Two company directors in Da Nang have been apprehended for helping foreigners enter Vietnam illegally under the guise of experts.

The municipal Department of Public Security confirmed on Saturday they had arrested and initiated legal proceedings against Nguyen Van Minh Tho, 31, director of TNA Service Travel and Service Company, and Pham Kim Phuc, 29, director of Phuc Travel Newlife Company.

Tho and Phuc are accused of being involved in a ring that arranged for foreigners to make it into Vietnam unlawfully under the guise of experts.

Officers have so far investigated 15 members of this racket, including three South Korean nationals.

Police investigation showed that Tho had helped seven South Korean people obtain their Vietnamese visas in early 2021 by signing a document guaranteeing that they were experts working for his company.

However, police eventually discovered that these foreigners were neither experts nor working for Tho’s firm.

Tho said that To My Hong Oanh, a member of the racket who was arrested in May, promised to pay him US$200 for each person that was able to get into Vietnam.

Oanh was captured before she could wire the payment to Tho.

In a similar vein, Phuc also helped seven South Korean nationals enter Vietnam and pocketed VND30.8 million ($1,350).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese government has closed borders since March 2020, with an exception for Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts, diplomats, investors, skilled workers, and students, who are allowed to come to the Southeast Asian country if meeting strict quarantine requirements.

The country has resumed regular international air routes with some countries since the beginning of this year to meet travel demand and boost economic and tourism recovery.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!