Vietnamese college warns of fake buses taking students toward Cambodian border

To Thanh Tuan, vice rector of Lilama 2 International Technology College, on Thursday confirmed that the college recently received reports from students and parents about buses allegedly impersonating those operated by transport company T.T. to pick up passengers along National Highway 51 near the school.

The school said at least one student had been taken to an area near the Vietnam-Cambodia border.

In response, the college has instructed faculty members to remind students daily to exercise caution when traveling by passenger bus and avoid boarding vehicles if they notice anything suspicious.

Students who have already boarded a bus but discover that it is taking an unusual route should demand to get off immediately, notify their families and teachers, and share their travel routes, the school said.

The college asked department heads to circulate the warning among lecturers, who are expected to raise the issue during class meetings.

It also called for coordination with local police to address the situation.

Tuan told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper the student involved currently lives in the college’s dormitory and is from Ho Chi Minh City, which is adjacent to Dong Nai.

Last Friday, the student boarded a passenger bus near the college to travel home for the weekend.

After falling asleep during the journey, he woke up to find himself in Tay Ninh.

Realizing that the bus was not following the expected route, he asked to get off but said the bus operators made it difficult for him to do so.

The student told them he had contacted his family, who were on their way to pick him up.

The operators then demanded that he pay several hundred thousand Vietnamese dong before allowing him to leave the vehicle. [VND100,000 = US$4]

“Fortunately, nothing happened to him. The school will work with the student for more details and issue more accurate warnings,” Tuan said.