Hanoi 'gives power' to grant karaoke licenses to communes and wards from November 8, 2025

From November 8, 2025, the granting, adjustment and revocation of Licenses for eligibility to operate karaoke services in Hanoi will be strongly decentralized to the ward and commune levels.

According to Decision No. 66/2025/QD-UBND, which was just signed and issued by Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha on October 29, 2025, all authority to grant, adjust and revoke Karaoke Business Eligibility Licenses will be transferred to the People's Committees of wards and communes. The new decision of Hanoi People's Committee is expected to increase transparency and practical management, but also places high demands on local responsibility.

Hanoi decentralizes the authority to grant karaoke business licenses to grassroots level.

This means that businesses, organizations, and individuals - whether domestic or foreign - who want to open a karaoke establishment in Hanoi will work directly with the ward and commune authorities, instead of having to submit their application to the city level as before.

These units must also take full responsibility for inspecting, monitoring and handling violations related to karaoke activities in their management areas. The "empowerment" to the grassroots level is considered a strong step in the process of reforming administrative procedures and strengthening decentralization and delegation of power in Hanoi.

According to the City People's Committee, this policy aims to shorten the process, reduce inconvenience for businesses, and at the same time help local authorities proactively manage more closely cultural and entertainment activities that potentially contain many sensitive elements such as karaoke, bars, dance clubs, etc. However, along with that is the requirement to improve the capacity, responsibility and integrity of ward and commune authorities in licensing and checking fire safety conditions, security, order, noise and environment.

Departments and branches such as Culture and Sports, Police, Health , Tourism, Construction, Finance, etc. will continue to perform state management work according to their functions, coordinate inspections, and guide localities to ensure compliance with legal regulations.

In particular, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports is assigned to supervise the implementation of decentralization, ensuring that licensing at the facility is done according to the correct procedures, to the right people, and under the right conditions.

Decision 66/2025/QD-UBND takes effect from November 8, 2025, replacing Decision No. 14/2024/QD-UBND dated February 19, 2024. This replacement demonstrates Hanoi's efforts in perfecting the legal framework and strengthening the management of conditional business lines, contributing to building a healthy, civilized and safe urban cultural life.

This strong decentralization is a “test of grassroots urban management capacity”, when wards and communes must ensure quick service to the people while strictly controlling security, order and cultural risks. If implemented seriously, this could be a significant step forward to help Hanoi reshape the way it manages sensitive services in the period of rapid urbanization and digital transformation of administrative management.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/ha-noi-trao-quyen-cap-phep-karaoke-cho-xa-phuong-tu-ngay-8112025-20251030164053687.htm