Photo courtesy of Tran Bang / Tuoi Tre

Da Nang authorities have begun a major enforcement campaign on the Son Tra Peninsula, clearing illegal stalls, tackling litter and warning visitors not to feed wild monkeys as the city seeks to improve road safety and protect the tourism area.

Teams have patrolled roads leading up Son Tra Mountain in three shifts each day since 21 July. Makeshift stalls opposite Green Lake have been dismantled, while informal roadside gathering places popular with young visitors have been cleared from steep sections where they created serious traffic risks.

Roadside trading and parking targeted

Traffic officers are issuing tickets to motorbikes parked illegally along Hoang Sa Street near the InterContinental resort. Authorities said firm action would extend from fishing wharves and beaches to the mountain itself.

The campaign also covers unlicensed vendors, illegal beach camping and people who harass or pressure tourists into purchasing services. Complaints from residents and visitors included drink stalls operating at night on steep bends below Linh Ung Pagoda, where traffic was obstructed and rubbish was left behind.

At My Khe Beach and nearby coastal areas, visitors had also reported aggressive street sellers, poor sanitation and unlicensed water-sports operators pressuring people to rent jet skis and surfboards.

Visitors warned against feeding monkeys

New safety and warning signs will be installed along major tourism routes on the peninsula. They will advise residents and visitors not to feed monkeys while sightseeing or picnicking.

Feeding wildlife can draw animals towards roads and crowded visitor areas, increasing the risk of unsafe encounters and encouraging behaviour that disrupts their natural feeding patterns. Visitors should keep food secured, avoid approaching or touching monkeys and follow instructions from local officials.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

Foreign tourists and residents visiting Son Tra should use designated parking, avoid buying from unlicensed roadside stalls and take all rubbish away. Drivers need particular care on the peninsula's steep and winding roads, especially where vehicles stop near viewpoints. Beach visitors should also confirm that water-sports providers are properly authorised before renting equipment. The enforcement drive may remove some informal services, but it is intended to make the area safer, cleaner and less intrusive for visitors and wildlife.

30 July 2026

As I've commented before this place is now spoilt by unwelcomed tourists, the overspill from Pattaya mostly.

It has been a beautiful place to live for the past 6 years but I need to move on, maybe back to Chiang Mai ?!