Unlicensed cafes spring up along cliff edge on Nha Trang pass

By Bui Toan, Bich Phuong   September 8, 2026 | 07:36 pm PT Google Get VnExpress first in Google Search info See more of the news you trust. Make VnExpress a preferred source to prioritise our updates in your Google search results
Drinks stalls on Luong Son Pass in northern Nha Trang have set up tables and chairs close to cliff edges for customers to enjoy sea views ignoring warning signs authorities have put up.

On Sept. 4, many could be seen, some less than 1.5 meters from the edge.

In response, local authorities put up guardrails and posted "No Gathering" signs in certain dangerous stretches to warn the public.

Luong Son pass stretches over 15 kilometers in the central beach town, with many sections more than 50 meters above sea level.

It is a popular spot for locals to take in the views and exercise.

Hàng quán tự phát kê bàn ghế sát mép vực trên đèo Lương Sơn, ngày 4/9. Ảnh: Bùi Toàn

An unauthorized stall sets up tables and chairs near the cliff edge on Luong Son Pass, Sept. 4, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Toan

An employee of one unauthorized drink stall on the pass said customers mostly gather on hot, dry days or holidays, primarily between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., with most stopping briefly to take photos before leaving.

Hoang Quan, 31, a Nha Trang resident, said he often cycles along the pass in the afternoon and stops at these stalls to rest and take photos.

But the cliff edge gives him a feeling of vertigo, he said.

"The drop-off is deep, so for peace of mind, I usually sit a bit further back."

Vinh Thong of Bac Nha Trang Ward said visitors often sit right at the cliff edge to take photos, and some families even let young children run around there.

Đoạn đèo Lương Sơn nhìn từ trên cao. Ảnh: Bá Hùng

An aerial view of a section of Luong Son Pass. Photo by Ba Hung

There are no penalties for people sitting close to the edge, with authorities mainly resorting to set up warning signs.

Leaders of the ward People's Committee said a task force would be established to crack down on unauthorized stalls encroaching on the pass's road space.

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