Vietnam pulls plug on internet cafes

Hanoi: Authorities in the Vietnamese capital are clamping down on internet cafes in what they say is a bid to address an online gaming addiction and inappropriate content.

Internet shops within 200 metres of schools must shut down this month, the official Hanoi city website said late on Friday. In addition, "technical measures" should be implemented to suspend all online service to internet shops between 11pm and 6am, it said.

The city has hundreds of internet cafes near schools, Pham Quoc Ban, head of Hanoi's information department, said. "These shops have resulted in the quitting of classes by students."

Ban added that "specialised software" will help authorities enforce the new policy towards internet outlets.