Internet gaming still a widespread problem despite regulations

Online gaming in Hanoi has continued to operate past regulated hours and near schools despite tightened rules.

Online game shops all over Hanoi have pretended to obey online curfews set forth by government but in fact, many use tricks to cover their operations.

After 1am, Q.H internet shop at Khuong Thuong apartment building, Dong Da District remains open.

An internet shop positioned 50 metres away from Phan Dinh Giot Secondary School is operating

During the curfews, an Internet shop at Khuong Thuong apartment building is still open

Customers can play games through the night at an Internet shop at Bach Khoa K3 apartment building

Hanoi’s Department of Information and Communications issued regulations on business activities of all public Internet shops in the city over a week ago. However, many continue operating as they were before, violating regulations by conducting business near schools and after 11pm.

Early this month, the department requested 313 Internet shops which were located near schools to suspend their business. However, this demand has not been effective.

Only 3 out of 10 Internet shops located near schools in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, have ceased operations.

At about 10am on September 9, an Internet shop which is positioned on Nhan Hoa Street, Nhan Chinh Ward, just 50 metres away from Phan Dinh Giot Secondary School was filled with gamers. Most of them are students of Nhan Chinh High School.

“I have known the newly-issued regulations under which Internet shops are not allowed to be open near school and some violent games are also banned. However, we have played them for years so we cannot give up playing them immediately,” said Minh, a student.

Similarly, 17 Internet shops located in Dong Da District have also been told to stop their business operations. However, only some of them have done so.
Two Internet shops positioned on Quan Tho 1 Alley, Hang Bot Ward are still open for business.

“I heard about the decision issued by the local authority on stopping business of internet shops located near schools. I totally support this decision because students often come to these internet shops on their way home. I hope this decision would be implemented effectively. But I don’t know why some internet shops which are near Dong Da School are still operating,” shared a woman who has children studying at Dong Da School.

At Khuong Thuong apartment building in Dong Da District, 15 minutes prior to the curfews, 30 Internet shops providing violent games were still open.

At Q.H Internet shop, 40 out of 45 computers were being used.

At nearly 11pm, vehicles of gamers were given to motorcycle keepers or to a parking area at a university which is nearby. The shop door was then closed and the light was cut off. However, computers of gamers still worked. Gamers were informed that they were supposed to leave the shop after 1 am.

At 2am, a shop at the end of the Le Thanh Nghi, which is also a very popular street for gaming, a shop owner was told that we wanted to play through the night. However, we were denied and the shop owner told us that his shop was closed. In fact, we could see the light from computer screens and hear the noisy sound of games inside the shop.

“Only loyal customers are allowed to play at these shops at this time. You can play through the night at Internet shops located at the end of alleys,” a gamer shared.

Finally, a shop at 106K3 Bach Khoa agreed to let us enter. He said, “You can come here anytime and play through the night. We charge per hour in addition to VND4,000 ($0.2) per person each visit. We serve noodle, sticky rice or bread at your desk if you want.”