The issue of unclear parking fee pricing at the beginning of the year needs to be strictly controlled.

Co Am Pagoda is the most beautiful pagoda in the area.Dien Chau districtDuring the first days of the new year, this temple attracts thousands of people from all over the country who come to offer incense and admire the scenery, often causing traffic congestion.

Due to the large influx of visitors, parking services around the temple have flourished, with dozens of households turning village roads, alleys, and yards into makeshift parking lots. Whenever visitors arrive, locals spill out onto the streets to solicit them to park their vehicles.

However, it's worth noting that each parking spot charges a different fee. Some households print tickets, while others don't. The price also varies depending on the parking location. For households further away, the fee for motorbikes is 5,000 VND/ticket, and for cars 20,000 VND/ticket. For households closer to the temple, the price is higher, with some parking spots charging up to 10,000 VND/ticket for motorbikes and 30,000-40,000 VND/ticket for cars, exceeding the general regulated rates.

For example, the parking lot at the cultural center of Hamlet 4, formerly Dien Minh Commune (now Minh Chau Commune), is a large parking area located next to a temple, resulting in a high volume of vehicles, mostly motorbikes. During the post-Tet holiday period, there are approximately 4-5 people stationed there, including 3 arranging vehicles and 2 soliciting customers and issuing tickets. According to the reporter's observations and residents' feedback, the motorbike parking fee is 10,000 VND per ticket, three times the regulated price. Many residents expressed surprise at this price; however, due to the joyful atmosphere of visiting the temple, many did not complain and accepted the payment.

Notably, the issue of excessive parking fees around Co Am Pagoda has been ongoing for many years, causing frustration among locals and tourists. However, the authorities and local government have yet to address it effectively. Furthermore, the crowds of people vying to solicit customers on the streets pose a significant traffic hazard.

At the Hoang Muoi Temple in Hung Nguyen district, the number of visitors in the early days of the year was equally high. This area was once a hotspot for exorbitant parking fees, causing public outrage in previous years. This year, despite publicly displaying prices as required by regulations, the quality of parking services still has shortcomings.

According to reporters' observations on the 10th day of the first lunar month, at both entrances to the temple on the Vinh bypass and the Lam River dike, dozens of people spilled onto the road to solicit customers for parking, creating a chaotic and unsafe situation.

When reporters arrived to park their cars (under 7 seats), the parking attendant at the temple gate gave them tickets, priced at 18,000 VND per visit. Although the tickets bore the stamp of the Management Board of the Ong Hoang Muoi Temple, they did not specify a date. Even more surprisingly, the attendant did not guide visitors to the parking lot but instead left the cars lined up along the roadside, which was both unsafe and caused traffic congestion. Meanwhile, there were still empty parking spaces available.

According to Decision 80/2016/QD-UBND dated December 20, 2016, of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the toll fee for passenger cars with 7 seats or fewer in Vinh City or towns is 10,000 VND/trip; in lowland and low mountainous districts, it is 9,000 VND/trip. For cars with more than 7 seats, trucks, and buses, the fee in Vinh City or towns ranges from 12,000 VND to 15,000 VND/trip; in lowland and low mountainous districts, it ranges from 10,000 VND to 14,000 VND/trip.

For high-quality parking lots and areas with higher service requirements than regular parking facilities (including sturdy buildings, surveillance cameras, and fire safety measures), and for parking lots and areas at scenic spots, historical sites, and cultural landmarks where visitors often need to park for many hours, the maximum parking fee shall not exceed twice the fee stipulated in Clause 1, Article 2 of Decision 80/2016.

Therefore, while the parking fee of 18,000 VND per visit for cars with fewer than 7 seats at Ong Hoang Muoi Temple is not against regulations, this price must be commensurate with the quality of service to satisfy both locals and tourists.

At Cờn Temple in Hoàng Mai town during the first days of the new year, according to residents' reports, due to the excessive number of vehicles, cars had to park along the road instead of in the designated parking area. However, staff still charged 20,000 VND per parking session. This is a higher price than regulated, and the staff also did not provide parking tickets to customers.

According to many people's beliefs, "January is the month for leisure and enjoyment," therefore, in the coming time, tourist destinations, scenic spots, and historical sites in the province will continue to attract many groups of visitors and pilgrims. Local authorities and relevant agencies need to implement measures to tighten control over excessive parking fees to ensure the rights of residents and tourists, leaving a positive impression of a healthy tourism environment.