. In recent years, there has been a growing concern for animal welfare in Vietnam, and the proliferation of social media has made such incidents more visible. Under the one-party system, there is a tendency to strengthen oversight of citizen behavior from the perspective of maintaining social norms and order. For international tourist destinations like Da Lat, preserving their image is also a significant concern, leading authorities to respond swiftly in this case. Source: VnExpress International