Hotel exceeding approved floor limit on Phu Quoc Island forced to chop top The five-star Seashells Hotel rises nine floors above the ground despite its license as a seven-story building The under-construction Seashells Hotel is seen on Phu Quoc Island, off southern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre An under-construction hotel on Phu Quoc Island whose developer deliberately breached the seven-story limit on its building license has been asked by local authorities to demolish its extra floors. The five-star Seashells Hotel, located on prime real estate in Duong Dong Town on Phu Quoc, an island off the southern province of Kien Giang, was licensed for seven stories, though the developer, Phu Quoc Tourism, chose to ignore its permit, eventually adding an additional two floors to the building. The violation was eventually noticed by the inspectorate of the Kien Giang construction department, which later consulted the provincial administration on how to handle the case. The Kien Giang administration’s ruling called on Phu Quoc Tourism Co. to remove the two stories not permitted by its construction license, the inspectorate confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday. Later the same day, the developer had the newly finished top floor of the hotel removed. It is not clear when the eighth floor will follow suit. Rampant construction violations The Seashells Hotel has also been criticized by members of the public on Phu Quoc for its close proximity to the beach and obstruction of the remaining beachfront view on Vietnam’s biggest island. The Dinh Cau night market, one of the most popular attractions on Phu Quoc, was also relocated to make space for the hotel, upsetting many islanders. However, Kien Giang authorities later decided that the hotel had been licensed before regulations on beach protection came into effect; therefore, its construction was permitted to continue as planned. Despite this, Kien Giang deputy chairman Mai Anh Nhin admitted that violations on urban construction on Phu Quoc have been rife in recent times. “We have formed a working team and are cooperating with authorities on Phu Quoc to investigate and crack down on violators,” he added. Phu Quoc, an hour-long flight from Ho Chi Minh City, is currently in the process of being re-categorized as a special administrative zone. By Tuoi Tre News