According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Binh, head of My Duc District, each of the violators faced a fine of VND1 million.
One of the two fined for the violation
Local authorities also broadcasted news of the violation on the Huong Son Commune tannoy system where they are living so the wider public would be aware of the issue.
Each visitor had to pay VND1.3 million for a rowing boat and VND2 million for using a motorboat to travel along Yen Stream to the Huong Pagoda.
Although check points were installed on the stream, they could take many visitors without being detected.
Nguyen Ba Hien, head of Huong Pagoda management board, said that Huong Pagoda’s temporary closure had affected many local residents.
The majority of them strictly conformed to Covid-19 preventive regulations as safety was the top priority.
However, some people have still ignored the epidemic preventive measures to earn money by seeking ways to take visitors to the pagoda through small paths.
My Duc authorities arranged nearly 200 security officers to be on duty at checkpoints around the pagoda to prevent tourists from going into the pagoda illegally.
To tighten control, another checkpoint has been set up near the pagoda, Hien emphasised.
