A tour guide in Hoi An Ward, Danang, has won praise for politely asking a foreign tourist to change into more appropriate clothing before entering the Japanese Covered Bridge, one of the city's most visited heritage sites.
The foreign tourist was dressed inappropriately while visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge (Photo: Grab from clip).
On August 5, a video circulated online showing the guide approaching a female tourist dressed in a black outfit with a high slit and sheer fabric that exposed her underwear as she prepared to enter the historic monument.
Using English, the guide explained the dress code for heritage sites and places of worship before courteously asking the visitor to change into more suitable clothing before continuing her visit.
The guide was later identified as Truong Bui Ngoc Khue, a resident of Hoi An Ward.
Speaking to Dantri, Khue said the incident occurred at around 7 pm on August 4 while she was leading a tour group. She noticed the visitor's attire did not comply with local guidelines for culturally and spiritually significant sites.
"This is a World Cultural Heritage site. You should not dress like this. Please wear long trousers or a long skirt. Kindly buy more appropriate clothing before entering," Khue told the tourist.
According to Khue, the tourist and her companions responded positively to the request. They left the site, purchased more appropriate clothing and later returned to continue their visit.
Pham Phu Ngoc, director of the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Preservation Centre, supported the guide's actions. He said staff and tour guides are instructed to ask visitors wearing inappropriate clothing to leave before entering heritage and religious sites.
Ngoc said Hoi An's visitor regulations require tourists to dress respectfully and appropriately when visiting cultural and historical monuments. The policy has been communicated to all staff and tour guides working across the city's heritage attractions.
He added that ticket staff, site managers, tour guides and inspectors all operate under an established monitoring system. When visitors arrive wearing clothing considered unsuitable for heritage sites, staff are instructed to approach them, explain the dress code and ask them not to enter until they are appropriately dressed.