Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's apology for his motorcade’s entry into a pedestrian street in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hoi An received a warm welcome from the public.

While visiting the town for a tourism conference on August 8, the prime minister had walked to the venue in a part of the town in which motorised vehicles were banned. He had failed to recognise that many of the cars that had accompanied his delegation were driving behind him.

After being shared on social media, the photos showing the government motorcade travelling down pedestrianised streets attracted lots of negative comments from the public.

Many people said the PM was inside one of the vehicles, while others stated that it is unacceptable for the vehicles to be driven into the pedestrian street as it is something like disrespectful to the World Heritage Site.

Obviously  government vehicles are allowed to travel on pedestrianised roads, particularly when fulfilling a duty. So in theory, the PM's motorcade led by police would be allowed.

However, following the negative public reaction, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made a public apology, admitting he should have instructed his motorcade to stop outside the area.

The PM also said he was not in any of the cars among the motorcade. He walked around a kilometre ahead and was unaware the cavalcade had decided to follow him.

The PM's apology was welcomed. Many Dantri/DTiNews readers said that this will set a lesson for other officials to take responsibility for their wrongdoings.

A reader commented that while it may have been legal in terms of the letter of the law, in this case, only some security needed to follow the PM, and the motorcade was obviously a public relations disaster.

It is uncommon for political leaders to apologise to the public in Vietnam. So the prime minister’s apology marks a positive mood-changer.

It is hoped that more government officials will be well aware of the importance of taking into account public opinion, as their credibility is based on the public’s perceptions.