The 30-year-old man was summoned by officials on Aug. 5 after a video of him riding on the basalt arch spread online.

He told them he could not understand the warning signs prohibiting climbing at the site because he spoke neither Vietnamese nor English.

"I saw that the rock formation was beautiful and just wanted to go out and take a closer look. I am truly sorry."

The officials had the man sign a pledge not to repeat the offense.

Screenshot from a video shared online shows a Chinese tourist riding a motorbike onto the To Vo rock arch on Ly Son Island in central Vietnam.

To Vo, located on the west side of Big Island, is nine meters long and 2.5 meters high with an opening below through which waves hit the sand.

It was formed by volcanic eruptions tens of millions of years ago and shaped by sea-level changes over the past 6,000 years.

It was recognized as a national relic in 2025.

The incident highlights the challenge of protecting one of Vietnam's unique geological landmarks.

To protect the fragile rock formation and prevent accidents, officials banned climbing on the arch and installed warning signs in April. But violations are frequent.

In July, several tour groups were seen climbing atop the arch to take photos, ignoring the warning signs and protests from nearby bystanders.

Vo Thi Huong, deputy head of Ly Son's Culture and Information Office, says the island's tourist sites have no permanent security staff, leaving authorities to rely mainly on visitors following the rules.

There are no regulations providing for fines either.

The Ly Son Special Zone is taking steps to protect the site, including an infrastructure project to upgrade the area.

Scheduled for completion in the third quarter of this year, it will designate sightseeing paths and establish a permanent team to manage and protect the site.