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Game on: Internet shops in Ha Noi are flouting a new city regulation requiring them to close by 11pm, with many continuing to operate until 6am. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Tu |
The rule, imposed on September 1, was aimed at reducing online game abuse among young people.
But Nguyen Hung, a student at the University of Technology and a self-confessed online game addict, said the hours after 11pm were "gold" for internet shops because many students rushed to them at night after finishing their studies for the day.
Hung said he often plays at a shop on Le Thanh Nghi Street in Hai Ba Trung District.
"It's a new school year, and many students from rural areas who come to study at universities in Ha Noi still have money to afford online games throughout the night," said Hung.
A shop owner who asked to have his name withheld said, "Despite the city's restriction, we try to keep our shop open to earn money."
The city has cut the main internet line to the shop, but the shop remains connected through shared network lines, he said, although the quality of the internet connection was lower, causing trouble for some gamers.
Many shop continue to operate without internet connections by offering offline games.
"These offline games are still entertaining," said Hung. "There's still blood and violence. Offline games are as dangerous as online games."
To get around the post-11pm ban, may shop use internet connections during the day and cut the line during the late hours to deal with any city inspectors.
Some internet shops have tried to find a loophole in the restriction by registering to change their form of business to a cafe – while continuing to providing oneline gaming.
For example, the Dat Shop on Giang Vo Road, which has been fined and urged to stop late night operations many times, has opened a cafe and provides free internet for customers who order a coffee.
Dat has also made this change since the new restriction bans internet shops and internet shops within a 200m radius of a school but not a cafe with internet.
An official from the Ha Noi Department of Information and Communications, Pham Quoc Ban, said they were confused as to how to deal with the problem. "But we'll tighten controls to prevent violent online games which have a highly negative effect on young people's behaviour and lifestyles."
Violations will be imposed with heavy fines and forced to be closed, Ban said.
The new regulation was also imposed in HCM City where 4,000 internet shops and over 1 million internet subscribers exist. — VNS
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