Luu Xuan Nam, vice chairman of Dao Tru Commune People’s Committee in Phu Tho Province, signed a notice strictly prohibiting individuals and organisations from entering forests, climbing mountains, bathing in streams or accessing mountainous and stream areas without official permission or supervision under regulations.
The commune has also banned organising, joining, promoting, guiding or supporting in any form spontaneous outdoor activities such as trekking and camping that have not been approved by authorities.
The move came after several groups and individuals recently entered the Tam Dao forest area on their own to climb mountains, bathe in streams and organise unauthorised trekking and camping trips.
The decision followed the case of Nguyen Tuan Anh, 19, from Hanoi, who became lost in the forest for 36 hours in the Doc Dit mountain area of Vinh Ninh hamlet from April 19 to the morning of April 21.
Student Nguyen Tuan Anh reaches the northern Tam Dao peak on April 19 before going missing for 36 hours (Photo: Dao Tru Commune People's Committee).
Several drowning incidents have also been reported in streams and lakes in the area.
Dao Tru has complex terrain with steep slopes, deep streams, waterfalls and slippery mountain paths. At the same time, forest, mountain and stream areas under the management of Tam Dao National Park have not been approved for tourism or outdoor experience activities.
Local authorities have also banned opening unofficial paths, setting up trekking routes, placing markers or damaging warning signs and boundary markers in forest and mountain areas.
The use of fire in any form inside the forest, including campfires, cooking, smoking or using flammable materials and heat sources, has also been strictly prohibited.
Visitors have been warned not to join or use unauthorised tours, services or self-organised activity groups. They are also forbidden from entering forests or approaching dangerous areas without permission and must take responsibility for their own safety and any consequences arising from violations.
The commune said all violations would be detected, stopped, documented and handled in accordance with the law.
“If violations result in rescue operations, the individuals involved must bear legal responsibility for the consequences,” the notice stated.
Earlier, Tuan Anh and a group of friends began climbing Tam Dao Mountain on the morning of April 19 and lost contact by 6 pm the same day in the Vinh Ninh Hamlet area of Dao Tru Commune.
More than 100 police officers, soldiers and local residents were mobilised overnight for the search.
Several professional trekking groups from Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Tuyen Quang and Phu Tho also joined the rescue effort.
On the morning of April 21, after more than 36 hours missing, Tuan Anh was found beside a stream at an altitude of 600 metres on Tam Dao Mountain.