On August 5, 2024, L.L., a female tourist, shared her experience of discovering a hidden camera in the homestay she rented in Vũng Tàu City. According to her, during her 2-day stay at a rented apartment in The Sóng, she discovered a strange device on the ceiling and in the closet.
Upon inspection, she realized that it was a camera disguised as a light switch. Another camera was also found in the adjacent closet, directly facing the toilet area.
As soon as she discovered the incident, the female tourist contacted the person she believed to be the representative who received the homestay guests, with a social media account named Khánh Vân.
However, the response from this person made the situation even more tense. Instead of explaining or apologizing, the homestay owner had a confrontational attitude and even demanded compensation, claiming that the guest had damaged the camera. This person stated that installing cameras in this way was common in the condominium rental area and advised "not to make a fuss".
In reality, installing cameras in rented apartments or homestays for security purposes is a choice made by some property owners. However, not informing guests clearly beforehand is a taboo. Because, secretly filming or taking pictures of others is a violation of the right to one's image and the right to privacy, personal secrets, and family secrets, as stipulated in the 2015 Civil Code.
According to investigation, this condominium is a business model for lodging in the form of condotel (tourist apartments). However, the answer from the Khánh Vân account has affected the business of many people.
Sister Huyền Phạm, a homestay business owner at this condominium, explained: "This is a condominium with many apartments that have been licensed to receive tourists. In total, there are 1600 apartments, each with a separate owner or a single owner with multiple apartments. The 'hosts' (guest receptionists) are people who rent apartments from the owners to operate tourism and homestay businesses."
Sister Phạm Hoàng Kiều My, a receptionist at this condominium, corrected: "This apartment is equipped with cameras for some private reasons. The remaining areas of the building are equipped with security cameras, but there is no installation of cameras in individual apartments."
Sister My also denied the information that installing cameras is common in the condominium rental area: "Saying 'The Sóng is full of (cameras)' is completely false. This has also affected our reputation and dignity."
Sister Phạm Huyền also shared that after the guest's post was widely shared, many homestay business owners faced pressure as many guests canceled their bookings or failed to pay. The spread of bad information at an alarming rate has affected their future business.
On the part of the authorities, the leader of Thắng Tam Ward (Vũng Tàu City) said that no complaints from citizens have been received regarding the incident. The Thắng Tam Police have been investigating the situation.
Lao Động has contacted the L.L. account and the account related to the homestay owner to gather information but has not received a response. Lao Động will continue to update the situation if there are any new developments.
