Vietnam prosecutes drivers after deaths of Russian and British tourists

In Khanh Hoa province, hotel employee Lê Thị Hải Anh, 51, was charged under Article 264 of the Criminal Code for giving a motorbike to Russian tourist Smoliakov Konstantin, 35, who was intoxicated. Konstantin struck and killed a pedestrian on 4 May, prompting authorities to prosecute the staff member for providing a vehicle to an unqualified driver.

In Tuyên Quang province, contract driver L. V. L. was prosecuted after a crash on 11 June 2026 that killed British tourist W. M. G. while the driver attempted an unsafe overtaking maneuver on a rainy, slippery road. Police charged the driver for violating traffic regulations and highlighted the responsibility of transport providers for passenger safety. Both cases illustrate Vietnam's enforcement of stricter liability for individuals who facilitate road travel by unqualified or impaired drivers.