In Vietnam: Is it permissible to sit on the railway line to take photos?

In Vietnam: Is it permissible to sit on the railway line to take photos?

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Law on Railway Transport in 2017 stipulating prohibited acts in railway activities as follows:

1. Damage railway works and railway vehicles.

2. Illegally occupy the railway safety corridor and the safety perimeter of the railway work

3. Build an illegal crossing; illegally build flyovers, underpasses, culverts or other works built within the land area for rail transport; illegally drill or bore within the safety perimeter of the railway work.

4. Falsify works and railway signaling; hide or falsify railway signals.

5. Obstruct the train operation; arbitrarily use signals or equipment to stop the train, unless a threat to railway safety is found.

6. Trespass the fence, the barrier of the level crossing when the block signal is given; trespass the fences that separate the railway from the surrounding.

7. Discharge untreated sewage onto the railway; place obstacles and dump hazardous substances or waste on the railway; illegally place flammable or explosive substances within the safety perimeter of the railway work and the railway safety corridor.

8. Herd animals and trade goods on railways and within the safety perimeter of the railway work and the railway safety corridor.

9. Walk, stand, lie, sit or perform other acts on the roof of the coach, locomotive, steps; hang, stand, sit on the sides of the coach, locomotive, or connector; open the train doors, poke the head, arm, leg, or other stuff out the coach when the train is running, except for the railway workers and law enforcement officers on duty.

10. Walk, stand, lie, sit or perform other acts on the railway line, except for the railway workers and law enforcement officers on duty.

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As regulations above, only the railway workers and law enforcement officers on duty are eligible to perform any act on the railway line.

If you sit on the railway line to take photos, you will violate the law and face administrative fines.

In Vietnam: What are administrative fines for sitting on the railway line to take photos?

Pursuant to Clause 1 and 8.a, Article 49 of the Decree 100/2019/NĐ-CP stipulating penalties for violations against regulations on railway safety assurance as follows:

1. A fine ranging from VND 300,000 to VND 500,000 shall be imposed upon any person:

a) Walking, standing, lying, sitting or conducting other activities on railways, on bridges and tunnels solely for rail transport, other than railway personnel and competent agencies on duty;

b) Trespassing the fences or walls that separate the railway from the surrounding;

c) Taking animals across the railway at inappropriate positions, or leaving animals to pull a vehicle across the railway without a rider;

d) Walking, standing, lying, sitting or conducting other activities on the roof of the coach, locomotive, steps; hanging, standing, sitting on the sides of the coach, locomotive, or connector; opening the train doors; poking the head, arm, leg, or other stuff out the coach when the train is running, except for railway personnel and competent agencies on duty;

dd) Placing farm produce and other objects on the railway line or other railway works;

e) Spilling debris or other materials on the railway line.

8. Apart from the fines, the violator shall also be compelled to:

a) The violation(s) specified in Point a Clause 1 of this Article shall lead to removal from the railway, bridges and tunnels used solely for rail transport;

As regulations above, a fine ranging from VND 300,000 to VND 500,000 shall be imposed upon anyone sitting on railways (except railway personnel and competent agencies on duty). The violator shall also be compelled to leave railways.

What are basic rules for railway activities in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 4 of the Law on Railway Transport in 2017 stipulating basic rules for railway activities in Vietnam as follows:

1. Ensure continuous, orderly, safe, accurate and efficient rail transport; facilitate people’s travel, contribute to socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security, and protect the environment.

2. Develop rail transport according to the planning and plan in combination with other modes of transport and international integration to ensure civilization, modernity and uniformity.

3. Arrange rail transport in a uniform and concentrated manner.

4. Separate the state management by regulatory authorities from business management by enterprises; the railway infrastructure business from state-invested rail transport business.

5. Ensure healthy and fair competition among organizations and individuals of all economic sectors doing railway business.

Above are basic rules for railway activities in Vietnam.

Best regards!