Daily radio broadcasts on loudspeakers in Hanoi’s four central districts of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung, will be suspended until the end of 2018 following complaints that they disturb the lives of residents where they are installed.

Loudspeakers were useful in the past but are now considered a public annoyance.

Loudspeakers in these four districts will only be used to announce alerts in case of emergencies or upon requests of the municipal or central governments.

Meanwhile, other urban districts are allowed to retain 5 to 10 sets of no more than two loudspeakers in each ward and the speakers must be relocated away from schools, hospitals, diplomatic quarters, senior citizens’ residential areas, foreigners’ quarters and high buildings.

The broadcasts are reduced to twice a day, five days a week (excluding Saturday and Sunday) and a maximum of 15 minutes per programme.

In Son Tay town and rural districts, the duration of a broadcast could be longer, but no more than 45 minutes.

In the past broadcasts on local loudspeakers were useful channels for the people to obtain information, but as Vietnam modernises, the high-powered speakers have now become a public headache.

According to an online survey by the Hanoi government, nearly 90% of respondents say local loudspeaker systems are no longer necessary and should be abolished.

Less than 4% say the speakers are useful and over 6% say they are necessary, however changes to broadcast content are needed./.

VNF