Grand hotel operated against law, authorities’ orders in Nha Trang
A hotel in the famous beach city of Nha Trang, located in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, is still operating despite myriad violations and repeated penalties from authorities.
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The building includes 25 floors, 303 rooms and a variety of services including a restaurant, event center, bar, karaoke rooms, spa and wine storage, and is located opposite to the Khanh Hoa Province Military Command Headquarters.
The firm was a given permission to construct the hotel on a 4,000 square meter piece of land, which was originally zoned for defense and security.
The Bavico project was approved by the 5th Military Region and the provincial People’s Committee on January 2014.
In February 2015, the hotel was put into operation despite not meeting requirements regarding its fire safety system.
According to Dinh Tien Su, director of Bach Viet Company, the National Administration of Tourism issued a permit for the operation of Bavico, certifying that it was a 4-star hotel.
The tourism administration agreed that the firm could finish the hotel’s fire safety system later.
Following another request from Bach Viet, the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee granted a permit allowing the company to sell the condo’s inside the Bavico Hotel, a decision that was not agreed upon by the 5thMilitary Region.
After the sale of several condo’s had already taken place, the 5thMilitary Region revoked the formal permission, asserting that such deals could not be carried out on land zoned for defense and security.
According to Tran Minh Hai, deputy director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, it was wrong for Bach Viet to sell apartments inside Bavico Hotel.
Neglecting orders
As Bach Viet did not fulfill its promise to complete the hotel’s fire safety system, the National Administration of Tourism decided to revoke the 4-star certificate from the facility in late 2016.
In March of the same year, the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee had already fined Bach Viet VND23 million (US$1,012) for not finishing the fire safety system as per the original design, and another VND80 million ($3,521) for running the hotel without meeting these requirements.
The firm was also ordered to resolve its shortcoming within 30 days.
As the request was ignored, the provincial administration suspended the operation of the hotel in early 2017, a decision which was eventually ignored.
On June 19, the Chairman of Khanh Hoa Province Le Duc Vinh convened a meeting with Bach Viet toconfirm the penalty.
According to Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, deputy director of the provincial Department of Tourism, Bach Viet has shut down all entertainment in the hotel including its bars, event center and spa.
However, Bavico still provides accommodation, Thanh said.
