Hanoi ambulance driver fined for joining street parade after Vietnam's ASEAN Cup win

By Viet An January 7, 2025 | 01:28 am PT

Traffic police officers work with a driver of an ambulance in Hanoi, Jan. 5, 2025. Photo courtesy of the police

Hanoi traffic police fined a 34-year-old ambulance driver VND60 million ($2,365) for misusing the vehicle to celebrate Vietnam's ASEAN Cup victory.

The driver was fined by the police on Monday for using a priority vehicle for non-emergency purposes, driving under the influence, and lacking proper documentation.

On Sunday night, following Vietnam's 3-2 triumph over Thailand to claim the ASEAN Cup, the driver used an ambulance to transport football fans as part of the celebrations. The vehicle's rear doors remained open during the trip.

Police stopped the car on Nghiem Xuan Yem Street in Hoang Mai District and conducted an inspection.

A breathalyzer test revealed the driver's blood alcohol concentration was 0.514 milligrams per liter of breath. The ambulance has since been impounded.

The victory, which marked Vietnam's third time winning the Southeast Asian championship, sparked jubilant celebrations across the country, with millions of fans flooding streets across the nation through the night.