Is it permissible to burn votive papers in apartment buildings in Vietnam? What are the fines for burning votive papers in apartment buildings in Vietnam?

Is it permissible to burn votive papers in apartment buildings in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 2, Appendix 01 issued together with the Circular 02/2016/TT-BXD stipulating prohibited acts during use of apartment buildings in Vietnam as follows:

1. Cause loss of security and order, talk filth and use radio, TV or sound equipment which give high-decibel noise.

2. Make a mess, drop litter or waste and toxic substances that cause environment pollution in apartment building area.

3. Throw objects out of windows or balcony of the apartment building;

4. Raise and leave livestock and poultry unbridled in the apartment building;

5. Burn votive papers, make a fire in the apartment building except in locations as prescribed.

6. Hang out the washing or put clothing and objects on handrails or the space from handrails upward or across windows of the apartment.

7. Organize activities of gambling and prostitution in the apartment building;

8. Trade in stuff that is highly explosive, inflammable representing a hazard to lives and properties of occupants.

9. Conduct illegal trade, storage and use of drugs in the apartment and other areas in the apartment building.

10. Transform uses and purposes of shared portions and facilities of the apartment buildings on one’s own initiative.

11. Other acts according to relevant law provisions on apartment buildings shall be supplemented via the apartment building meeting to accord with each apartment building.

12. Other prohibited acts as prescribed;

As regulations above, burning votive papers is a prohibited acts during use of apartment buildings in Vietnam. Your neighbor has violated the law for burning votive papers in apartment building and not cleaning up the ashes. You neighbor can burn votive papers, but he/she can only burn them at restricted place of the apartment building.

What are the fines for burning votive papers in apartment buildings in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 14 of the Decree 38/2021/NĐ-CP stipulating violation against regulations on organization of festivals in Vietnam as follows:

1. Imposing the fine ranging from 200,000 dong to 500,000 dong for one of the following violations:

a) Burning incense or burning votive paper in the wrong places;

b) Uttering profanities, swearing or insulting holy spirit, affecting the solemn atmosphere of festivals;

c) Wearing clothes which are inappropriate or do not conform to Vietnamese cultural traditions.

2. Imposing the fine ranging from 500,000 dong to 1,000,000 dong for one of the following violations:

a) Failing to submit festival review reports to competent state authorities according to regulations;

b) Insisting on asking festival attendees to use services and goods.

3. Imposing the fine ranging from 1,000,000 dong to 3,000,000 dong for one of the following violations:

a) Failing to establish festival organizers’ boards according to regulations;

b) Selling festival tickets and collecting fees for participation in festivals;

c) Organizing festivals without toilets or with toilets that fail to meet the prescribed standards at areas where festivals are held or at relics;

d) Failing to disseminate and introduce purposes, meaning and value of festivals on the loudspeaker systems or signage and other forms of propaganda;

dd) Failing to announce hotline numbers to receive feedbacks from festival participants.

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Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 5 of the Decree 38/2021/NĐ-CP stipulating as follows:

2. The amounts of fine specified in Chapter II and Chapter III of this Decree are imposed on individuals while those specified in clause 1, point c clause 4, point a clause 5 and 6 of Article 6; point c, dd, e and g clause 4 of Article 8; clause 1, 2 and 3 of Article 9; Article 10; point a clause 2, clause 3, 5 and 6, point a, b, c and d clause 7 Article 14; clause 1, 2, 3, 4 and point b clause 5 Article 21; clause 1, 2, 3, 4 and point b clause 5 Article 23; clause 1 of Article 24; Article 30, 38, 39 and 40 of this Decree are applicable to organizations.

As regulations above, your neighbor shall be fined from 200,000 dong to 500,000 dong for burning votive papers in apartment buildings in Vietnam.

Best regards!