On 6/8, Pham Phu Ngoc, director of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, stated that tour guide Truong Bui Ngoc Khue reminded a female foreign tourist about her inappropriate attire while visiting Chua Cau on the afternoon of 4/8.
Upon seeing the female tourist in a sheer, high-slit black dress preparing to enter Chua Cau, Ms. Khue explained the dress code in English and requested the visitor change into more appropriate attire. The foreign tourist subsequently complied with the guide’s instructions.
A representative from the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation commended the tour guide’s actions, noting that regulations regarding polite and appropriate attire are included in the visitor guidelines for heritage sites in Hoi An. "Inappropriate attire cannot be worn in solemn places like communal houses and pagodas," Mr. Ngoc stated, adding that staff are stationed at the entrance to the Old Town to guide tourists on dress codes.
Tour guide Khue shared that many international visitors, especially those new to Vietnam, may not fully understand local regulations and cultural customs. Therefore, when encountering cases of inappropriate dress, she primarily explains and reminds them to foster understanding and cooperation. She also suggested that travel agencies disseminate these regulations to tourists before they arrive in Hoi An.
The Hoi An Ward Culture and Society Department announced that the local authority will intensify efforts to promote the Code of Conduct for Civilized Tourism, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017, to accommodation providers and travel businesses. Tourist areas and attractions will also be inspected, with requirements to display multilingual signage and recommendations regarding appropriate attire, especially at religious structures such as communal houses, temples, and pagodas.
This is not the first time Hoi An has recorded instances of foreign tourists wearing inappropriate attire at attractions. In June, local authorities investigated and addressed a case where two tourists wore Vietnamese ao dai combined with bikinis and shorts while visiting the Old Town.
Tuan Anh
