Only 2 swimming pools in Vinh City meet the standards and are licensed to operate.

According to Mr. Vu Hong Duc, Deputy Head of the Culture and Information Department of Vinh City People's Committee, currently only two swimming pools have been granted operating licenses by the Provincial People's Committee: the swimming pool in Quan Bau Ward and the swimming pool in Hung Binh Ward.

Swimming training activities at a center in Vinh City. (Photo: Archival image)

The remaining 9 swimming pools currently lack the standards stipulated in Circular 03/2018/TT-BVHTTDL regarding items such as: They do not have lane marking ropes, lack rescue poles (the regulation requires a minimum of 6 poles, but the pools only have a maximum of 4), and lifebuoys are often stored in warehouses instead of being placed on the pool walls in convenient locations for use.

List of 9 swimming pools that do not meet standards and are in the process of completing licensing procedures: Provincial Labor Culture House Swimming Pool, Military Region 4 Swimming Pool (Truong Thi Ward), Quang Sen Swimming Pool (Hung Phuc Ward), Muong Thanh Phuong Dong Hotel Swimming Pool (Truong Thi Ward), Muong Thanh Song Lam Hotel Swimming Pool (Quang Trung Ward), Vinh Plaza Hotel (Le Loi Ward), Xanh Hotel (Ha Huy Tap Ward), Blue Sky School (Le Loi Ward), Viet Anh Kindergarten (Quan Bau Ward).

Before summer, the inter-agency inspection team of Vinh City inspected the operation of swimming pools in the city. Despite strict regulations, most swimming pool management and business units in the area have not fully complied with the regulations, lacking swimming service business certificates, and their lifeguards often lack professional certifications.

Furthermore, the biggest concern is the water quality standards in swimming pools. In fact, all swimming pools in the city are treated with chlorine. According to regulations, the permissible residual chlorine level in swimming pools is 0.4 - 0.8 ppm (equivalent to 0.4 - 0.8 mg/liter).

For swimming pools that did not meet standards, the inter-agency inspection team proceeded to draw up reports and simultaneously disseminated information and guided businesses to comply with the regulations of Circular 03/2018/TT-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the operating conditions of swimming pool establishments; and requested swimming pool businesses to promptly rectify the missing conditions as soon as possible.

Previously, on May 17th, an electrical leak occurred in the water filtration system of a swimming pool in Truong Thi ward, resulting in one person being hospitalized and several other swimmers suffering minor electric shocks. Providing further information on the matter, Major Le Van Son, Head of the Truong Thi Ward Police, stated that the swimming pool is under the management of a military unit and had been leased to an individual for business purposes since April.

Following the incident, the pool owner rectified the problem and resumed normal operations on the evening of May 17th, and has continued to do so until now.

The swimming pool in Truong Thi ward where the electrical leakage incident occurred in the water filtration system. Photo: Quynh Cong.