People who urinate in public will be fined VND1-3 million ($44-133) from 1 February, 2017, according to a new government decree.

The fines have been raised significantly from the current $9-13.

Public urination is nothing strange in Viet Nam, where there is an acute shortage of public toilets.

Data from the Ha Noi Department of Construction shows that the capital has 340 public toilets, but two thirds are located in residential areas and only 100 are situated along streets or at entertainment facilities.

Ho Chi Minh City faces the same problem with only 200 public toilets serving the needs of its 10 million residents and the 5 million foreign tourists that visit the city each year.

In the first seven months of 2016, Ho Chi Minh City penalised more than 1,500 people for urinating in public.  Those who committed the act for the first time were fined $9 and ordered to clean up their mess.

The higher fines have met with public approval but many say that more toilets should be installed before the new decree comes into effect in February.

(Source: VnExpress International)