Six more arrested in repatriation flight bribery scandal

A former high-ranking immigration officer at the Ministry of Public Security has been arrested for allegedly taking bribes in organising repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hanoi (VNA) - A former high-rankingimmigration officer at the Ministry of Public Security has been arrested forallegedly taking bribes in organising repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tran Van Du, 61, former Deputy Director of the Immigration Department atthe Ministry of Public Security, was among six people arrested on July 25 asinvestigations into the repatriation flight scandal was expanded, said Lt. Gen.To An Xo, Chief of the Office and Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security.

Nguyen Mai Anh, 46, an international relations specialist at the GovernmentOffice; Ngo Quang Tuan, 38, an international relations specialist at the Ministryof Transport; and Vu Sy Cuong, 36, a former immigration officer at the Ministryof Public Security, also face charges of taking bribes.

Bui Huy Hoang, 34, an official at the Ministry of Health, was arrested underfraud charges, and Nguyen Tien Manh, 52, a travel business leader, was arrestedfor giving bribes.

Vietnam had operated around 2,000 repatriation flights to bring homeresidents stranded overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But many people had to buy very expensive tickets and complete tortuousprocedures to get a seat on repatriation flights.

Investigation found many officials and business leaders had taken advantageof the policy to earn money.

A series of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and tourism firmdirectors were arrested for their involvement in bribery while organising theseflights.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung was arrested in April fortaking bribes./.
VNA

See more

Delegates vote to approve the congress's agenda Photo: VNA)

9th National Congress of Vietnam Farmers’ Union convenes in Hanoi

The 9th National Congress of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VNFU) for the 2026–2031 term aims to build a strong VNFU, promote farmers’ role as the main actors and the centre of agricultural development, the rural economy, and new-style rural area development, and inspire aspirations for a prosperous, strong, civilised, and happy country in the new era.

Vietnam's fireworks team performs during the second competition night of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Heritage takes centre stage at Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2026

Vietnam's Z121 Vina Pyrotech impressed spectators at Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2026 with a display deeply rooted in national identity. Using modern pyrotechnic technology, the team recreated the image of the palm tree, a symbol of the ancestral land of Phu Tho, before closing with a spectacular synchronised fireworks finale set to the iconic song Noi vong tay lon (Joining Hands Together), drawing enthusiastic applause from audiences.

Nguyen Mai Khanh Chi, a student in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Hong Kong (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s legacy drives Vietnamese students in Hong Kong to deepen ties

Nguyen Nhan Tri, President of the Vietnamese Students’ Association in Hong Kong and a student at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, committed to continuous learning and self-improvement to carry forward the spirit of previous generations, adding that each stage of President Ho Chi Minh’s journey shaped his political thought, moral values and lifestyle, which remain principles that guide many Vietnamese today.

PM Le Minh Hung speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

Labour productivity key to double-digit growth: PM

The PM affirmed that safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of workers is not only a social mandate but also an important foundation to raise productivity, enhance business efficiency, and sharpen economic competitiveness.

Deputy PM Pham Thi Thanh Tra and officials offer incense at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Excavation for war remains begins in Quang Ngai

Y Ngoc, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the provincial Steering Committee for the search, recovery and identification of martyrs’ remains, said the mission aims to conduct definitive excavation and verification to bring home the remains of martyrs from Regiment 24A, the B3 Front, Special Forces Battalion 406, and Infantry Battalion 304, who fell during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

At the working session (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos hasten 500-day campaign to identify martyrs' remains

The campaign to search for, recover, and identify the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts is a major policy of the two Parties and States, embodying a shared tradition of gratitude and remembrance and profound respect for those who laid down their lives for national liberation, defence, and noble international duties.

A building on the campus of Hanoi Medical University (Photo courtesy of the university)

Four Vietnamese universities rise in global rankings

According to the 2026 CWUR World University Rankings released on June 1, Duy Tan University remained the highest-ranked Vietnamese institution, climbing 33 places to 936th globally and placing in the top 4.4% of universities worldwide.

Specialised personnel collect samples from the remains of unidentified fallen soldiers at the Duc Linh commune Martyrs’ Cemetery in Lam Dong province for DNA identification and verification. (Photo: VNA)

Scientific advances applied to identify unnamed fallen soldiers

The activity, carried out at the Duc Linh commune Martyrs’ Cemetery, marks an important step in applying scientific and technological advances to help identify fallen soldiers while responding to the long-standing aspirations of their families and relatives.