Handling advertising violations in Dong Da ward.

Large billboards illegally displayed at the intersection of Lang Street and So Street. Photo: Hoang Lan

Identifying reputable brands

During the survey, the inspection team from the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports reviewed several streets: Tay Son, Lang, Lang Ha, Thai Ha, Yen Lang…

According to reporters' observations, advertising violations are widespread on the streets. Not only are there billboards and signs that violate size and placement regulations, but many billboards have had their content removed, leaving only rusty iron frames hanging on the rooftops of buildings. Many advertising signs, banners, and business signs are hung on tree trunks. Numerous single-column billboards on the median strips of Lang and Lang Ha streets remain, even though their installation deadlines have expired, displaying no advertising content and only a bare iron frame.

Many large billboards, after their content is removed, leave behind rusty iron frames, which are both unsightly and dangerous. Photo: Hoang Lan

Furthermore, many large billboards still remain on overpasses. These violations not only detract from the aesthetics and violate traffic laws but also affect the safety of residents and road users.

According to a report from the People's Committee of Dong Da Ward, from July 1, 2025 to the present, there are 15 outdoor advertising billboards in Dong Da Ward, mainly located at intersections with large spaces such as: the O Cho Dua intersection, Nga Tu So intersection, and on main streets such as Xa Dan, Nguyen Luong Bang, Tay Son, Thai Ha, Yen Lang, and Lang Street. Among these, 10 billboards are placed on the facades and side walls of buildings not attached to businesses; freestanding single-column billboards; LED screen advertising; and other advertising signs…

Many advertising banners are displayed incorrectly on the streets of Hanoi . Photo: Hoang Lan

Many advertising banners are hung in the wrong places on tree trunks, not only violating advertising regulations but also detracting from urban aesthetics (Photo: A banner hung incorrectly on Kham Thien Street). Photo: Hoang Lan

Currently, Dong Da ward has identified a list of many businesses violating advertising regulations in the area. Some businesses have removed the content after being requested, while others continue to violate the regulations. Notably, some large businesses are violating advertising regulations in Dong Da ward, such as: Red Investment Joint Stock Company, which has many large advertising billboards illegally displayed at locations on Tay Son Street and at the beginning of Lang Street - Nga Tu So intersection; and Focus Media and Entertainment Joint Stock Company, which advertises Hanoi Beer in oversized format, occupying the entire facade of four buildings at the beginning of Lang Street - Nga Tu So intersection.

Many large brands and businesses are violating advertising regulations. Photo: Hoang Lan

In addition, during the field survey and inspection, the inspection team from the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports also noted many businesses violating advertising regulations regarding signs and billboards. Many signs and billboards violated size and installation location regulations. Typical examples include the signs and advertisements ofFPT , Long Chau Pharmacy, etc.

During the meeting, representatives from the Dong Da Ward Police also informed that, in recent times, the unit has continuously reviewed and removed many illegal banners, with units such as FPT and Long Chau Pharmacy alone having 700-800 violating banners removed.

We are determined to eliminate violations.

According to Nguyen Trong Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Da Ward, advertising activities in the ward still face violations. The main violations include: signs being "transformed" into advertising signs; signs and advertising signs exceeding permitted sizes; and banners, posters, and free classified ads being hung on trees, in the wrong locations, or secretly.

“In the past, the ward's authorities have regularly launched campaigns to dismantle illegal banners and have requested many violating businesses to remove them. However, due to many advertising units and businesses deliberately violating regulations and illegally hanging banners, while the authorities are facing difficulties in terms of personnel and resources, it is difficult to thoroughly address the issue. In the coming time, Dong Da ward will continue to coordinate with relevant units to organize campaigns, resolutely eliminate violations, and strictly handle violating businesses,” said Mr. Nguyen Trong Hai.

An advertising billboard placed in the flower-lined median on Lang Street is unsightly. Photo: Hoang Lan

Further analysis of advertising violations currently being committed by many advertising companies and businesses revealed that violations of regulations regarding the size of signs, billboards, banners, and classified ads pose numerous risks, not only to urban aesthetics and damage to trees but also to fire safety and road safety.

At the meeting, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Nguyen Thi Mai Huong, stated that Hanoi has recently issued a "Plan to address bottlenecks in 'Urban Order' and build communes and wards that ensure urban order, discipline, and civility in Hanoi" (which is one of the five "bottlenecks" (regarding urban order, traffic congestion, environmental pollution, flooding, and food safety and hygiene). Violations of outdoor advertising regulations are one of the factors causing chaos and detracting from urban aesthetics. Therefore, to contribute to resolving the "bottleneck" in urban order, managing and addressing outdoor advertising activities will be one of the tasks that the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports and the communes and wards will resolutely handle.

To avoid a haphazard approach to management, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Huong suggested that Dong Da ward, a core area with many large advertising locations, should take decisive action against violations. Initially, the ward should focus resources on addressing problematic advertising locations such as those at intersections and traffic lanes, and those on median strips that violate traffic laws. Ms. Mai Huong also proposed that the local authorities compile a list of violations and send it to the Department of Culture and Sports for coordinated action and discussion with businesses that are violating advertising regulations and detracting from the city's aesthetics.

A joint inspection team organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports worked with Dong Da ward. Photo: Hoang Lan.

For advertising locations where the content has been removed but the rusty, unsightly iron frame remains, local authorities should propose to the competent construction permit issuing agencies to take appropriate action. For pilot advertising projects, after the pilot period ends and the billboards are no longer deemed suitable, local authorities should conduct a survey and propose a plan for their removal to avoid detracting from the aesthetics of the area.

Regarding this issue, Nguyen Trong Hai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Da Ward, said that the locality will coordinate with relevant agencies to resolutely handle violations. Advertising activities fall under the management of multiple sectors, therefore, Mr. Hai proposed that the Hanoi Department of Construction and the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports coordinate specifically and closely. The Department of Construction needs to establish standards for licensing the construction of advertising billboards and should make adjustments when encountering practical problems.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/xu-ly-vi-pham-quang-cao-tai-phuong-dong-da-726474.html