An investigative reporter from Vietnamese state television was assaulted with a knife on Sunday while conducting an undercover investigation into a tea manufacturer in the northeastern province of Thai Nguyen.

A senior police officer of Dai Tu District in Thai Nguyen confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday that his department had received a report of assault from Trinh Luu Tuan, 37, and Phung Van Dinh, 32, who claimed to be reporters at VTV24 News Channel under national broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV).

According to the report, Tuan and Dinh disguised themselvesas tea dealers on Sunday to investigate a suspected unhygienic tea processing facility at the private home of Nguyen Anh M. in Hung Son Town, Dai Tu District, Thai Nguyen.

While Tuan filmed the process with a camera hidden inside a pack of cigarettes, M.’s son Nguyen Duy Tung discovered their subterfuge and demanded that Tuan remove the camera, which he refused.

Tung then reportedly picked up a knife and slashed Tuan on his left arm, forcing the reporters to flee and report the incident at Dai Tu District Police, leaving the camera behind.

Dai Tu police said Tung had admitted his act, saying he did not know Tuan and Dinh were reporters, and that he had smashed the camera after the two left.

According to police officers, Tuan and Dinh presented their Vietnam Television access card to the police on Sunday evening, which said Tuan was a reporter and Dinh was a cameraman.

The police bureau received an email the next morning from VTV 24 News Channel, attached to it a referral sending Tuan and Dinh to the People’s Committee of Dai Tu District for duty.

Speaking with Tuoi Tre on Tuesday evening, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Thai Nguyen People’s Committee Nhu Van Tam said that he had received reports of the incident from Dai Tu District authorities, and that the province had ordered medical treatment for the victim and a thorough probe into the case.

“Both the assault and violation of hygiene standards when processing tea, if true, must be handled by the law,” Tam said.

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