Vietnam’s houses-turned-karaoke bars become deadly trap for patrons
Most karaoke bars in Vietnam are renovated from residential houses and lack emergency escape routes for their large number of occupants.
A fire that killed 13 in a karaoke bar in Hanoi on November 1 was found to have been started by the careless welding of billboards that caused nearby flammable objects to catch fire, while the rescue mission for trapped customers was stalled by large iron frames caging the front of the building.
The fatal accident once again raised safety concerns over Vietnam’s karaoke bars, the majority of which are residential houses that were renovated to run the business.
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| Hanoi authorities examine the remains of four adjacent buildings destroyed by a fire on November 1, 2016. |
On the ‘karaoke street’ of Su Van Hanh in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, business is booming in the dozens of karaoke bars frequented by city youths.
Each of the bars has a single doorway that serves as both the entrance and exit, usually between four and eight meters.
Flashy billboards run the length of these bar fronts, blocking potential escape routes through windows and balconies.
In one former residential house on the street, all five stories have been renovated to accommodate 16 karaoke rooms that have been in operation for ten years.
A single staircase and elevator service the entire facility, while hallways on each floor have been narrowed to allow more space in each karaoke room.
The lights in the building are kept on at all times, even during the day, as all sources of natural light, including emergency exits, have been blocked to soundproof the bar.
These make-shift bars are not uncommon in the city. Popular entertainment precincts, such as No Trang Long Street in Binh Thanh District and Phan Xich Long Street in Phu Nhuan District, also feature similar architecture.
According to an official at the municipal Department of Construction, the renovation of residential houses into restaurants or karaoke bars is against the law and venues that attract large crowds must have standard emergency escape routes that residential houses are not equipped with.
There are currently 415 entertainment venues in Ho Chi Minh City that attract large numbers of people, 150 of which are karaoke bars, according to Col. Nguyen Quang Nhat, head of the city’s fire department staff bureau.
The fire department has advised business owners who plan to renovate residential houses to seek consultation in incorporating emergency exits, fire alarms, and fire extinguishers into their design plans.
