Vietnam cracks down on outdoor in Ho Chi Minh City
Authorities in communist-ruled Vietnam's southern commerical capital
of Ho Chi Minh City have tightened controls over outdoor advertising
in a bid to reign in the mushrooming industry, state media said
Thursday.
Le Thanh Hai, chairman of the city's People's Committee or local
government, said new regulations were intended to "maintain the city's
security, safety and planning," the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper
reported. The directive, which was released last week, limits the size
of billboards and advertising panels and bans them from being placed
on the roofs of buildings, bridges, vehicles and within the city
centre.
The regulations come into effect from October 10.
Hai said guidelines governing outdoor electronic screen advertising
would also be drawn up soon for the city, formerly known as Saigon.
The measures have drawn flak from Vietnam's emerging advertising
industry.
Dao Van Kinh, director of Dat Viet, one of the country's largest
agencies, said up to 90 percent of outdoor billboards in bustling
metropolis faced being torn down.
"Outdoor advertising contributes to the excitement of a city. This
decision puts limits on it," he told this week's English-language
Vietnam Investment Review.
Last year, around 11 million dollars was spent on outdoor
advertisements across the country, with 6.6 million dollars of that
being channelled into the southern hub, according to the Ho Chi Minh
City Advertising Association.
Agence France Presse - October 3rd, 2002.
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