Promptly rectify the business operations of guesthouses.

(Baonghean) - Along with the hotel system, guesthouses have sprung up "like mushrooms after the rain" in our province over the past ten years. Not only do they meet the needs of society, but the guesthouse business also creates jobs and income for many people. However, due to profit motives, many guesthouse owners have neglected to comply with state regulations, creating loopholes for social vices and various types of crime to operate, causing a loss of security and order and leaving behind many regrettable consequences…

The transformation of guesthouses.

According to Colonel Nguyen Xuan Hoa, Head of the Criminal Police Department of the Provincial Police, due to the pursuit of profit, lax management, and failure to comply with State regulations, guesthouse owners have inadvertently turned these places into hideouts and operating bases for criminals and other social vices. On November 15, 2014, a group of three young men led by Phan Trong Phuc (residing in Ben Thuy ward) abducted a student and held him illegally at Ngoc Bich 2 guesthouse in Truong Thi ward (Vinh City) to collect a debt. The incident only came to light when the victim wrote a complaint and reported it directly to the police.

Last year, after committing a crime in Hai Duong province, a suspect hid in a guesthouse in Ben Thuy ward until he was arrested. Incidents such as drug use, gambling, and domestic violence at guesthouses are not uncommon. Many guesthouses are becoming ideal "havens" for criminals, social vices, and those violating moral principles.

Police officers inspect the residency status at a guesthouse (Illustrative image)

Reportedly, a recent inspection of hotels and guesthouses in Vinh City revealed that over 80% of them violated regulations under the Law on Residence, Government Decree 72/2009/ND-CP, and Circular 33/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security on the management of conditional business sectors. The majority of these violations concerned regulations on accommodation.

According to an employee at a guesthouse in Dien Chau Town, a guesthouse that is "lenient" regarding paperwork is what encourages long-term customer retention. People only stay for a short time, and if you make things difficult for them, they will "never return." One guest stated: "The guesthouse has never refused a guest without an ID card. If the receptionist asks for documents, it's just a formality. It's good to have them, but it's not a big deal if you don't."

Needs correction

Currently, Nghe An province has approximately 500 hotels and guesthouses, with Cua Lo town accounting for nearly half, and Vinh City having nearly 90 hotels and a similar number of guesthouses. The rapid urbanization and sharp increase in tourism have naturally led to the rapid development of hotels and guesthouses. However, it's easy to see that many guesthouses have sprung up in an... unusual way. Many are located right in the middle of residential areas, without following any planning regulations. The arrangement of guesthouses is also haphazard and chaotic. In some areas, such as Ha Huy Tap, Hung Binh, and Truong Thi wards (Vinh City), guesthouses are clustered together. In some places, like Hai Thuong Lan Ong street, there are as many as three guesthouses within a radius of just a few dozen meters.

Along with the emergence of high-end hotels, the opening of affordable accommodation facilities has effectively met social needs, contributing to solving housing difficulties for many low- and middle-income groups in urban centers, such as: workers needing short-term accommodation, family members and patients seeking medical treatment, parents and students during university and college entrance exams, etc. A current concern is that, due to lax management by guesthouse owners, many criminals have sought refuge and committed crimes there. Captain Nguyen Van Kha, Deputy Head of the Administrative Management and Social Order Team (Vinh City Police), stated: "In the business of guesthouses and lodging houses, reporting temporary and overnight guests is extremely important. According to regulations, when guests arrive, the owner must immediately report to the Neighborhood Security Committee and the local police so they can keep a list for management and prevention." However, because this is an easy way to make money, and customers often come with ulterior motives, many guesthouse owners do not implement this policy.

To effectively implement the Residence Law, relevant agencies and communities need to coordinate closely and regularly in managing temporary and permanent residences. This will enable the timely detection and handling of law violators, gradually contributing to maintaining security and order in the area. Local authorities need to plan the construction of suitable accommodation facilities to serve the urbanization process, ensuring that the construction and operation of these facilities do not negatively impact the landscape, socio-cultural environment, security, and order, and do not adversely affect the lives of residents in residential areas.

Viet Long