Man fined $76 for beating dog with stick at Vietnam tourist square

On September 4, a 38-year-old man from Ho Chi Minh City received a $76 fine in Da Lat, Vietnam, for brutally beating a dog with a stick. The incident was captured on video and quickly circulated on social media on September 2. Upon learning of the case, police identified the perpetrator and apprehended him the following morning.

The man claimed he had struck the dog because it refused to obey his commands, admitting that the act had tarnished Da Lat's reputation as a tourist destination. The penalty for animal abuse falls under Clause 1, Article 28 of Decree 211/2026, which mandates fines ranging from VND1 million to VND3 million ($38 to $114). The decree went into effect on August 5, superseding a 2021 regulation.

The convicted individual settled the fine at a local bank and pledged to refrain from such behavior in the future, according to Da Lat Ward police chief Senior Lieutenant Colonel Ho Hai Duong. He also informed officers that the dog was a personal pet, not utilized for commercial purposes in public. Police revealed that the man had recently relocated to the Da Lat area and intended to expose the dog to tourists for photographing fees when officers were absent.

This unlicensed practice of charging tourists to pose with large dogs near Xuan Huong Lake has been ongoing for years. Videos from August 2024 showcased Alaskan malamutes being struck at the square and its housing facility, leading police to question the operator of one photography service. Although officials had emphasized that charging tourists to pose with pets at the square violated regulations, the practice persisted.

Authorities are now advising tourists to avoid photographing or hiring the animals and have pledged to enhance patrols and leverage the security camera network to detect the issue more promptly.