Four Chinese people were found in a house in Ngũ Hành Sơn District by the local public security. They were identified as having entered the country illegally.  — VNS Photo Trịnh Quốc Dũng

ĐÀ NẴNG — The local public security department has decided to proceed with a criminal case on illegal immigration organised in Việt Nam after four Chinese nationals were found staying at a house in Ngũ Hành Sơn District on July 11.

The city’s public security department said in a notice on July 21 that the four Chinese people illegally entered Việt Nam, violating the Penal Code.

It said an investigation was opened on the case.

The department said a group of 27 Chinese people was also found at a hotel in Sơn Trà District on July 16. They said they had illegally immigrated into Việt Nam.

According to Dr Tôn Thất Thạnh, director of the city’s Centre for Disease Control, the first samples of 31 Chinese tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. All were isolated at the hotel or hospital No 199 of the Ministry of Public Security, and the second tests will be taken later.

An unofficial source said three people, including two Vietnamese and one Chinese, were arrested for illegally bringing Chinese people into Việt Nam.

Earlier, a group of 21 Chinese people were found staying at a hotel in neighbouring Quảng Nam Province. Only four showed their passports, but all of them entered Việt Nam illegally. These 21 Chinese people also tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.

According to a report from the public security department, 500 Chinese have been accused of illegal activities including gambling, porn production and tourism.  

The Immigration Administration of Việt Nam under the Ministry of Public Security banned Chinese tour guide Wang Jihong from entering Việt Nam due to her distortion of Vietnamese history and culture during a tour in the city.

In 2019, the city’s investigation police deported 35 Chinese people as they were accused of illegally organising online gambling at leased apartments and villas.

The number of Chinese tourists was the second highest among foreign visitors to the city with more than 500,000 last year. — VNS