Nha Trang hotel staff probed for renting motorbike to drunk Russian, leading to fatal crash

A 51-year-old hotel receptionist in Nha Trang is facing charges after allegedly renting a motorbike to an intoxicated Russian tourist who subsequently struck and killed a pedestrian. Le Thi Hai Anh in the central Vietnam resort town has been placed under a travel ban while authorities investigate her for handing a vehicle over to an unqualified driver, an offense under Article 264 of Vietnam's Penal Code.The driver, Russian national Smoliakov, was riding the rented motorbike back to the hotel on May 4 when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a woman in her 70s as she was crossing Tran Phu Street, a busy coastal road in Nha Trang. She later succumbed to her injuries. A Russian motorbike driver is about to strike a woman as she crosses the road in Nha Trang, May 4, 2026. Photo courtesy of Khanh Hoa Police Konstantin was arrested as medical tests revealed he had a blood alcohol concentration of 268.8 milligrams per 100 milliliters of blood.Further investigation revealed that Anh had rented the motorbike to Konstantin despite knowing he lacked a valid driver's license and failed to meet other legal requirements to operate the vehicle in Vietnam.Local police have urged businesses that rent motorbikes to foreign visitors to strictly verify their customers' driving credentials.Authorities also reminded rental operators to ensure tourists are legally qualified to drive and understand Vietnam's traffic laws before handing over any vehicles.