A Chinese tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison by a court in central Vietnam after a drunk-driving incident last year in Hoi An tragically claimed the life of his girlfriend.
On Thursday, the People’s Court of Quang Nam Province handed down a 12-month sentence to 32-year-old Chong Fu Kit after a first-instance trial found him guilty of violating road traffic regulations.
According to the indictment, Chong arrived in Vietnam on May 7, 2024, for a holiday with three other Chinese nationals. The group stayed at a hotel in Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province.
Shortly after arriving, Chong rented a motorbike from Nguyen Dong Quan, a 52-year-old man from neighboring Da Nang City. Despite Chong not having a valid driver’s license, Quan failed to check his credentials before handing over the vehicle for a four-day rental.
Just one day later, tragedy struck.
After drinking five cans of beer on the afternoon of May 8, Chong took his girlfriend, 28-year-old Crus Wing Sze, for a late-night ride. Neither wore helmets. Around 10:49 p.m., while riding at an estimated 40-50 km/h on Lac Long Quan Street, heading toward Hoi An City, Chong lost control of the bike and slammed into a fixed median in Cam An Ward.
The crash proved fatal. Crus Wing Sze suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and died instantly. Chong was seriously injured and later hospitalized, with medical reports citing 35% bodily harm.
Beyond Chong’s conviction, the court also held the motorbike owner partially accountable. Nguyen Dong Quan received a nine-month suspended sentence for his negligence in failing to verify the tourist’s eligibility to drive.
This tragic incident underscores growing concerns about road safety in tourist hotspots and the responsibilities of both foreign visitors and local service providers in ensuring compliance with Vietnamese traffic laws.
Related
Discover more from Vietnam Insider
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Source: Vietnam Insider