Ho Chi Minh City deports 115 Cambodians, prosecutes 6 for allegedly arranging illegal stays

The Ho Chi Minh City police department said on Wednesday that it had initiated criminal proceedings against four Vietnamese nationals – Nguyen Van Cong, Pham Thi Thom, Truong Hoan Vu, and Ho Thi Ven – and two Cambodian nationals, Serng Kumpheak Many and Kung Kimseng.

All six are being investigated for organizing illegal stays in Vietnam.

Alongside the criminal proceedings against those allegedly behind the operation, the city's immigration management division coordinated with other police units on Wednesday to enforce deportation orders against 115 Cambodian nationals who had entered and stayed in Vietnam illegally.

On August 25, the immigration management division and Tan Hiep Ward police conducted unannounced inspections of two accommodation facilities in the ward.

The facilities were Hoang Anh 1 Guesthouse, owned by Nguyen Van Cong, and Nguyen Viet Binh Guesthouse, owned by Nguyen Thi Thom, also known as Pham Thi Thom.

During the inspections, authorities found 151 Cambodian nationals staying at the two facilities.

Notably, neither guesthouse owner had completed temporary residence registration procedures for the foreign nationals, apparently to conceal their presence from the authorities.

Ho Chi Minh City police said the case demonstrated their determination to strengthen local management, control immigration activities, and crack down on violations to maintain public security and order.

Police officers also urged local accommodation providers to strictly comply with temporary residence registration requirements for foreign nationals and refrain from sheltering people who enter Vietnam illegally, overstay their visas or work without the required permits.

Violators will face strict penalties in accordance with the law.